As previously reported, original Broadway cast members Dan Lauria, John Bolton, Erin Dilly and Caroline O'Connor will return for the 2013 engagement that will run Dec. 11-29 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, following engagements at Hartford's Bushnell Theatre Nov. 12-17 and the Wang Theatre in Boston, Nov. 20-Dec. 8.
Lauria (Lombardi, "The Wonder Years") plays Jean Shepherd, with Bolton (Spamalot, Contact, Titanic) as The Old Man, Dilly (Nice Work If You Can Get It, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Mother and O'Connor (Gypsy, Chicago, "Moulin Rouge") as school teacher Miss Shields.
New to the production will be young actor Jake Lucas, who was previously seen on Broadway in Newsies. He will star as Ralphie; Eli Tokash (Mary Poppins) will play Ralphie at certain performances. Noah Baird will play little brother Randy.
The Christmas Story ensemble will include Charlie Babbo, Gabriella Baldacchino, Hannah Isabel Bautista, Charissa Bertels, Tanya Birl, Beada Briglia, Judae’a Brown, Michael Crispi, Andrew Cristi, Mathew DeGuzman, Thay Floyd, Nick Gaswirth, Lizzie Klemperer, Jose Luaces, Mara Newbery, Alexa Niziak, Lindsay O’Neil, David Scott Purdy, Keven Ryan Quillon, Lucas Schultz, Mitchell Sink, Luke Spring, Jenny Lee Stern and Nicky Torchia. Pete and Lily, the pooches from last season's production of A Christmas Story, return to cause a ruckus as the Bumpus Hounds.
The 2012 run of A Christmas Story, The Musical marked the Broadway debut of Richard Rodgers Award-winning Dogfight songwriters Pasek and Paul. Joseph Robinette authored the book. The score includes such songs as "Red Ryder," "Ralphie to the Rescue," "A Major Award" and "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out."
The musical earned three 2013 Tony Award nominations, including Best Score, Best Book and Best Musical.
The production will reflect the work of the original creative team, including Tony-winning director John Rando (Urinetown) and Tony-nominated choreographer Warren Carlyle (Chaplin, Follies, An Evening With Hugh Jackman).
Critics warmed to the production that broke box-office records at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre last Christmas.
According to producers, "In 1940's Indiana, a bespectacled boy named Ralphie has a big imagination and one wish for Christmas—a Red Ryder BB Gun. A kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a cranky department store Santa, and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the obstacles that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas dream. A Christmas Story, The Musical is holiday entertainment that captures a simpler time in America with delicious wit and a heart of gold."
The production has scenic design by Walt Spangler; costume design by Elizabeth Hope Clancy; lighting design by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley; sound design by Ken Travis; wig design by Tom Watson; orchestrations by 2011 Tony nominee Larry Blank; musical supervision by Ian Eisendrath; dance arrangements by Glen Kelly; and vocal arrangements by composer Justin Paul.
A Christmas Story, The Musical is produced by Gerald Goehring, Roy Miller, Michael F. Mitri, Pat Flicker Addiss, Peter Billingsley, Timothy Laczynski, Mariano Tolentino, Louise H. Beard, Michael Filerman, Scott Hart, Alison Eckert, Bob Bartner, Michael Jenkins, Angela Milonas and Bradford W. Smith.
