Memorable characters come to life in Christmas classic
For its holiday show, the Whitefish Theatre Company presents the family classic “A Christmas Story” opening this weekend at the O’Shaughnessy Center in Whitefish.
This beloved play opens with a sneak preview night on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Performances continue on Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. and on Dec. 6, 13, and 20 at 4 p.m.
Based on the famous 1983 motion picture, “A Christmas Story” is the perfect feel-good holiday show for the whole family to enjoy. In 1940s Indiana, a bespectacled boy named Ralphie Parker has a big imagination and one wish for Christmas — a Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle.
Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher, and even Santa Claus himself, only to hear the consistent response: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” All of the elements from the classic movie are here, including the family’s exploding furnace, a kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a school bully, and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole.
The New York Daily News says the witty and warm wonder of “A Christmas Story” has a “sweet message that hits all the right notes of nostalgia.”
That sense of nostalgia is what drew Guest Director Rebecca Schaffer to be a part of the show.
“‘A Christmas Story’ is one of those traditions that gets passed down from generation to generation,” says Schaffer. “As a kid, I remember the excitement from my father every year when it was time for us to watch the movie together. Now, the story has been translated into a play, and I am so excited to get to share my vision of it with my father this year.”
As part of the 22-person cast, Ralphie is played by Henry Spradlin, Adult Ralph is played by Scott Plotkin, Father is played by Greg Postell, Mother is played by Scarlett Schindler, Randy is played by Badge Busse, Miss Shields is played by Alice Biel, Esther Jane is played by Taylor Gray, Helen is played by Abbey Biel, Scut Farkus is played by Camren Ross, Flick is played by Liam Lohr, and Schwartz is played by Kai Nash. Also contributing to the design of “A Christmas Story” are Lonnie Porro, costume designer, Robert Moody, technical director/production manager and Kellie Hoffman, stage manager.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors, and $10 for students with reserved seating. Tickets for the sneak preview performance on Dec. 1 are $10 sold only at the door. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office, 1 Central Ave., Whitefish, or by calling 862-5371.
Box office hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and one hour before performance times. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.whitefishtheatreco.org. The show is sponsored by the Whitefish Credit Union. The sponsors for the student outreach performance are American Bank and Jody and Frank Gray.