"A Christmas Story": Narrator Scoob Decker and Ralphie (Scott Larson)
Mother (Colleen Rosbarsky) with the best gift ever: a fishnet leg lamp!
“A Christmas Story: The Musical” decks the halls with fishnet leg lamps, a triple-dog dare, and a coveted Red Ryder BB gun, Dec.1-18 at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts in Missoula.
Missoula Community Theatre stages the familiar story — based on the movie that’s a holiday staple in many households. The year is 1940, and 11-year-old Ralphie is taking on the month of December and the hurdle of trying to convince his family and St. Nick that he desperately needs a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. We see the story through his adult eyes, as Ralphie tries to get to Santa to make his case.
MCT Executive Director Michael McGill directs a cast of more than 40 volunteer actors in this holiday classic. He says the show has a lot of the same charm as the movie, but “the music adds more heart. The musical leaves you with a warm holiday feeling, in large part, because it takes time to develop its themes through music.”
McGill is sharing the music direction of the show with assistance from Erik Heuchert. Christine Pepin is choreographing.
McGill says the show is extremely family-friendly. He’s also been inspired working with the many young people in the cast. “I’m always amazed to see what they are capable of.”
While the aspiration for the coveted BB gun is central to the plot, McGill believes the relationships between Ralphie and his family are what make the story so endearing, compelling, and easy to identify with. The pesky little brother’s refusal to eat, the “old man’s” love of turkey and contests, and the mom’s gentle, but tough love, are traits unique to Ralphie’s family, yet absolutely universal – and often very funny.
Tickets are available at MCTinc.org, by calling 406-728-7529, or at the MCT Box Office, which is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays.