Dan Lauria & Peter Billingsley of ‘A Christmas Story, The Musical’ w/ Jim & Kim

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Peter Billingsley, producer of “A Christmas Story the Musical” and actor Dan Lauria, who plays Jean Shepard in the show stopped by the Fresh 102.7 studio to chat with the Jim & Kim morning show about the new Broadway spectacular.

The musical is based on the 1983 movie of the same name, which Peter Billingsley actually starred in as the main character, Ralphie.

“You’ll shooot yer eyeee ouuuut!”

Just like the film, the musical also follows Ralphie’s quest to receive the perfect christmas gift – the official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle.

“Having done the film in ’83, in its success there were a lot of bad ideas to do something with a film that’s a hit with either remakes or spin-offs. And then I heard musical and I thought that was a great idea. We started in a theater in Kansas City and we’ve built out and now we’re in Broadway and we got Dan here,” said Billingsley.

Dan Lauria was equally excited to work on the musical having previously worked with one of the original actors from the film.

“I knew Darren McGavin. I worked with him off Broadway; great guy. So I was a big fan of the movie. And Peter will tell you the movie when it first came out wasn’t a big success just like “It’s A Wonderful Life” wasn’t a big success actually,” said Lauria.

Since its initial release the movie has caught wind and is now on almost every channel around the holiday season.

“Its been really nice to do the musical, because it’s a great extension of the movie and it really goes to places that the film doesn’t. We’ve adjusted and adapted and worked it a lot because that is the nature of musicals. But for us we only get 8 weeks to work on it because thats how long we’re in theater for. And so we really got it to a great place,” said Billingsley.

If you haven’t seen the musical yet get your tickets here.

Watch the full interview.

-Maria Bonello, Fresh 102.7/NYC

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