7th Grade Winner of Anti-Bullying Writing Contest to Appear in A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL!, 12/27

A Christmas Story, The Musical and STOMP Out Bullying have announced the Grand Prize winner of their Anti-Bullying Writing Competition, Ahmed Shayef. A 7th Grader at M.S. 577 in Brooklyn, Ahmed has won a walk-on role in the Thursday evening, December 27 performance of A Christmas Story, The Musical.

Earlier this month, middle school students in the Tri-State area were invited to submit essays about how bullying has affected their life, about a bullying incident they might have witnessed, or about a personal strategy for avoiding bullies in their school or neighborhood.

2nd place winner, Tatiana Mandis and 3rd place winner, Sophie Watwood, have both won tickets to see A Christmas Story, The Musical with a backstage tour following the performance in the final week of its engagement at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne theatre. The runners up for the contest were Aima Anwar, Nia Augustine, Sophia Baluyut, Gwyenth Bernier and Aubrienne, Billy Greenwood, Matthew Lubera, Jayda Medina, Alexis Pauli, Christina Stearns and Jocelyn Tang.

A Christmas Story, The Musical arrived on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre just in time for the 2012 holiday season. Based on the 1983 movie perennial, the musical ends its limited eight-week limited engagement December 30. Tickets are now on sale at www.AChristmasStoryTheMuscial.com or www.TicketMaster.com.

A Christmas Story, The Musical stars Dan Lauria (Broadway's Lombardi, TV's "Sullivan & Son" and "The Wonder Years") as Jean Shepherd, John Bolton (Spamalot, Contact, Titanic) as The Old Man, Tony Award nominee Erin Dilly (Nice Work if You Can Get It, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Mother, Johnny Rabe as Ralphie, Zac Ballard as little brother Randy, Caroline O'Connor (Chicago, Moulin Rouge) as school teacher Miss Shields, Eddie Korbich (The Little Mermaid, The Drowsy Chaperone, Wicked) as Santa Claus and Joe West plays Ralphie at certain performances. The ensemble features Tia Altinay, John Babbo, Charissa Bertels, Grace Capeless, Zoe Considine, Andrew Cristi, Mathew deGuzman, Thay Floyd, George Franklin, Nick Gaswirth, Mark Ledbetter, Jose Luaces, Jack Mastrianni, Mara Newbery, Alexa Niziak, Lindsay O'Neil, Sarah Min-Kyung Park, J.D. Rodriguez, Analise Scarpaci, Lara Seibert, Jeremy Shinder, Luke Spring, Kirsten Wyatt, and Pete and Lily as the rambunctious Bumpus Hounds.

America's #1 holiday movie came to hilarious life onstage when A Christmas Story, The Musical launched a tour in 2011 that culminated in a critically successful run in Chicago. The musical features a bright holiday score by composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a witty book by Joseph Robinette based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and the 1983 holiday film favorite. Tony Award winner John Rando (Urinetown) directs the production with Warren Carlyle (Chaplin, Follies, An Evening With Hugh Jackman) choreographing.

More Articles by This Author...