A Christmas Story on the Tonys

[Steve C.]

Has anyone seen A Christmas Story and is it as good as it looked on the Tonys? I was really amazed at those adorable kids and the teacher? (What is her name?)It really looks very "not what I expected" and enjoyable? Does it play in a proscenium theater or just MSG? Thanks!! Don't shoot your eye out!

[alxscrz2]

The name of the actress playing the teacher is Caroline O'Connor. She has been in many shows and has a few album. She is going to be in a Production of Gypsy as Rose, this summer in Australia. Too bad she isnt on the cast recording of A Christmas Story

[JoeKv99]

Caroline O'Connor is spectacular- she was in Follies in Chicago and blew the house down.

[Steve C.]

Thanks! She would be great in Follies! Too bad she's not on the cast recording but she is still spectacular.

[JoeKv99]

She is my second-favorite! Phyllis ever
Amazing

[Steve C.]

Thanks Joe I would have loved to seen her. She looks like a great P!

[gchris11]

I saw it twice last year. It is really good, but they are bringing it back to MSG theater this year and I will not be attending. The space is too big for the show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Wait'll she P's on you. It's amazing.

[JoeKv99]

Jordan she eats a lot of asparagus. Some people don't care for it.


(She was the dancer in the Roxanne tango in Moulin Rouge by the way)

[best12bars]

I was definitely wondering about the rest of the show last year.

I was also hoping they'd spend the money and put Caroline O'Connor in as Miss Shields and also that crazy-good tap-dancing kid.

But if they're in the MSG "barn" it won't make much difference. They could cast a shoe and a lawn chair, and from 900 feet back, who will know?

I stil think that number from the Tonys is going to generate a LOT of ticket sales this holiday season.

[gchris11]

That number was one of the reasons I went back a second time last year. Over the top. Crazy good. As was the rest of the show. All the flash back dream scenes are just as good, but that was the best. Those kids worked hard the whole show. IMHO it was the best all around show of last season.

[DEClarke]

I was disappointed by the performance. It made me glad that TUTS booked ELF for Houston's Holiday Season.

[beaemma]

It was a fantastic show, not seasonal schlock at all--and great for all ages. It's a crime that they're booking it into MSG! It's a real Broadway show, not some theme park attraction! Caroline O'Connor is always terrific, and I was very annoyed that she wasn't mentioned by name when the number was introduced. Whether you've heard of her or not, the woman's a star!

[mikey2573]

I was really surprised how much I loved A CHRISTMAS STORY, since I was never a big fan of the movie. I was smiling from beginning to end when I watched it (although there were a couple of very sweet moving moments as well, something the film lacks). The cast of kids was terrific, and I can't believe Johnny Rabe didn't at least get a Tony nomination (he was MUCH better than the Matilda I saw, he was VERY funny!). Not to mention the wonderful John Bolton as The Old man. Probably my favorite show from last year. Too bad it's going into the MSG. I was going to see it in Boston but the WANG Theater may be even worse than MSG. It is playing Hartford CT at the Bushnell. Is that a HUGE barn of a theater as well???

[broadwayguy2]

A Christmas Story played very well and successfully on tour the previous season, in large touring houses, so the creatives are very well aware of how to make the show work - and fly - in a larger space, so Inwould not worry.

For anyone who still has doubts after the Tonys, thatbis a fantasy sequence in the mind of a 9 year old. The show is a beautiful, old fashioned Broadway musical and it walks an amazingly wonderful line. It is faithful to the movie but, to me, far more satisfying and the show divides time between the kids and the adults with something for everyone... it is far far from being a kiddie show. You will have a few songs from the show in your head for MONTHS after the show.

[gchris11]

Agree with the Old Fashioned Musical stuff, but still will not be running to MSG anytime soon.

[gigicee]

I saw it and really enjoyed it. They did a really nice job of playing up to the movie and yet breathing new life into it as a musical. Those boys are join to have long careers ahead of them.

[Steve C.]

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I agree with you all about the MSG thing and that's really unfortunate. I'll still hold out and see where it ends up and if it tours (being in MD/DC..hopefully the Kennedy Center soon). As for Caroline and the wonderful young people's performances they really bring down the house. And it's wonderful to see the personal touches between them as they performed; seeing an 8 year old tip his hat to the leading lady in the middle of a huge tap dance number is inspiring to what we love to see in young people starting out in the world of dance and acting. Very heartwarming...