[SALT LAKE CITY, UT NOVEMBER 28, 2022] — Pioneer Theatre Company (PTC), Utah’s premiere professional theatre, presents A Christmas Story, The Musical—the Tony-nominated musical adaptation based on the 1983 film. The 2012 work was adapted for the stage by Joseph Robinette, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The production is directed and choreographed by PTC Artistic Director Karen Azenberg and runs from December 9 through December 24.

It’s Christmas time in 1940, and bespectacled 10-year-old Ralphie Parker desperately wants one very specific gift—but will Santa deliver? Join Ralphie, The Old Man, and the whole gang as they bring frozen flag poles, triple-dog-dares, MAJOR Awards, and pure holiday magic to life on stage like never before.

“In a time where it seems everything old is new again, I’m delighted that PTC is joining the nostalgia party by presenting the musical version of one of the all-time great holiday films, A Christmas Story,” said Karen Azenberg. “This Tony-nominated adaptation dazzled Broadway audiences in 2012, followed by a successful national tour, and I’m pleased to be able to bring it to PTC this holiday season.”

Returning to PTC are EJ Zimmerman* (Once) as Miss Shields, as well as Ensemble members Kyle Caress* (Elf – The Musical, Hello, Dolly!), Lenny Daniel* (Hello Dolly!, Something Rotten), Andy Frank* (Hello Dolly!), Howard Kaye* (Elf – The Musical, Hello, Dolly!), Tito Livas* (Fireflies, In The Heights), Stephanie Maloney* (Oliver!), Kate Cassidy Ryan* (Grease), Austin Flamm (Elf – The Musical) as Scut Farkus/Ensemble, and Annie Mautz (Elf – The Musical).

Making their PTC debuts are Danny Bernardy* (My Fair Lady, Olney Theatre Center) as The Old Man, Stacie Bono* (Miss Saigon, National Tour) as Mother, Don Noble* (An American In Paris, First National Tour) as narrator Jean Shepherd, Paris Alexander Nesbitt* (The Book of Mormon, National Tour) as Santa Claus/Ensemble, and Ensemble member Tyler Symone* (Henry Box Brown, CTC Theatre Company). 

Also making their respective PTC debuts are Ethan Marchant (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hale Centre Theatre) as Schwartz/Ensemble, Asher Nehring (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hale Centre Theatre) as Randy, Daniel Sorokine (A Christmas Carol, Hale Centre Theatre) as Flick/Ensemble, Kiyan R. Wyness (Willy Wonka, Conservatory of Performing Arts) as Grover Dill/Ensemble, as well as Ensemble members Genevieve Fluckiger-Roberts (Snow White, Ballet West), Langley Hayman (Sister Act, CPLT), Tessa Jensen (Waitress, Eccles), Jessie Kranz (In Pieces, University of Utah), Ella Murphy (The Night Witches, University of Utah), Elsa Parry (Matilda The Musical, school production), Tyson Russell (The Wicked Wizard of Ahhs, Off Broadway Theatre), and Jane Wilkins (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Hale Centre Theatre). 

Mack Boyer (Frozen Kids, Hale Centre Theatre) and Soren Ray (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, CenterPoint Legacy Theatre) alternate in the role of Ralphie Parker.

Joining Azenberg on the creative team are Musical Director Helen Gregory, Scenic Designer James Noone, Costume Designer K.L. Alberts, Lighting Designer Dawn Chiang, Sound Designer Aaron Hubbard, and Wig & Hair Designer Samantha Wootten, and Associate Director Lenny Daniel*. Tracey Woolley* is the Production Stage Manager.

A Christmas Story, The Musical runs from December 9 through December 24 at the Simmons Memorial Pioneer Theatre. Tickets are available individually, or as part of PTC’s season packages, at PioneerTheatre.org or by calling PTC’s Box Office at 801-581-6961.

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PRESS CONTACT

Joshua Black
Director of Marketing and Communications
[email protected]

PRESS KIT LINK

MEDIA PHOTOS AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD:

• Cast announcement photos are currently available in our Press Kit for media use.
• High-resolution production photos will be available in our Press Kit beginning Friday, December 9th.

INTERVIEWS: Members of the cast and creative team can be made available for Interviews. Please contact Joshua Black to arrange.

WHO

Pioneer Theatre Company

WHAT

A Christmas Story, The Musical
Book by Joseph Robinette
Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Based on the motion picture A Christmas Story distributed by Warner Bros., written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark, and upon In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash written by Jean Shepherd. Produced with permission of Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and Dalfie Entertainment.

WHEN

December 9 – December 24, 2022

TIMES

Monday – Thursday, 7:00 PM
Friday and Saturday, 7:30 PM
Saturday, 2:00 PM

Special showtimes on December 24th: 12pm & 5pm

WHERE

Pioneer Theatre Company (PTC) is located in the Simmons Memorial Pioneer Theatre, 300 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City

PRICES

$48 – $72 in advance; $5 more when purchased on day of show
Students K – 12 or Ages 5-18 are half-price Monday – Thursday

MORE INFO

Box Office: 801-581-6961
Open 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Monday – Friday
PTC Show Listing: A Christmas Story, The Musical 

CAST

Jean Shepherd: Don Noble*
Ralphie: Mack Boyer (12/9, 12/10 eve, 12/12, 12/14 mat, 12/15, 12/17 mat, 12/20, 12/21 eve, 12/23, 12/24 eve)
Ralphie: Soren Ray  (12/10 mat, 12/13, 12/14 eve, 12/16, 12/17 eve, 12/19, 12/21 mat, 12/22, 12/24 mat)
Mother: Stacie Bono*
Randy: Asher Nehring
The Old Man: Danny Bernardy*
Schwartz: Ethan Marchant
Flick: Daniel Sorokine
Scut Farkus: Austin Flamm
Grover Dill: Kiyan R. Wyness
Miss Shields: EJ Zimmerman*
Santa Claus: Paris Alexander Nesbitt*
Ensemble: Kyle Caress*, Lenny Daniel*, Andy Frank*, Howard Kaye*, Tito Livas*, Stephanie Maloney*, Paris Alexander Nesbitt*, Kate Cassidy Ryan*, Tyler Symone*, Genevieve Fluckiger-Roberts, Austin Flamm, Langley Hayman, Tessa Jensen, Jessie Kranz, Ethan Marchant, Annie Mautz, Ella Murphy, Elsa Parry, Tyson Russell, Daniel Sorokine, Jane Wilkins, Kiyan R. Wyness 

CREATIVE

Director/Choreographer: Karen Azenberg
Musical Director: Helen Gregory
Scenic Designer: James Noone
Costume Designer: K.L. Alberts
Lighting Designer: Dawn Chiang
Sound Designer: Aaron Hubbard
Wig & Hair Designer: Samantha Wootten
Associate Director: Lenny Daniel*
Production Stage Manager: Tracey Woolley*
AEA Stage Manager: Emily Nacrissa Griffith*
Assistant Stage Manager: Mason Turton

*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

ABOUT PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY (PTC)

Now celebrating its 61st season, the award-winning PTC is Utah’s premiere professional theatre company and leading arts organization of the West. Led by Artistic Director Karen Azenberg and Interim Managing Director Diane L. Parisi, PTC presents world-class productions that celebrate diversity in culture and society and serve as the connecting bridge between art and scholarship as an affiliate of the University of Utah. For more information, visit PioneerTheatre.org.