HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Family Community Theatre is bringing a holiday favorite to the Flag Theatre stage as “A Christmas Story: The Musical” opens Nov. 28 in downtown Hutchinson. Performances run Nov. 28 through 30 and Dec. 4 through 7, with tickets available at familycommunitytheatre.org.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 and 29. A 3 p.m. matinee will be held Nov. 30. The second weekend features shows at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5, and a 3 p.m. matinee on Dec. 6.
Director Aaron Parker said the show carries personal significance.
“Well, being a Parker, it's kind of integrated into you, since the main characters are Parkers,” he said. “And my dad loved the show, and we kind of just grew up on it. So when I first joined FCT, I got pushed into being manager, a backstage manager, and this was actually my first show to backstage manage, about over 10 years ago, so it's kind of ironic now I'm directing that same play.”
Parker said he wants to give audiences something visually fresh.
“I'm trying to put a different spin on this one,” he said. “I mean, I'm not changing the original story or anything, but I'm trying to make it interesting for the audience, because different views. There's one view where you go from being outside, and then automatically, the way the set moves and the way people move, you're inside the store, looking out, and the people are looking at you, the actors. So that's just one of many scenes that I've got planned.”
The production is based on the long-running stage musical and includes fast-paced songs and the familiar storyline of Ralphie Parker’s quest for his prized Christmas gift.
“The songs are really catchy. They're really fast,” Parker said. “You get to cheer Ralphie on, and he, you know, he has his own little buddies that, you know, that they have to get in trouble too. So it's just kind of one of those things.”
Narrator Matt Christian plays Gene Shepard, the adult version of Ralphie.
“The character's name is actually Gene Shepard. He was an actual person. He was a radio personality,” Christian said. “Some people think that the stories that he wrote were semi-autobiographical, and I think we're kind of going with that in this show where he's reminiscing, even though his name is Gene Shepard and the little boy's name is Ralphie Parker, they are one in the same, or pretty darn close.”
One of the biggest challenges this year, Parker said, is the music. “The music is really tough, and when it's hitting, it's great,” he said. “Truth is, the main character, Ralphie, has hardly any lines, because all his lines are in music.”
Maisie, who plays Schwartz, described the role simply: “Schwartz is like Ralphie's best friend, along with Flick.”
The cast totals 24 performers, ranging from age 7 to senior adults. Several families are performing together. “We have several families that are acting,” Parker said. “What's so funny is we have people that are brand new to this stage, and they're older, while the younger people have been on the stage a lot.”
Assistant Director Sam Wilk encouraged the public to secure tickets early. “They go to familycommunitytheatre.org, and you can purchase tickets directly from there,” Wilk said. “But don't wait to get them at the box office right before the show. Get them early. They are selling fast.”
Wilk said the cast has overcome early hurdles. “You know, we had right off the cuff, our original music director couldn't continue with the rest of the show, so we were set back a couple weeks,” he said. “But I'll tell you what, we have an amazing cast, and they have handled it beautifully.”
Parker said the musical is a tradition that helps usher in the holiday season. “One thing about us always doing FCT, doing something like this right after Thanksgiving, it's to get us in the Christmas spirit,” he said. “And I think ‘Christmas Story’ is one of the classics that can get everybody in the Christmas spirit and to cheer Ralphie on to getting his, what he used to, his prize, the Red Rider BB gun with the compass in the stock.”
Parker closed with a challenge in true “A Christmas Story” fashion: “I think you should come. In fact, I triple dog dare you.”
Tickets are available at familycommunitytheatre.org, Busy Bee Laundry, or at the box office prior to each show.