Cast and Dates Announced for 2021 National Tour of A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL

Your Christmas wish is finally granted! Returning for the 2021 holiday season, Big League Productions, Inc. has announced the tour dates and cast of the critically acclaimed national tour of A Christmas Story, The Musical. The tour will open for preview performances in Waterbury, CT, followed by a two-week sit down in Boston, and engagements in Baltimore and Durham, NC. The heart-warming TONY-nominated Broadway musical from the songwriting team behind Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman, and La La Land, brings the classic holiday film vibrantly to life on stage featuring all of the movie's iconic moments infused with show-stopping production numbers and joyous songs.

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 triple-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 has proudly taken its place as a perennial holiday classic for the whole family.

The 2021 National Tour sees Chris Carsten return to the role of narrator Jean Shepherd for the seventh time on tour. Briana Gantsweg also returns to the A Christmas Story, The Musical tour, reprising her role as Mother. Alternating in the role of Ralphie Parker for this year's tour are Blake Burnham and Collin Carlton. Sam Hartley will play The Old Man, with Nicholas Reed portraying little brother Randy, and Sierra Wells as (Miss) Shields. Rounding out the cast are John Adkison, Kolten Bell, Matthew Brennan, Parker Burnham, Beth Conley, Nick Davis, Hannah Fairman, Riley Fincher-Foster, Jay Hendrix, Erica Jane Hughes, Jaxon James, Natalia Jimenez, Hank von Kolnitz, Timothy H. Lee, Luli Mitchell, Emily Rhein, Ben Sadowsky, Carson O. Shelton, Josiah Smothers, Ashleigh Thompson, Ryan Umbarila, and Keira Belle Young. The hounds will play themselves.

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 (TONY Award for Dear Evan Hansen, OSCAR for La La Land, GOLDEN GLOBE for The Greatest Showman), with a book by Joseph Robinette, based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and the 1983 holiday film favorite. The 2021 Big League tour, originally directed by Matt Lenz, will feature direction by Michael Rader, with casting by Alison Franck. TONY Award® winner Warren Carlyle's Broadway choreography will be reset for the tour by Jason A. Sparks. A Christmas Story, The Musical features scenic design by Michael Carnahan, lighting design by Charlie Morrison, and musical supervision and direction by Andrew Smithson.

A Christmas Story, The Musical 2021 National Tour Dates:

Waterbury, CT* | December 3 & 4, 2021 | Palace Theater

Boston, MA | December 7 - 19, 2021 | Boch Center

Baltimore, MD | December 21 - 24, 2021 | The Hippodrome Theatre

Durham, NC | December 28, 2021 - January 2, 2022 | Durham Performing Arts Center

(*preview performances)

For more information, visit www.AChristmasStoryOnTour.com.