Theater News

John Rando to Direct A Christmas Story, The Musical!

Tony Award winner John Rando will direct the 2011 holiday tour of A Christmas Story, The Musical!, according to The Chicago Tribune. Warren Carlyle, who was originally announced as director, will remain as choreographer.

The musical, which will play a five-city tour, chronicles young and bespectacled Ralphie Parker as he schemes his way towards the holiday gift of his dreams, a Red Ryder Action Air Rifle BB Gun.


The show features a score by composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Joseph Robinette based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and the 1983 holiday film favorite. Peter Billingsley, who starred as Ralphie in the 1983 film, is among the show’s producers.


The cast, according to the Tribune, will include Gene Weygandt, Clarke Hallum John Bolton, Matthew Lewis, and Rachel Bay Jones.


The tour will play Hershey, PA (Hershey Theatre, November 8-13); Detroit, MI (Fisher Theatre, November 15-27); Raleigh, NC (Memorial Auditorium, November 29 – December 4); Tampa, FL, (Straz Center, December 6-11); before returning to The Chicago Theatre for performances in Chicago, IL (Chicago Theatre, December 14-30).

For more information about the audition, click here.