First Hand Report: A Christmas Story: The Musical! Opening

 

Asher Fogle, a journalist and the wife of composer/lyricist Justin Paul, gives BroadwayWorld an exclusive first hand report of opening night for A Christmas Story: The Musical! in Seattle. Fogle met Paul when she was a graduate journalism student at Columbia University, concentrating on arts reporting and cultural criticism. She is currently a freelance reporter for a variety of entertainment publications in New York.

As the final rehearsal drew to an end, the 33-member cast of A Christmas Story: The Musical! gathered onstage at the 5th Avenue Theater Thursday afternoon, framed by the glittering winterscape of the set. Standing in a circle, they called the writers to the middle.

"We're so excited for tonight," said Justin Paul, one half of the composer/lyricist team and my husband. "We've thrown a million things at you this week, but everything is in great shape. We're so grateful. This has been a mind-blowing experience for us."

His writing partner, Benj Pasek, chimed in: "From our perspective, this is really our first big musical. It's amazing to get to share the experience with all of you--an amazing group of people who have committed so deeply and fully to what we've written."

After slightly more than a month of rehearsals and two weeks of previews, A Christmas Story was opening that night. The show had a mostly well-received run last winter in Kansas City, but afterward, the producers hired Justin and Benj, both 25, to create a new score. They churned out a complete score in only six hectic months. (Six months in which they also did a developmental production of Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach at Goodspeed and Justin and I got married.)

The bookwriter, Joseph Robinette, gave his congratulations to the cast and crew; hugs and break-a-legs were given all around. I watched from the house as this motley group of people--actors who've brought the work to life, tech crew who make the holiday magic happen, producers who've signed on because they believe in the show, and the writers who have crafted radio personality Jean Shephard's childhood stories into a stage production--were all united by their hope and excitement. Then, we sprinted upstairs to the conductor's dressing room to change into more formal clothes. As we frantically got ready, I grabbed Justin's hand for a quick, quiet moment before we went down to the fray.

Later, a sold-out crowd crammed into the ornate lobby of the 5th Avenue Theater, seeking shelter from the crisp, rainy Seattle weather. They lingered, browsing souvenirs like "Oh-h-h-h Fudge" fudge and leg lamp Christmas lights. Finally, the doors opened and people streamed down the aisles to their seats. We slipped into ours and waited, expectantly.

Both Justin and Benj were surprisingly calm considering how many changes they'd made to the show in the preceding days. I'd been back in New York and missed the final week of previews but the creative team had put in substantial song cuts, restaged numbers and edited dialogue in the daily five-hour rehearsals. I couldn't wait to experience the show in a different way.

As an entertainment reporter and a theater fan, I've covered my share of performances. But this night was slightly odd and surreal, watching a production written by my husband, holding his clammy hand and holding my breath. While A Christmas Story is not the only show Benj and Justin (usually referred to as Pasek and Paul) have written, this is their first full-scale production. As young writers, the show has been an incredible opportunity for them and the night's stakes felt high for both the future of ACS--and their career.

The producers began their curtain speech. The 5th Avenue has premiered 10 new musicals, four of which have gone to Broadway, two of which won Tony Awards. (What a dream to someday join those ranks!) When they introduced Peter Billingsley--the original Ralphie--who has signed on as a producer of the musical, the audience cheered. Then, the lights began to dim and the overture filled the massive room.

The show had that opening night enchantment, where the excitement of the audience and the energy of the cast feed off one another. My favorite number, "Ralphie to the Rescue," was lively and colorful as our hero saved his friends and family from every imaginable villain. Other than a few minor lyric slips, everything in the first act went smoothly, the audience respondEd Loudly, and Justin seemed calm and pleased.

At intermission, he and Benj went straight to the lobby to hear the initial response from two of their most important critics: their agent and attorney. Both were ecstatic and encouraging. i Lingered nearby, half-listening while trying to catch the comments of theatergoers.

During the second act, I was thrilled to see and hear the rest of the revisions that were implemented during previews. It's amazing the difference that slight tweaks can make in the humor of a joke or a moment's emotional impact. By the time John Bolton (the Old Man) and Anne Allgood (Mother) began to sing the final number, the title song, I had goosebumps. (I know I'm not an impartial observer, but it went pretty darn well.) Beyond the bunny suit, the tongue-on-flagpole fiasco and the coveted air rifle, A Christmas Story is, at the core, a heartwarming show about family; I couldn't have been more proud of Justin and Benj and what they helped create.

When the bows and standing ovation ended, one of the representatives of Jean Shephard's estate approached to offer his congratulations and some insight into the curmudgeonly man who created the original stories. "Do I think Jean would have come to see the show? Kicking and screaming," he said, "but he would've come. Though he never understood why people loved this movie so much."

The after-party was downstairs in the rehearsal studio. Christmas lights strung along the ceiling lit the crowded space. Producers, friends of the theater, the stage crew and the cast-in party attire-milled about the festive room.

A line of people hovered, waiting to have their photo taken with Billingsley; I watched as an exuberant eleven-year-old Clarke Hallum (Ralphie) talked with him about playing the character in the musical. "It's just amazing!" Hallum kept repeating. Others stopped to chat with Scott Schwartz (the film's Flick) or Ian Petrella (the film's Randy). Congratulations were given all around; it seemed like the entire room was buzzing with hopeful conversations about the future of A Christmas Story: The Musical!

With an enthusiastic backslap, one of the show's producers had asked Justin, "Are you ready for your life to change?" We went into a brief, excited tizzy, imagining the possibilities of what could happen if the show is a success.

Benj, Justin and I stayed until the caterer started folding up the tables. Justin's family headed to their hotel and we headed to the after-after-party at a local bar.

Later, back at the hotel, Justin and I plopped on the couch and propped up our feet. We talked about how in 30 years, we'll look back and remember this night (hopefully as the first of many successful openings.) The next morning would bring an interview on public radio, a recording session for the forthcoming cast album, and a host of reviews. But for that night, as we collapsed contentedly in the hotel, it was just the two of us, relishing the moment.

Benj Pasek, John Bolton, Justin Paul and Asher Paul

 Photo Credit: Vivian Hsu for Team Photogenic