The Cleveland cast includes returning members Olivia Doria (Esther Jane), Charles Kartali (The Old Man), Joey Stefanko (Ralphie) and Elizabeth Ann Townsend (Mother). Newly added are Christopher Burns (Ralph), Christian Flaherty (Flick), Kole Selznick Hoffman (Schwartz), Courtney Anne Nelson (Helen), Daniel Sovich (Scot Farkas) and Matthew Taylor (Randy). Understudies are Olivia Chan and Thomas Weil.

The creative team for A Christmas Story includes Michael Ganio (scenic design), David Kay Mickelsen (costume design), Richard Winkler (lighting design) and James C. Swonger (sound design).

Philip Grecian adapted the 1983 MGM film penned by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark. Based on the stories of Jean Shepherd, A Christmas Story centers on Ralphie, his younger brother Randy and a Christmas they'll never forget. Favorite moments from the film, including Ovaltine, an electric leg lamp, a frozen schoolyard pole, a disenchanting Santa and the infamous Red Ryder BB Gun all come to life in the stage production.

Theatres across the country have been trading in expected productions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol to create new holiday offerings. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel penned A Civil War Christmas as a direct response to the need for new holiday traditions. The play adaptation of A Christmas Story is being produced by 13 professional theatres in the U.S. this holiday season, with 42 amatuer productions following suit, according to licensing representatives for the work. A musical adaptation of the 1940's-set comedy is also playing a record-breaking world premiere engagement at Kansas City Repertory Theatre.

Tickets are available by phoning (216) 795-7000 or by visiting ClevelandPlayhouse.

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Founded in 1915, the Cleveland Play House has presented the world premieres of Randal Myler's It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues, Michele Lowe's The Smell of the Kill, Eric Coble's Bright Ideas and Seth Greenland's Jerusalem.