Dan Lauria, John Bolton, Erin Dilly and Caroline O'Connor to Return to A CHRISTMAS STORY for 2013 Holiday Season

The producers of A Christmas Story, The Musical have announced that original cast members will return to star in the production when it arrives at The Theater at Madison Square Garden for its December 11 - 29, 2013 engagement. Reprising their roles will be Dan Lauria(Lombardi, "The Wonder Years," "Sullivan and Son") as Jean Shepherd, John Bolton (Spamalot, Contact, Titanic, "Boardwalk Empire," "Gossip Girl') as the Old Man, Tony Award nominee Erin Dilly (Nice Work if You Can Get It, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Mother, Caroline O'Connor (Chicago, Moulin Rouge) as school teacher Miss Shields, and talented newcomer to the production Jake Lucas (Newsies, Far From Heaven), donning the famous spectacles as he takes on the lead role of Ralphie.

In A Christmas Story, The Musical, Lucas joins the cast as young Ralphie, who wants nothing more than a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd (played by Lauria), Ralphie's big imagination comes to life on stage in numbers like "Ralphie to the Rescue" and "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" and heart-warming ballads like "What a Mother Does" and the title song, "A Christmas Story."

"I'm so excited to join the cast of A Christmas Story, The Musical this year," says Lucas. "It's a dream come true to perform at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in such a classic role. I can't wait to work with this amazing cast and bring the story to life on stage."

"We are blessed with an amazing company for this year's production at The Theater at Madison Square Garden," says producer Gerald Goehring. "We're all thrilled to have such an incredible company of artists including John Bolton, Erin Dilly, Caroline O'Connor, and Dan Lauria on board as well as newcomer Jake Lucas to bring back the magic of A Christmas Story, The Musical to New York this holiday season."

The story takes place in 1940's Indiana, where a bespectacled boy named Ralphie has a big imagination and one wish for Christmas-a Red Ryder BB Gun. A kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a cranky department store Santa, and a tripledog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the obstacles that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas dream. Co-produced by the film's original Ralphie, Peter Billingsley, A Christmas Story, TheMusical is musical comedy entertainment that captures a simpler time in America with delicious wit and a heart of gold.

A Christmas Story, The Musical features a bright holiday score by the Tony nominated composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a witty book by Tony nominated Joseph Robinette based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and the 1983 holiday film favorite. Tony Award winnerJohn Rando (Urinetown) directs the production with Warren Carlyle (Chaplin, Follies, An Evening with Hugh Jackman) choreographing; scenic design byWalt Spangler; costume design by Elizabeth Hope Clancy; lighting design by Howell Binkley; sound design by Ken Travis; wig design by Tom Watson;animal training by Tony Honor recipient for Excellence in Theatre William Berloni; orchestrations by Larry Blank; music supervision by Ian Eisendrath; associate choreographer is James Gray; dance music arrangements by Glen Kelly; vocal arrangements by Justin Paul; music direction by Ben Whiteley;and casting by Stephanie Klapper CSA.

A Christmas Story, The Musical is produced by Gerald Goehring, Roy Miller, Michael F. Mitri, Pat Flicker Addiss, Peter Billingsley, Timothy Laczynski, Mariano Tolentino, Louise H. Beard, Michael Filerman, Scott Hart, Alison Eckert, Bob Bartner, Michael Jenkins, Angela Milonas, Bradford W. Smith.

A Christmas Story, The Musical is based upon the motion picture A Christmas Story © 1983 Turner Entertainment Co., distributed by Warner Bros., written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark, and In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash written by Jean Shepherd. A Christmas Story, The Musical is produced with permission of Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Inc. and Dalfie Entertainment, Inc.

Masterworks Broadway released the World Premiere Recording of A Christmas Story, The Musical both digitally and on CD.

In its 2012 engagement, A Christmas Story, The Musical was both a popular and critical success, breaking house box office records. The Associated Press called A Christmas Story, The Musical "a charming triumph infused with utter joy," while Variety wrote "a holiday confection with a heartwarming but wise story, an impressive score, canny staging and laugh-out-loud production numbers." Newsday called it "a droll, imaginative and a bit defiantly off-center tale wickedly directed by John Rando with a clever and enjoyable score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul." WOR Radio raved "It's the best darn musical I've seen in years! If you're looking for a holiday show to take the kids to you can skip all the others because this is the best Christmas show I've ever been a witness to." The Hollywood Reporter called it "an entertaining and engaging family show that packs ample heart," and The New York Observer said "A Christmas Story is a surprise gift." Time Magazine, The Associated Press and NY1 News have all included A Christmas Story, The Musical on their top 10 list for the best theatre of 2012.

For more information about A Christmas Story, The Musical at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, visit www.theateratmsg.com/achristmasstory,www.AChristmasStoryTheMusical.com, or call 866-858-0008. T