A Christmas Story: The Musical facts for kids

Quick facts for kids A Christmas Story
The Musical
Music	Pasek and Paul
Lyrics	Pasek and Paul
Book	Joseph Robinette
Productions	2009 Kansas City, Missouri 2010 Seattle, Washington 2011 National tour 2012 Broadway 2013-2021 National tours 2017 Live television

A Christmas Story: The Musical is a fun stage show. It is based on the popular 1983 movie A Christmas Story. The musical has songs and lyrics by Pasek and Paul. Joseph Robinette wrote the story for the stage.

The musical is set in Indiana in the 1940s. It tells the story of a boy named Ralphie. All Ralphie wants for Christmas is a special Red Ryder BB Gun.

After many shows in different cities, the musical came to Broadway in New York City. It opened in November 2012 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. It played for a short time, closing in December of that year.

Making the Musical

This musical first started in December 2009. It premiered at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. For this first version, Scott Davenport Richards wrote the music and lyrics. Eric Rosen directed the show. Joseph Robinette wrote the script.

Later, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul were asked to write new songs for the musical. This new version opened in Seattle, Washington, at the 5th Avenue Theatre. It ran from December 9 to December 30, 2010. Eric Rosen directed again, and Kelly Devine created the dances.

Shows in New York City

The musical had a limited run in Manhattan in 2012 and 2013. It opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 19, 2012. It closed on December 30, 2012. John Rando directed the show. Warren Carlyle created the choreography (the dances).

The cast included Dan Lauria as Jean Shepherd. John Bolton played The Old Man. Caroline O'Connor was Miss Shields. Erin Dilly played Mother. Zac Ballard was Randy. Two actors, Johnny Rabe and Joe West, shared the role of Ralphie. Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie in the 1983 movie, was one of the show's producers.

The show returned to New York City for another short run. It played at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. This was from December 11 to December 29, 2013. Many of the main actors came back for these shows. Jake Lucas and Eli Tokash played Ralphie. Noah Baird played Randy.

Tours Across the Country

Since 2014, the musical has gone on a national tour every holiday season. Matt Lenz directs these tours. They use the original staging by John Rando and dances by Warren Carlyle. The sets are by Michael Carnahan. Charlie Morrison designed the lighting. Lisa Zinni created the costumes.

The 2019 tour started in November in Sacramento, California. In the 2021 tour, Keegan Gulledge and Blake Burnham shared the role of Ralphie.

Live TV Show in 2017

The Fox Broadcasting Company aired a live TV show based on the musical. It was called A Christmas Story Live!. Pasek and Paul wrote some new songs just for this TV event. The show was broadcast on December 17, 2017.

The cast included Maya Rudolph as Ralphie's mother. Matthew Broderick was The Narrator (Older Ralphie). Andy Walken, who was 11, played Ralphie. Jane Krakowski was Miss Shields. Chris Diamantopoulos played Ralphie's father. Ana Gasteyer was Mrs. Schwartz. This TV version added new songs and removed some from the Broadway show.

Shows in Other Cities

The musical has also been performed in many other cities. Recent shows include the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. It also played at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. Both of these ran from November 2015 to January 2016.

The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle hosted the musical from November to December 2014. In 2013, it played at the Wang Theatre in Boston. It was also at the Woodlawn Theatre in San Antonio, Texas. The Bushnell Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut also hosted the show.

International Shows

A Christmas Story had its first European show in London. It opened at the Waterloo East Theatre on November 28, 2018.

Story of the Musical

Act 1

The story begins with radio host Jean Shepherd. He tells his listeners about a very important Christmas from his childhood. This is seen through the eyes of young Ralphie Parker. It's December 1940. Ralphie wants to convince his parents to get him his dream gift ("It All Comes Down To Christmas").

The family visits Higbees department store. In the window, Ralphie sees his dream gift. It's a "Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun".

The next day, Ralphie's father works on a crossword puzzle contest ("Genius On Cleveland Street"). Ralphie accidentally says what he wants. His mother quickly says, "You'll shoot your eye out." On the way to school, Ralphie, his brother Randy, and their friends meet a bully named Scut Farkus and his helper Grover Dill ("When You're A Wimp").

In class, Ralphie's teacher, Ms. Shields, gives an assignment. The class must write about what they want for Christmas. Ralphie thinks he can use this to get Ms. Shields to help him get the gun ("Ralphie To The Rescue"). But he starts to lose hope when his paper isn't graded for weeks.

One night at dinner ("That's What A Mother Does"), Mr. Parker gets a telegram. It says he won an award in the contest. Soon, the award arrives. It's a lamp shaped like a woman's leg. Mrs. Parker doesn't like it. But Mr. Parker puts it in the front window for everyone to see ("A Major Award").

While getting a Christmas tree, the family car gets a flat tire. Ralphie helps his father change it. He carries a hubcap full of bolts. When it gets knocked out of his hands, he says a bad word. Jean Shepherd explains that Ralphie actually heard the word from his father. Ralphie gets in big trouble. He blames his friend Schwartz, which also gets Schwartz in trouble. Ralphie worries this will ruin his Christmas ("Act 1 Finale").

Act 2

Ralphie tries to be very good for the rest of the month. He wants to save his Christmas. But on the last day before winter break, Schwartz "triple dog dares" their friend Flick. Flick must stick his tongue to a pole to see if it will stick ("Sticky Situation"). It does stick. No one gets caught, but the fire department has to free Flick. Even worse, when the Christmas papers are returned, Ralphie only gets a C+. The note repeats the scary phrase: "You'll shoot your eye out."

On the way home, Scut and Grover bother Ralphie again. Ralphie finally gets very angry. He attacks them, yelling bad words. His mother pulls him off and takes him home. He is scared of what will happen. But she comforts him and lets it go ("Just Like That").

Ralphie still has no way to get the gun. He tries talking to Santa at Higbees. This also fails. Santa tells him, "You'll shoot your eye out" ("Up On Santa's Lap"). On Christmas Eve, Mrs. Parker "accidentally" breaks the leg lamp. This leads to a big argument with her husband. But they soon make up ("Before The Old Man Comes Home"). That night, all the kids try to sleep. They are excited for Christmas morning ("Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana").

On Christmas morning, the family opens gifts. Ralphie gets embarrassing pink bunny pajamas. At the last moment, Mr. Parker reveals he got Ralphie the gun. But when Ralphie goes outside, his first shot bounces back. It hits his glasses and breaks them. Luckily, he makes up a story about a fallen icicle. His mother doesn't find out the truth.

The neighbor's dogs eat the family's Christmas turkey. So, they go to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. Even with some problems, they and other families have a great Christmas. That night, Ralphie falls asleep holding his special gun ("A Christmas Story").

Cast Members

Characters in the Show

• Ralphie Parker: A young boy who really wants a Red Ryder Carbine Action Range Model Air Rifle. It even has a compass and a clock!
• Jean Shepherd: The older Ralphie, who tells the story as the narrator.
• The Old Man: Ralphie and Randy's dad, who can be a bit grumpy.
• Mother: The loving mom who keeps the Parker family together.
• Randy: Ralphie's younger brother.
• Miss Shields: Ralphie's school teacher.
• Schwartz: One of Ralphie's friends.
• Flick: Another one of Ralphie's friends, who gets his tongue stuck to a flagpole.
• Scut Farkus: The main bully in the story.
• Grover Dill: Scut's sidekick.
• Esther Jane: A girl Ralphie likes.
• Mary Beth: Esther Jane and Nancy's best friend.
• Nancy: Esther Jane and Mary Beth's best friend.

Songs in the Musical

Act 1

• "Overture" - Orchestra
• "It All Comes Down to Christmas" - Ralphie, the Parkers, and Ensemble
• "Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun" - Ralphie and Jean
• "It All Comes Down to Christmas (Reprise)" - Ralphie and Company
• "The Genius on Cleveland Street" - The Old Man and Mother
• "When You're a Wimp" - Kids
• "Ralphie to the Rescue!" - Ralphie, Miss Shields, the Old Man, Mother, Randy, and Ensemble
• "What a Mother Does" - Mother
• "A Major Award" - The Old Man, Mother, and Neighbors
• "Parker Family Singalong" - The Parkers
• "Act One Finale" - Ralphie and Ensemble

Act 2

• "Entr'acte" - Orchestra
• "Sticky Situation" - Ralphie, Flick, Schwartz, Kids, Miss Shields, Nurse, Flick's Mom, Fireman, Policeman, and Doctor
• "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" - Miss Shields and Kids
• "Just Like That" - Mother
• "At Higbee's" - Elves
• "Up on Santa's Lap" - Santa, Elves, Ralphie, Randy, and Kids
• "Before the Old Man Comes Home" - The Parkers
• "Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana" - Ralphie, Randy, and Kids
• "Ralphie to the Rescue! (Reprise)" - Ralphie and Ensemble
• "A Christmas Story" - The Parkers and Full Company

Awards and Nominations

The musical was nominated for several awards. This means it was chosen as one of the best, but it didn't win.

It received two nominations for the Outer Critics Circle Award. These were for Outstanding New Broadway Musical and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (for Dan Lauria).

The musical also got six nominations for the Drama Desk Award. And it received three Tony Award nominations. These were for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score. The Tony Awards are very famous awards for Broadway shows.

Original Broadway Production Awards