Audition – A Christmas Story: The Musical

Los Altos Stage Company is holding open auditions for A Christmas Story. Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Book by Joseph Robinette

Directed by Kristin Walter

Vocal Direction by Juliet Green

Choreography by Katie O’Bryon-Champlin

This musical, which received rave reviews in its Broadway run, is based on the movie classic that runs round-the-clock on television every Christmas. Set in the 1940s in the fictional town of Hohman, Indiana, the musical follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas gifts—an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Rebuffed at every turn with a similar echoing response, Ralphie plots numerous schemes to achieve his desperate desire for the coveted BB gun. All the iconic scenes from the movie are here: Ralphie’s friend, Flick, getting his tongue stuck to the flagpole; his brother, Randy, getting dressed in his snowsuit; the bullies, Farkus and Dill; the leg lamp award; the bunny suit; Christmas dinner; and many others. The delightfully versatile score ranges from gentle ballads to show-stopping full-ensemble numbers such as “Ralphie to the Rescue!”, “A Major Award,” “Sticky Situation,” “Up on Santa’s Lap,” “Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana” and the inevitable “You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!” 

Audition date: Saturday, August 3, 2024 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. *We are auditioning both adult roles and youth roles*

Where: Grant Park, 1575 Holt Ave, Los Altos

Callbacks: Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 10 AM to 2 PM.

Audition Sign Up: Please choose a time to audition using our Sign-up genius here: https://tinyurl.com/5bzdxua7.

Online Audition Form: Please fill out Los Altos Stage Company’s virtual audition form here: https://forms.gle/9JhRfGZDvcdPWCZDA. This must be filled out in addition to the Sign-Up Genius.

Rehearsals: Weekly Sunday-Thursday, 7-10 PM (except Sundays 6-9 PM). Tech week rehearsals are Monday-Wednesday 6-11 PM. First rehearsal Sunday October 13, 2024.

Performance dates: Wednesdays through Sundays, from November 29 through December 22, 2024. Wednesday-Saturday performances start at 8 PM. Sundays start at 3 PM. This production will have two performances (3 PM and 8 PM) on Saturday December 14 and Saturday December 21. *There will be no rehearsal or performance on Thanksgiving (11/28)*

Audition requirements: Please prepare a one-minute comedic monologue and a 16-32 bar cut of a song in the style of the show with piano accompaniment or with a recorded track. An accompanist and speaker will be provided, but please bring sheet music or a recorded track on a mobile device.  No dancing will be done at initial auditions.

It is preferable that you audition in person, but if you are unable to make auditions, video submissions will be considered.  Please fill out the audition form and send your video to rebecca.lasc@gmail.com. 

Callbacks must be in person. 

Actor Acknowledgement: A $15 meal reimbursement will be provided for rehearsal and performance days to which the actor is called up to a total amount of $500. 

Please forward questions to LASC’s Production Manager, Rebecca Voss at rebecca.lasc@gmail.com.

Roles: LASC does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, sex, gender, religion, age, marital or veteran’s status, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or genetics. LASC is committed to diversity in all its casting. Actors are encouraged to audition for any role they are interested in, regardless of how it has been portrayed previously. 

RALPHIE: Cute and winsome, but not precious. Bright, but not precocious. A regular 10 year old kid you wouldn’t mind having as a next-door neighbor. He’s determined and he has a wonderful imagination. Age range 10-12

JEAN SHEPHERD/NARRATOR: The warm, and charismatic on-stage narrator of the show, based on the original author of the book that inspired A Christmas Story and the original narrator of the 1983 film. Shepherd is a generally non-singing role that narrates throughout the show, interacts with Ralphie, and plays several minor characters within the action of the show. Age range 40+

THE OLD MAN: A guy with a good heart, though it’s buried beneath a sometimes gruff exterior. He loves his family but doesn’t overtly show it. He usually expects the worst but is capable of excitement if the situation warrants. In his moments of fantasy, he is transformed from his usual grumbling self to a true song and dance man. Age range 30-40

MOTHER: More in charge of the family than the Old Man, but she would never let him know it. She is warm and affable, but not a pushover. A vibrant woman, she is always busy, especially in the kitchen. She is the secret engine that keeps the family running, keeping the household together with an impressive balancing act. Age range 30-40

RANDY: Ralphie’s younger brother. Cute, cuddly, and whiny. Admires Ralphie but won’t admit it. He’s at the stage of childhood wherein he seems opposed to everything, but he’s still loveable – not a brat. Age range 8-10

SCHWARTZ: One of Ralphie’s best friends. He’s a bit of a know-it-all. Age range 10-12

FLICK: Ralphie’s other best friend. Can’t refuse a triple dog dare. Age range 10-12

SCUT FARKUS: The schoolyard bully. Age range 12-14

GROVER DILL: Scut Farkus’s little sidekick. Age range 10-12

MISS SHIELDS: Ralphie’s teacher. Prim, proper, stern when necessary, but warm and funny when needed. In Ralphie’s fantasy, she becomes a brassy, tapping, Broadway diva. Any age

SANTA: A department store version. Ill-tempered and slightly inebriated, he rushes the kids through the line so he can get to the nearest “watering hole.” Age range 40+ 

YOUTH ENSEMBLE: Classmates and town kids. Age range 9-12.

ADULT ENSEMBLE: Townspeople of Hohman, Indiana and players in Ralphie’s fantasy world. Any age