STAGE TUBE: Bainbridge Performing Arts Presents A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL

Offering sweet nostalgia for adults, and great fun for the kids, this laugh-out-loud holiday tale of American Christmases past has been cleverly re-wrapped as a new musical.

This musical, which received rave reviews on its Broadway run, is based on the movie classic that runs round-the-clock on television every Christmas. Set in the 1940s in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, the musical follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts-an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Rebuffed at every turn with a similar echoing response, Ralphie plots numerous schemes to achieve his desperate desire for the coveted BB gun. All the iconic scenes from the movie are here: Ralphie's friend, Flick, getting his tongue stuck to the flagpole; his brother, Randy, getting dressed in his snowsuit; the bullies, Farkus and Dill; the leg lamp award; the bunny suit; the Chinese restaurant; Christmas dinner; and many more.

The delightfully versatile score ranges from gentle ballads to show-stopping full-ensemble numbers such as "Ralphie to the Rescue!," "A Major Award," "Sticky Situation," "Up on Santa's Lap," "Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana," and the inevitable "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!" A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL will bring an exciting new dimension to those who have seen the movie and and is the perfect introduction to this new classic for those who haven't!

Featuring the dynamic artistic team from Disney's The Little Mermaid and The Drowsy Chaperone, A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL is directed by Joanna Hardie, whose choreography has also been seen at BPA in Little Shop of Horrors, Shrek, The Full Monty, Chicago, The Rocky Horror Show, and A Chorus Line. Elizabeth Faye, fresh off the sets of Little Mermaid, Amadeus, Mary Poppins, Hair, The Drowsy Chaperone, Side by Side by Sondheim, and Monty Python's Spamalot provides music direction, and Debbie Pierce - familiar also for her work with Evita, Peter Pan, and Jesus Christ Superstar at Ovation! - provides choreography.

BPA's holiday production showcases a predominantly local cast, including several family members who are spending the holidays performing together, with Quinn Leibling as RALPHIE, plus Lisa Mandelkorn, Matt Eldridge, Callum Blackwell, Elizabeth Dangelo, Nelsen Spickard, Libby Clements, Carter Wolff, Emily Fox, Trey Field-Bennett, Sophie Eldridge, Olivia Opalski, Hailey McCulloch, Addie Beermann, Gracie Cate Moffett, Max VanNocken-Witmer, Ron Mackley, Corrie Yadon, Lucien Caro, D'Arcy Clements, Jen Carrillo, Ben Eldridge, Delaney Taylor, Katie Irvin, Teagan Howlett, Cordelia Janow, Jeremy Juarez, Cathy McIsaac, and Alex Ung.

Join the fun with our nightly "Ugly Sweater" contests. Come dressed in your holiday finest (or worst!) of yesteryear and take part in our contest. A winner will be announced at every performance and prizes will be awarded for our favorite entries!

A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL appears at BPA December 2 - 18, with evening shows Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.(exception: there will be no evening performance on December 3), plus matinees on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. (please note the special Saturdaymatinee time!) and Sundays at 3:00 p.m. The run includes a Pay-What-You-Can Preview on Thursday, December 1 at 7:30 p.m., and the Opening Night Reception is Friday, December 2 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets, $29 for adults, $24 for seniors, and $21 for students, youth, military, and teachers, may be purchased online at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org, by phone at 206.842.8569, or in person at BPA, 200 Madison Avenue North, Bainbridge Island. BPA Box Office hours are 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and one hour prior to each performance.

Bainbridge Performing Arts extends special thanks to Community Sponsor, The Family of Jack Clements. BPA is supported, in part, byBainbridge Community Foundation and One Call for All. Bainbridge Performing Arts is pleased to offer an "Open Doors" program. Free and reduced-cost tickets to most events are available to community members in need through our partner Helpline House thanks to grants from BCF, the Mabee Family Foundation, and the Alder Fund at the Bainbridge Community Foundation.

Find out more about BPA at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org, or check us out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BPAonline andwww.facebook.com/BainbridgeSymphonyOrchestra), follow Bainbridge Performing Arts on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/company/bainbridge-performing-arts) and Twitter (@BPAPresents). Check online for the latest on theatre and symphony auditions, complete theatre school and adult class offerings, performance listings, tickets, promos, and more. Go to "About BPA" and click on "Get Our Newsletter" to receive electronic performance announcements and behind-the-scenes news.

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