Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany has announced their holiday presentation of A Christmas Story ` the stage version of the film based on the stories of Jean Shepherd ` will begin with a pay-what-you-will performance on Black Friday, Nov. 26, and public performances will run through Jan. 2, 2011.
The classic story, set in 1948 is the tale of eleven-year-old Ralphie Parker’s quest to persuade Santa and his parents that he should get the official Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas ` despite his mother’s worry that he’ll `shoot his eye out.`
Directing the production is Capital Repertory Theatre’s Producing-Artistic Director Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill who has assembled a veritable cornucopia of locally based professional and child actors ` including local Equity player Yvonne Perry (Ralphie’s mother) and her daughter Josie Hulbert (Betsy), a 5th grader at Loudonville Elementary School.
`At the heart of this story are the kids. You have to have an ensemble of child actors who are professional and disciplined who can still embody childhood innocence,` said Mancinelli-Cahill. `It took us 3 months to cast this play, and it was rewarding to see that 5 of the 9 young actors selected are alumni of our own programs.`
The lead role of Ralphie Parker will be played by Aaron Leslie Steck who is in 7th grade at Shaker Junior High School. His recent credits include `Arty` in Lost in Yonkers (Theater Voices), `Richie` in 13 the Musical at Capital Area Productions (CAPS), `Pigpen` in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, `Frankenguest` in Dear Edwina, and `Ensemble` in Camp (Debuts Theater).
Steck is joined by a host of area child actors all of whom have a variety of experiences in school, community theatre and professional regional theatre productions. Several of the young actors became known to Capital Rep through their Summer Theatre at the Rep (STAR) summer program.
Rounding out the child cast are Christian Meola, of Guilderland High School , as neighborhood bully Scut Farkus; David Bell, of Waterford-Halfmoon Elementary, as Ralphie’s little brother Randy; Jack Mastrianni,of Bethlehem Central School, as Ralphie’s friend Schwartz; Connor Olney of Acadia Middle School, as Ralphie’s friend Flick; George Franklin of Loudonville Elementary School as Farkus’ sidekick, Grover Dill; Josie Hulbert of Loudonville Elementary School as Ralphie’s classmate, Betsy; Gabrielle Straight, of Koda Middle School, as Ralphie’s classmate, Esther Jane; and Anna Stoneman, of Albany High School , as classmate Helen Weathers.
Joining the young actors is the adult cast of four, all of whom are professional Equity players. They include Wilbur Edwin Henry as the adult Ralph who is based on author and radio personality Jean Shepherd; Brent Langdon plays `The Old Man` a.k.a young Ralphie’s father; and two Capital Rep favorites Yvonne Perry as Ralphie’s mother and Brenny Rabine as Miss Shields, Ralphie’s teacher.
So far, ticket sales have been strong for this holiday offering, say organizers. The theatre has added six additional preview performances to the run, based on the demand for tickets. In addition to the public performance schedule, seven student matinees are planned and all have been sold out to area schools.
After the pay-what-you-will performance on Nov. 26, previews begin on Saturday, Nov. 27, and run through Tuesday, Dec. 6.
Opening night is Wednesday, Dec. 8, and the production will run through Jan. 2, 2011. Tuesday through Thursday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. There are no performances Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Tickets prices begin at $38 and are available by calling the box office at 445-7469 or e-mailing [email protected].
For more information, call the box office or visit www.capitalrep.org. “
