Ralphie Parker's quest for an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle is coming to Schenectady this fall, as A Christmas Story, The Musical settles into Proctors Theatre for three performances Nov. 17 to 19 at 7:30 p.m.
The stage musical is based on the beloved 1983 MGM film, which, as reported by NEWS10 ABC, is set in 1940s Indiana. According to dramaticpublishing.com, the story unfolds in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, where 9-year-old Ralphie Parker schemes to get his hands on that legendary air rifle for Christmas — the same prize that drives the plot of the original film, as The Hollywood Reporter notes.
The musical's book comes from Joseph Robinette, while the music and lyrics were written by the songwriting team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, per the same dramaticpublishing.com listing. That duo would go on to create music for Dear Evan Hansen and La La Land, according to NEWS10 ABC. The production carries a cast size listed at 15 men and 10 women, with room to expand to at least 20 men and 15 women, the publisher's listing notes.
A Broadway Pedigree Before Arriving Upstate
Before reaching Schenectady, the show built a theatrical résumé that stretches back more than a decade. The production arrived in New York after regional tour stops and a sit-down Chicago run in 2011, per the Hollywood Reporter's review. The 2013 Tony Awards — which that year recognized nominations across 26 competitive categories, according to tonyawards.com — fell within the 2012–2013 eligibility season that ran from April 27, 2012, through April 25, 2013, the same source states. A 24-person committee selected the nominees, while 868 members voted on the awards, per tonyawards.com.
The film's own pop-culture roots run deep in the production's creative team. The Hollywood Reporter notes that Dan Lauria played Jean Shepherd, the writer and radio personality whose book, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, served as the basis for A Christmas Story. The outlet also reports that Peter Billingsley, the former child actor who played Ralphie onscreen, was among the musical's lead producers — a full-circle credit for the man who first begged on camera for that same Red Ryder rifle.
Group Tickets and How to Book
For Capital Region groups looking to make a night of it, Proctors offers ticket-price savings for groups of 10 or more, according to NEWS10 ABC. Interested groups can contact group sales at 518-382-3884 extension 139 or email [email protected] to arrange tickets ahead of the three-night run.
