Dan Lauria will star as real-life radio icon Jean Shepherd in the forthcoming Broadway run of A Christmas Story. The previously announced new musical features a book by Joseph Robinette and a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Directed by John Rando, A Christmas Story will bein performances November 5 and officially November 19. The musical is scheduled to play a limited engagement through December 30 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Additional casting will be announced shortly.
Based on the 1983 film of the same name, A Christmas Story follows Ralphie, a young boy who has only one wish for Christmas: a Red Ryder BB gun. As Ralphie goes on an adventure to make his Christmas dream come true, he encounters a cranky department store Santa, a triple-dog-dare to lick a frozen flagpole, pink bunny pajamas and a kooky leg lamp. A Christmas Story is co-produced by Peter Billingsly, who played Ralphie in the original film. Jean Shepherd served as narrator and co-screenwriter for the film, and is author of In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash, the book on which both the musical and the film are based.
Lauria made his Broadway debut in Lombardi. Best known as Jack Arnold on The Wonder Years, Lauria’s additional film and TV credits include One Life to Live, Independence Day, Stakeout and Party of Five. He currently stars as Jack Sullivan on TBS' Sullivan & Son.