by Anna Kotula
Discover the wonder of ‘A Christmas Story The Musical’ at the Ojai Art Center Theater opening December 1st. Join us for a complimentary after-show gala on opening night! This delightful production includes an impressive double cast featuring a 27-person ensemble of local talent, bringing to vibrant life the beloved 1983 holiday film favorite. In commemoration of the iconic film’s 40th anniversary, it is being produced in Los Angeles and other venues this year. ‘A Christmas Story, The Musical’ was crafted by the songwriting team behind ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ ‘La La Land,’ and ‘The Greatest Showman,’ and promises a memorable theatrical experience.
Set in the quaint backdrop of 1940s Indiana, this musical in Ojai brims with many familiar faces you see around our town, so much so that you have to see the show twice to see both casts! The story unfolds with the whimsical adventures of Ralphie Parker, a young and bespectacled dreamer, on his quest for the perfect Christmas gift: an official Red Ryder toy BB gun. His journey is humorously strewn with quirky hurdles – a gaudy leg lamp, over-the-top pink bunny pajamas, a cantankerous department store Santa, and the infamous triple-dog-dare to lick a frozen flagpole. Earning three Tony nominations in 2013, including Best Musical, the show has been celebrated as ‘a joyous Christmas miracle’ by the Associated Press. Echoing this sentiment, The New York Times remarks, ‘I was dazzled; you’d have to have a Grinch-sized heart not to feel a smile spreading across your face.’”
