Laurel Little Theatre Presents A CHRISTMAS STORY – THE MUSICAL

Laurel Little Theatre's annual huge musical continues its 58th amazing season. "A CHRISTMAS STORY - THE MUSICAL!" is a brand new Broadway stage show based on everyone's #1 favorite holiday movie that gets a 24 hour 'round-the-clock' television marathon every year.

Running for two weekends for six performances, it's sure to fill LLT's 1927 Downtown Arabian Theatre.

Evening performances are November 9-10-16-17 at 7:30PM, and on November 11 & 18, the Sunday matinees are at 2PM.

The LLT reservation line answers 24 hours a day at 601-428-0140 and is now open.

Remember? Nine-year-old 'Ralphie' that only wants a Red Ryder B.B. Gun for his Christmas present? But everyone just tells him "you'll shoot your eye out!"? His crazed Dad that wins the infamous 'Leg Lamp'? The grumpy department store Santa? The ugliest pink bunny-pajamas? And...the 'triple-dog-dare-ya' to lick a frozen flagpole?

The winner of 11 Tony Award, Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk Award nominations, the score features truly beautiful ballads and huge production numbers. Who could resist a chorus line of dancing leg lamps? The show is perfect for all ages.

Long-time LLT alumni Wess Hughes is back once again to direct. He has over 300 shows to his credit with almost a quarter of those at LLT. Hughes has worked in theatres all over Mississippi and New Orleans, and he now has credits professionally producing shows in NYC.

Michelle Howells is the musical director. Megan Lee Hunter serves as choreographer, Will Hodges is the assistant director, and Jessica Shaidnagle is the stage manager. All four of these have many LLT shows to their credits.

The cast is lead by Taylor Graham and Sammie Mitchell as brothers 'Ralphie' and 'Randy'. They're both 4th graders at St. John's Day School.

Their 'Mom' is double cast with LLT alumni Sara Anderson, and newcomer to the Arabian stage, Lee Waits. Anderson is a 3rd grade teacher at East Jones Elementary, and Waits is a piano and vocal coach.

Playing the boys' 'Old Man' is Jay Baggett from Seminary. His first LLT production was 25 years ago, and since then, he's performed in two dozen shows at the Arabian Theatre.

The narrator of the show, Jean Shepherd, was a real-life author and radio storyteller. The show was based on his own memories of his favorite Christmas as a young boy. He's 'Ralphie' - all grown up. Newcomer Robert Pool tackles this role. He's a newcomer to the area, living in Louin, but originally from Illinois. He served with the USMC and had a long career with the Sante Fe Railways.

Ralphie's school chums are played by Jaythan Comegys, Jordan Hardy, Taylor McCraw and Will Thompson. His 'school marm' teacher, (Miss) Shields, is cast with Catherine Nowicki - known in Laurel and Hattiesburg for the many productions playing 'Louise' in "Always...Patsy Cline"

The infamous grumpy department store Santa that terrorizes little Ralphie is Paul Spurlin, a professor at MSU's Meridian campus.

Supporting roles are covered by Ashley Adams, Debbie Brewer, Madison Chatham, Josh Crosby, Sierra Davis, Ethan Glenn, Ben Graham, Carole Goza, Samantha Johnson, Jamie Leigh Rambin and Roger Wiseman

The rest of the huge cast and crew of 95 locals of ages 6 to 81 are from all over the Pine Belt, and they've been in rehearsals for the last two months for this 'spectacular' season opener.

Single tickets are available, but the best deal is a 4-punch LLT season ticket that saves up to 30% off the single ticket prices. Get your reservations called in early!

For information on season tickets, you can mail LLTLaurelMS@aol.com.

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