STAGE TUBE: Meet the Cast of A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL

A Christmas Story, The Musical will play through December 30  at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Following a nationwide search, Johnny Rabe will don Ralphie’s trademark spectacles. John Bolton (Spamalot, Contact, Titanic, “Boardwalk Empire,” “Gossip Girl’) will reprise his acclaimed performance as The Old Man from the 2011 National Tour. Joining Bolton will be Tony Award nominee Erin Dilly (Nice Work if You Can Get It, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Mother, Zac Ballard (Oliver! at Irish Repertory Theatre) as little brother Randy, Caroline O’Connor (Chicago, Moulin Rouge) as school teacher Miss Shields, and Eddie Korbich (The Little Mermaid, The Drowsy Chaperone, Wicked) as Santa Claus. All join previously announced Dan Lauria (Broadway’s Lombardi, TV’s “Sullivan & Son” and “The Wonder Years”) as Jean Shepherd.

Check out the recently released commercial for the show below and meet the cast with videos of them from past productions and roles!

The ensemble for the Broadway engagement will include Tia Altinay, John Babbo, Charissa Bertels, Grace Capeless, Zoe Considine, Andrew Cristi, Mathew deGuzman, Thay Flloyd, George Franklin, Nick Gaswirth, Mark Ledbetter, Jose Luaces, Jack Mastrianni, Mara Newbery, Lindsay O’Neil, Sarah Min-Kyung Park, J.D. Rodriguez, Analise Scarpaci, Lara Seibert, Jeremy Shinder, Luke Spring, Beatrice Tulchin, and Kirsten Wyatt.

A Christmas Story, The Musical will arrive on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre just in time for the 2012 holiday season. The new musical, based on the 1983 movie perennial, will play a November 5 – December 30 holiday engagement. Opening night is Monday, November 19. Tickets are now on sale at www.AChristmasStoryTheMusical.com or www.TicketMaster.com.

Dan Lauria (Jean Shepherd) has appeared in over 70 television episodic programs and more than twenty Movie Of The Week productions.  His film credits include, Stakeout, Another Stakeout, the blockbusterIndependence Day and the Frank Miller production of Will Esiner’s, The Spirit, and the cult comedy: Alien Trespass. Dan’s a familiar face to the off-off, off and regional theatre scene having performed, written or directed over 50 professional stage productions.  In 2010/11 Dan was seen on Broadway as the legendary coach Vince Lombardi in the long running production of Lombardi with the beautiful and talented Judith Light. Dan’s most recognized as the Dad on the acclaimed Emmy winning, ABC television show, “The Wonder Years.”  Currently, Dan can be seen as Jack Sullivan on the new TBS sitcom, “Sullivan & Sons.”

John Bolton (The Old Man) originated the role of the villainous Grady in Broadway's Curtains.  He was in the original Broadway casts of Spamalot, Contact and Titanic, all three of which won the Tony for Best Musical, and was featured in How to Succeed... ('95) and Damn Yankees. Other NYC: New York Philharmonic soloist, extensive Off-Broadway, concert, cabaret, improv and stand-up work.   TV and Film: 4 seasons recurring guest star on “Gossip Girl”, roles on “Boardwalk Empire”, “The Good Wife”, “Law and Order: CI”, “Ed”, “All My Children” “As the World Turns”, Heart and Soul, The Savages.   Adjunct professor at Pace University.  Recovering Bills fan.  With appreciation for the great Darren McGavin and love and gratitude to Old Man extraordinaire Keene Bolton.

Erin Dilly (Mother) recently starred in Broadway's Nice Work If You Can Get It opposite Matthew Broderick.  Other Broadway: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Tony and Outer Critics Nominations), Into The Woods, Boys From Syracuse, Follies, Encores!, Babes In Arms. National Tours: South Pacific, Martin Guerre and Beauty and The Beast. Regional: Guthrie Theatre, Alley Theatre, Papermill Playhouse and Goodspeed Opera House, among others. Film/TV: “Julie and Julia,” “Too Big To Fail,” “12 Men of Christmas,”  “Law and Order: SVU,” “Nurse Jackie,” "The Jury", “3 LBS,” “Gossip Girl,” “Elementary” and many others. Founder of the Living Studio in NYC (livingstudionyc.com). Erin is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan MT program. She sends her love to the Dillys, her daughters, Anna Lou and Catie and dashing husband, actor Stephen Buntrock.

Johnny Rabe (Ralphie) is excited to be part of this amazing show.  Credits include the national tour of A Christmas Story, the Musical! (Insistent Boy), The Music Man (Winthrop) and For the Boys (Danny) at the Marriott Theatre, Lincolnshire, and Shadowlands (Douglas) and Wizard of Oz (Munchkin Mayor) atProvision Theatre, Chicago.  Johnny thanks the team of A Christmas Story, The Musical! for this wonderful opportunity, Mr. Samuelson and Mr. Komasa for their guidance, his parents and brother, Jimmy, for their love and support, and God for his many blessings.

Caroline O'Conner (Miss Shields) Recent credits: Gypsy (Rose); Follies (Phyllis); Sweeney Todd (Mrs. Lovett); Assassins (Sarah Jane Moore); and Broadway debut in Chicago (Velma). West End: Mack and Mabel (Mabel)(Olivier nomination), On The Town (Hildy), Romance, Romance, Street Scene, Matador, The Rink, Cabaret, Me and My Girl, Showboat (RSC), Damn Yankees, Baby, Into the Woods, A Chorus Line. Australia: Chicago, West Side Story, Man of La Mancha, Funny Girl, Piaf, Bombsells (Olivier nomination), world premiere of End Of The Rainbow.  Film’s include: Moulin Rouge (Nini Legs in the Air), Cole Porter biopic De-Lovely (Ethel Merman). Solo CD’s: What I did for Love, Stage to Screen, A Tribute to Piaf, and A Tribute To Garland.

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