Breaking: A CHRISTMAS STORY to Play Theater at Madison Square Garden

Most people expected after last night's Tony Awards that A CHRISTMAS STORY would be headed back to Broadway, but it turns out that they had a slightly different plan in mind.

MSG Entertainment will present A Christmas Story, The Musical for a limited engagement at The Theater at Madison Square Garden beginning Wednesday, December 11 through Sunday, December 29, 2013. Celebrate the holidays with this cherished story that will entertain the whole family as the show makes its triumphant return to New York City. Tickets are on sale now.

Nominated for three 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical, the holiday movie came to hilarious life onstage when A Christmas Story, The Musical first launched a tour in 2011, followed by its Broadway debut in 2012. The musical features a bright, nostalgic score by composer/lyricist team Benj Pasekand Justin Paul and a witty book by Joseph Robinette based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and the 1983 film favorite. Tony Award winnerJohn Rando (Urinetown) directs the production with Warren Carlyle (Chaplin, Follies, An Evening With Hugh Jackman) choreographing. Casting will soon be announced.

In its 2012 engagement, A Christmas Story, The Musical was both a popular and critical success, breaking house box office records. The story takes place in 1940's Indiana, where a bespectacled boy named Ralphie has a big imagination and one wish for Christmas-a Red Ryder BB Gun. A kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a cranky department store Santa, and a tripledog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the obstacles that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas dream. Co-produced by the film's original Ralphie, Peter Billingsley, A Christmas Story, The Musical is musical comedy entertainment that captures a simpler time in America with delicious wit and a heart of gold.

A Christmas Story, The Musical features scenic design by Walt Spangler; costume design by Elizabeth Hope Clancy; lighting design by Howell Binkley; sound design by Ken Travis; wig design by Tom Watson; animal training by Tony Honor recipient for Excellence in Theatre William Berloni; orchestrations byLarry Blank; music supervision by Ian Eisendrath; dance music arrangements by Glen Kelly; vocal arrangements by Justin Paul; and music direction by BenWhiteley. The Theater at Madison Square Garden has become a top venue for spreading holiday cheer, presenting some of the season's most sought after family productions including Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan, A Christmas Carol, The Musical, and Wintuk by Cirque du Soleil.

A Christmas Story, The Musical is produced by Gerald Goehring, Roy Miller, Michael F. Mitri, Pat Flicker Addiss, Peter Billingsley, Timothy Laczynski, Mariano Tolentino, Louise H. Beard, Michael Filerman, Scott Hart, Alison Eckert, Bob Bartner, Michael Jenkins, Angela Milonas, Bradford W. Smith.

A Christmas Story, The Musical is based upon the motion picture A Christmas Story © 1983 Turner Entertainment Co., distributed by Warner Bros.,written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark, and In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash written by Jean Shepherd. A Christmas Story, The Musical is produced with permission of Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Inc. and Dalfie Entertainment, Inc.

For more information about A Christmas Story, The Musical at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, visit www.theateratmsg.com/achristmasstory,www.AChristmasStoryTheMusical.com, or call 866-858-0008. Tickets