As if there weren’t enough stuff to do in New York City during the holidays, there will be a new Broadway show out for your Christmas tourism dollars: a musical adaptation of the cult-favorite Christmas movie A Christmas Story, which will run at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre from November 5 to December 30.
The musical adapts the 1983 comedy about Ralphie, a young kid who only wants one thing for Christmas: an official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-Shot Range Model Air Rifle. The show previously had tryout runs in Seattle (2010) and a national tour (2011). The songs were written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who previously wrote the music for the musical adaptation of James and the Giant Peach. The Broadway production will be directed by John Rando (Urinetown, The Wedding Singer).
A Christmas Story will be yet another holiday musical in a long line of New York Christmas musicals. The musical version of A Christmas Carol ran annually at the Madison Square Garden Theater (under its various names) from 1994 to 2003. A musical adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas played in 2006 and 2007 and an adaptation of Elf ran for a single season. Of course, none have had the staying power of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, which is celebrating its 80th season in 2012. Non-holiday Broadway shows typically do strong business during the holiday season, too, so A Christmas Story has some tough competition.
