Don't Shoot Your Eye Out! FOX Launches Nationwide Search for 'Ralphie' in A CHRISTMAS STORY LIVE

A nationwide digital casting call is underway for "Ralphie Parker," the lead character in FOX's live musical production of A CHRISTMAS STORY airing Sunday, Dec. 17 (7:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

"Ralphie" is a bright, but not precocious, nine-year-old boy whose only dream is to get a Red Ryder Range Model Carbine Action BB Gun for Christmas. Auditions for the role are open now through Tuesday, August 29, at 11:59 PM PT. Submissions will be accepted digitally only via castittalent.com/A_Christmas_Story. Candidates, ages 9-12, should express strong singing and dancing capabilities and be able to anchor the live three-hour production. As part of the audition, candidates should submit a video performing the original songs "Red Ryder BB Gun" and "Before the Old Man."

From Warner Horizon Unscripted & Alternative Television, the three-hour live television event, inspired by the holiday classic feature "A Christmas Story" and the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production "A Christmas Story: The Musical," will be executive-produced by award-winning film, television and theater producer Marc Platt ("Grease: Live," "La La Land"). The epic adaptation will be filmed at the historic Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.

Emmy Award nominee Maya Rudolph ("Saturday Night Live," "Bridesmaids") will star as the mother of nine-year old "Ralphie Parker."

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, recent Tony Award winners for the musical "Dear Evan Hansen," and lyricists of "La La Land's" Academy Award-winning song, "City of Stars," also scored "A Christmas Story: The Musical," and will compose several new songs for the live television event, with Jonathan Tolins and Robert Cary ("Grease: Live") adapting the book.

A CHRISTMAS STORY will be produced by Warner Horizon Unscripted & Alternative Television. Marc Platt and Adam Siegel will executive-produce, with Jonathan Tolins and Robert Cary ("Grease: Live," "Anything but Love," "Ira & Abby") serving as co-executive producers and writers. Scott Ellis (the 2016 Broadway revival of "She Loves Me," "Weeds") is an executive producer and will serve as the director overseeing the stage direction. Alex Rudzinski ("Grease: Live," "Dancing with the Stars") is an executive producer and will serve as the live television director. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul will compose music and lyrics for the event.