'A Christmas Story' enters final days at Peoria theater

By Steve Stockmar
Mail |
X: @stevestockmar

Editor's note: This article first appeared in Sun Life Magazine, a Daily Independent publication.

Bringing a beloved holiday classic to the stage is full of Christmas magic – but can also be tricky.

Culturally iconic works appeal to widespread audiences who love the familiarity and tradition, yet welcome a fresh approach; who adore quintessential characters they know by heart, yet don’t necessarily want wholesale changes.

In its first Christmas show in two years, Arizona Broadway Theatre, in Peoria, is bringing “A Christmas Story” to the stage with Ralphie and his Red Ryder BB Gun and a definite twist.

The plot is the same from 1983 family classic – itself an adaptation of the 1960s short story from humorist Jean Shepherd. But this time the work is adapted for the stage as a musical and runs on the West Valley stage now through Dec. 28.

It’s the work of songwriting team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who also collaborated to create “Dear Evan Hansen” and “The Greatest Showman.” “A Christmas Story” made its stage debut in Kansas City in 2009 and has since played Broadway, gone on national tours, and earned three 2013 Tony Award nominations, including for Best Musical.

“When they adapted it to a musical they were very conscious about keeping the things that were important in the musical,” Kurtis Overby, artistic director and choreographer at Arizona Broadway Theatre, said during a rehearsal back in November just before opening night. “There’s nothing in the musical that doesn’t happen in the movie.”

A cast of almost 25 plus a dozen design team members behind the scenes bring the classic story to Peoria.

And with added musical numbers, audiences will get even deeper looks into the beloved characters.

“What the music does is just bring it into something completely different,” Overby said. “It adds some freshness to it. They give a lot of the kids a lot songs and that just brings a different energy into the whole show, and then they go into these dream sequences which we can do pretty cool in a theater.”

Visit azbroadway.org for tickets or call 623-776-8400.

Delaney Spanko, center, who plays "Miss Shields," rehearses a dance number with the cast of "A Christmas Story" on Nov. 12, at Arizona Broadway Theatre in Peoria.

(Independent Newsmedia/Steve Stockmar)

"A Christmas Story" runs at Arizona Broadway Theatre through Dec. 28.

(Photo provided by Arizona Broadway Theatre)

Kurtis Overby, artistic director and choreographer at Arizona Broadway Theatre in Peoria, works through rehearsals with the cast of "A Christmas Story" on Nov. 12.

(Independent Newsmedia/Steve Stockmar)

Arizona Broadway Theatre in Peoria is celebrating its 20th anniversary this season.

(Independent Newsmedia/Steve Stockmar)

Steve Stockmar
News Editor | Sun Life Magazine & Arts & Entertainment YourValley.net

sstockmar@iniusa.org

Meet Steve
Steve Stockmar joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, and has been an Arizona journalist for almost 30 years. He serves as editor of Sun Life Magazine and contributes to West Valley communities where he focuses mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference.

Community: Every season Steve serves as a “buddy” with the Miracle League of Arizona in Scottsdale, has volunteered his time with Family Promise in Glendale, and previously served on the Ghostlight Theatre board in Sun City West.

Education: Graduated from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a Journalism major and English minor.

Random Fact: Steve once won a 50-player live Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament.

Hobbies: Anguishing over his beloved Chicago Cubs and Bears; listening to Beatles and Grateful Dead music.