Photo Flash: A CHRISTMAS STORY - THE MUSICAL Begins Tonight at the Paramount

Families, set your holiday entertainment dials for excitement, because Chicago musical theater powerhouse, the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, is turning one of the most iconic holiday movies ever made into a larger-than-life musical blockbuster, tonight, November 25-January 3. Director Nick Bowling will make his Paramount debut with A CHRISTMAS STORY - THE MUSICAL, everyone's favorite holiday comedy about little Ralphie and his quest for a Red Ryder BB gun. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

Bowling has bubbled to the top of Chicago's musical theater scene with his recent string of hits including Porchlight's Sondheim on Sondheim ("4 stars" - Chicago Tribune), City of Angels and The King and I at Marriott and The History Boys at TimeLineTheatre, where he is Associate Artistic Director.

Paramount Artistic Director Jim Corti recently announced the cast and production team: "Paramount's production stars Michael Harp as little Ralphie with his parents played by Danni Smith as his Mother, Michael Accardo as The Old Man and Philip Earl Johnson as the narrator, Jean. Of this cast of 31, 21 actors are making their Paramount debut directed by Nick Bowling, choreographed by Rhett Guter with musical director Tom Vendafreddo conducting the 17-member Paramount Orchestra playing the full, original Broadway orchestrations. This is an exceptional team of artists, designers and technicians. I am stoked!"

Thirteen-year-old Michael Harp recently played Billy's pal Michael in Billy Elliot at Drury Lane Oakbrook and Kurt in Lyric Opera of Chicago's The Sound of Music. Danni Smith is a four-time Jeff Award winner, with recent credits including City of Angels at Marriott and Jesus Christ Superstar and Always Patsy Cline at Theo Ubique. Michael Accardo most recently played Nathan Bloom in Drury Lane's Beaches and performed in The Full Monty at Drury Lane Water Tower. Philip Earl Johnson was recently seen in Writers Theatre's Dance of Death and Old Glory and played Joe Pitt in the national tour of Angels in America, Parts I and II.

Brimming with dynamite performances and overflowing with comedy and heart, A CHRISTMAS STORY - THE MUSICAL is the adaptation of the 1983 indie cult film which became a Broadway musical spectacular in 2012 Who doesn't love nine-year-old Ralphie Parker, a typical boy growing up in 1940s Indiana? With Christmas right around the corner, Ralphie has his bespectacled sights set on one thing - a Red Ryder BB Gun. But at every turn, the young daydreamer hears those five words that are the bane of his existence: "You'll shoot your eye out."

A CHRISTMAS STORY begins previews November 25. Press opening is Sunday, November 29 at 5:30 p.m.
Regular performances continue through January 3. Show times are Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday at 7 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Note: There will be two certified sign interpreters translating all dialogue and lyrics into American Sign Language on Thursday, December 17 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $41 to $56. The Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd., in the heart of downtown Aurora. For tickets and information, go to ParamountAurora.com call (630) 896-6666 or visit the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and two hours prior to evening performances. A CHRISTMAS STORY - THE MUSICAL is rated PG.

Photo Credit: Thomas King

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