Local Children Cast in Shea's A CHRISTMAS STORY

This holiday season, for the first time in Buffalo, the award-winning Broadway hit A Christmas Story, The Musical, on tour in eight cities from November through December, brings the beloved classic movie to life at Shea's Buffalo Theatre December 13-18, 2016 for eight performances.

Approaching a sell-out, very limited tickets ($35-$75) are currently available for A Christmas Story, The Musical. To order, call 1-800-745-3000, go to ticketmaster.com, or go to the Shea's Box Office. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8:00 p.m. on Friday, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Two local children will perform in a musical number in the production at Shea's and were required to learn specific choreography. The local children that were cast are Maddie Roth, who is 11 years old, from Cheektowaga, New York, and Michael Giannini, who is 13 years old, from Lewiston, New York. Each child auditioned at Shea's on October 18 and were chosen by the tour's Dance Captain among over 100 children at the audition. Each child has prior dance and acting experience. Maddie performed in Neglia Ballet's The Nutcracker and Baby Yaga as well as American Academy of Ballet's The Nutcracker and participated in regional and national dance competitions. Michael has performed in community theatre and in his school productions.

A Christmas Story, The Musical chronicles young and bespectacled Ralphie Parker as he schemes his way toward the holiday gift of his dreams, an official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle ("You'll shoot your eye out kid!"). An infamous leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a maniacal department store Santa, and a double-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the distractions that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas wish. Chock-full of delightful songs and splashy production numbers, A Christmas Story, The Musical, following its smash hit Broadway run, has proudly taken its place as a perennial holiday classic for the whole family.

Hailed by The Associated Press as "a joyous Christmas miracle," The New York Times writes "I was dazzled. You'd have to have a Grinch-sized heart not to feel a smile spreading across your face." A Christmas Story, The Musical premiered on Broadway in 2012 and was a critical and commercial success. The musical was nominated for three TONY Awards including Best New Musical, Best Original Score, and Best Book of a Musical.

A Christmas Story, The Musical features a festive and nostalgic holiday themed score by composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, with a book by Joseph Robinette, based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and the 1983 holiday film favorite. The tour features direction by Matt Lenz, and TONY Award winner Warren Carlyle's Broadway choreography will be reset for the tour by Jason Sparks. A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL features scenic design by Mike Carnahan, with costume design by Lisa Zinni and lighting design by Charlie Morrison. The hounds will play themselves.

A Christmas Story, The Musical is produced by Big League Productions, Inc. Led by President and Executive Producer Daniel Sher, Big League is celebrating its 27th season of producing, general managing and booking Broadway musicals and special attractions for touring throughout North America and the world.

A Christmas Story, The Musical is presented by Shea's Performing Arts Center and Albert Nocciolino and is sponsored locally by M&T Bank, The Buffalo News, and WKBW-TV.

For more information, visit www.sheas.org.