Pittsburgh Public Theater's 2025 Production of A Christmas Story: The Play and Play Guide
Dear friends and fans,
Welcome to Pittsburgh Public Theater! We are thrilled to have you here for A Christmas Story: The Play.
A Christmas Story reminds us of the power of hope and, as is the running theme for us this year, a lot of laughter! We can all agree we need it – NOW MORE THAN EVER.
This timeless tale also reminds us that holidays are rarely picture-perfect. Sharing this time with those we hold dear is an incredible blessing, even when things don’t go exactly as planned. In fact, it’s often the imperfections, laughter after a mishap, or the shared meal that didn’t turn out quite right that make our traditions most meaningful. This story celebrates the messy, beautiful, and deeply human side of the holidays. In Ralphie's determination, we also see the resilience that defines the human spirit. These are the very qualities that have sustained The Public through challenge and change, and they are what will carry us forward into a bright future. We believe theater is essential—not just during the holidays. Our challenge, and our invitation to you, is this: Keep the joy going in this season - and all year round! Let the warmth and wonder you feel tonight inspire you to return for An Enemy of the People or Primary Trust, to bring a friend, to become part of The Public family. Whether you've been with us for decades or this is your first visit, you belong here.
Over the last four years, The Public has cultivated a family of actors, designers, and technicians who have made bringing this story to life a part of their cherished holiday traditions. To everyone who has participated in this show over the years, thank you for sharing your treasured talents with us.
Our family is incomplete without you. Whether you are sharing this season with your relatives, chosen family, or friends, thank you for making Pittsburgh Public Theater a part of your celebrations. Your presence here tonight keeps that spirit alive and ensures that live theatre continues to thrive right here in Pittsburgh.
Produced by special arrangement with DRAMATIC PUBLISHING, Woodstock, Illinois A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE PLAY is rated PG for the allusion to explicit language and themes of bullying.
THE CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
ADULT RALPH .........................................
THE OLD MAN .......................................... TIM MCGEEVER
RANDY .........................................
NEAL RAJ WADHWA JR.
MISS SHIELDS ..........................................
HOPE ANTHONY
FLICK EMMANUEL HYACINTHE SCHWARTZ JIMMY HOWELLS
ESTHER JANE ALBERRY
NATALIE ROSE CHRISTIANSON
HELEN WEATHERS LOUISA ANNE BUTLER SCUT FARKAS EAMONN LOCH MCELFRESH
YOUTH CHORUS/UNDERSTUDY SIOBHÁN WADHWA
YOUTH CHORUS/UNDERSTUDY ...................... MILES CUNNINGHAM UNDERSTUDY ...................................
STEFAN LINGENFELTER UNDERSTUDY ...................................... VANESSA RESELAND
The performance runs approximately 2 hours with one 15-minute intermission. The show is rated PG for allusion to explicit language, brief and mild violence on stage, themes of bullying, and romantic innuendo. Suitable for most audience with guidance urged for pre-teens.
JAMIE AGNELLO MOTHER
Jamie Agnello, "a human, not a puppet (The New York Times)," is delighted to be returning as Mother. Selected credits include Quantum, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Bricolage, Lincoln Center, Park Avenue Armory, St. Ann's Warehouse, and La MaMa ETC. She also puppeteers the chameleon Cai for AHN's YouTube series Cai & Kate. Next up, you can catch her in Anne Washburn's 10 Out of 12 with Quantum Theatre. www.jamieagnello.com
HOPE ANTHONY MISS SHIELDS
Hope Anthony is back for the 4th year! Last seen in Another Kind of Silence at City Theatre. Previous productions include Trouble in Mind, The Importance of Being Earnest, A Midsummer Night's Dream in Harlem, and A Raisin in the Sun. Hope is also an Audio Describer and a Creative Dramatics teaching artist. Hope trained at Point Park University. @hdy.cope
LOUISA ANNE BUTLER HELEN WEATHERS
Louisa Anne Butler is thrilled to reprise the role of Helen Weathers with the Pittsburgh Public Theater's production of A Christmas Story: the Play. Louisa is a 7th grade student in the North Allegheny School District. She enjoys acting, running track, and playing volleyball.
NATALIE ROSE CHRISTIANSON ESTHER JANE ALBERRY
Natalie is so excited to be making her debut at the Pittsburgh Public Theater! She is seventh grader at Marshall Middle School and in her fourth year at Act One Theatre School. Outside of theater, she enjoys bowling, sewing, math, and pigs.
MILES CUNNINGHAM YOUTH CHORUS/UNDERSTUDY
Miles Cunningham was raised in Shanghai, China where he performed in Russian and Chinese theater. After moving to America, Miles won first place in Pittsburgh’s Shakespeare competition for his performance of Falstaff. Miles enjoys learning Chinese and Russian, writing stories, imagining himself as a director, and playing the piano.
JIMMY HOWELLS SCHWARTZ
Jimmy Howells is excited to make his acting debut in Pittsburgh Public Theater's A Christmas Story! He is a 5th grader at McMurray Elementary in Peters Township, a dedicated student who loves playing baseball. Jimmy is grateful to his family, friends, and teachers for their support and encouragement in this exciting opportunity.
EMMANUEL HYACINTHE FLICK
Emmanuel is a 12-year-old 7th grader who loves the arts, science, and music. He enjoys video games, drawing, reading, and playing piano. As a member of the Alumni Theatre Company (ATC) Young Artist Ensemble, Emmanuel is known for his curiosity, humor, and creativity on and off the stage.
STEFAN LINGENFELTER UNDERSTUDY
Stefan is absolutely thrilled to return for a second year as Production Understudy for PPT’s A Christmas Story. He just completed the Production Understudy role for this season’s opener Noises Off. He moved to Pittsburgh 16 years ago after 20 years in NYC and has performed major roles with many of the city’s beloved theatre companies including Prime Stage, PICT, 12 Peers, Riverfront, and Split Stage.
EAMONN LOCH MCELFRESH SCUT FARKAS
Eamonn, a Senior at Pgh CAPA, is thrilled to portray “Scut Farkas” again. Other selected professional theater credits include The PCLO’s Christmas Carol (Wyatt Crachit), Front Porch Theatricals Fun Home (Christian Bechdel) and Grand Hotel (Bellboy), and Quantum Theater’s Chatterton (Edward). For several years he has been a Top Five Finalist in The Public’s Shakespeare Competition. In 2025, Eamonn represented the CLO, in NYC, at The Jimmy Awards (Pierre) as a semi-finalist.
TIM MCGEEVER THE OLD MAN
Tim McGeever is happy to return as The Old Man at Pittsburgh Public Theater for a fourth year. Previous Pittsburgh Public Theater productions include An Act of God with John Shepard, directed by Ted Pappas, and Clybourne Park directed by Pam Berlin. He was named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s performer of the Year for 2022. Tim trained at Juilliard. He is the husband of the actress/dialect coach/teacher/director/playwright whirlwind known as Nancy McNulty.
VANESSA RESELAND UNDERSTUDY
Vanessa Reseland is a union-strong actor and singer best known for playing the Witch in Fiasco Theater’s Into the Woods on the US Tour and in London.
Vanessa wrote and performed as musical guest with the band, The AllFor-Nots, on Jimmy Kimmel Live and created musical project, WIFEY. They co-created the comedy series, Remarkable Women . Education: Act One Theatre School in the North Hills, BFA (PSU), William Esper Studio in NYC, Improv (UCBNY and LA). To Mom, Dad, and C.
AVERY JAMES SCHNEIDER RALPHIE PARKER
Avery Schneider is a sixth grader at Indiana Area Junior High School, He’s thrilled to return as Ralphie. His recent credits include Theo in Pippin (CLO), Gomez in Addams Family Jr., Jason in Falsettos, and Gilbert Blythe in Anne of Avonlea. He won the PPT Shakespeare Contest for his Henry V monologue and would like to thank his family, directors, and castmates for making this such an amazing holiday tradition and experience.
JOHN SHEPARD ADULT RALPH
This is John's 4th year happily playing adult Ralph, even though he could now be called Old Ralph. John has done many shows at the Public. He has also done dozens of shows for local theatres. He has worked on Broadway, Off Broadway and at many of the country's finest regional theatres. He has worked in film and TV. Including the upcoming web series "The Human, Will." He has been named the PPG performer of the year. John's book, "Auditioning and Acting for the Camera" is used around the country. He can be seen in Eureka Day next spring at City.
NEAL RAJ WADHWA JR. RANDY
Neal is thrilled to return to A Christmas Story as Randy. He is a 6th grade CAPA theater student. Recent performances include jock/ ensemble in High School Musical Jr., CAPA and a solo in the Love Cabaret, McKeesport Little Theater. He studies ballet with Bodiography, Irish dance with Shovlin Academy and piano/voice with Shane McLaughlin. Neal loves to play chess, golf, tennis and root for all Pittsburgh sports teams.
SIOBHÁN WADHWA YOUTH CHORUS/UNDERSTUDY
Siobhán is delighted to be a part of A Christmas Story. She is a 7th grade CAPA vocal major. Recent performances include CAPA Madrigal Choir, Treble Choir Festival, cheerleader/ ensemble, High School Musical Jr. CAPA, the Love Cabaret, McKeesport Little Theater. Siobhán studies ballet with Bodiography, Irish dance with Shovlin Academy and piano/voice with Shane McLaughlin.
o Collier Twp. o Cranberry Twp. go to SPLASH F R O M T H E K I T C H E N O F : employee owned, Nicklas Supply
INGREDIENTS
o kitchen & bath cabinetry
o decorative plumbing
o tile & stone
o architectural hardware
MICHAEL BERRESSE DIRECTOR
Michael Berresse is a Tony® and Olivier Award-nominated actor and OBIE Award®-winning director, choreographer, writer and teacher. Credits include over 7000 performances in 11 Broadway shows, extensive film and TV appearances and the privilege of helming award-winning productions across the USA, UK and Japan. Thank you to this incredible company and The Public for this very special show. Michaelberresse.com
TIM MACKABEE SCENIC DESIGNER
Pittsburgh Public Theater: Noises Off , A Christmas Story: The Play , Little Shop of Horrors . Broadway: The Elephant Man, Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth. West End: The Elephant Man. OffBroadway: Heathers: The Musical. MCC: Seared. Atlantic: Guards at the Taj, Describe The Night Roundabout: Darling Grenadine, The Last Match. MTC: Vietgone. LCT: Luce. TV: "Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo" (HBO), "Gotham," "Smash," "The Today Show " Education: North Carolina School of the Arts, Yale School of Drama. @timmackabeedesign, timothymackabeedesign.com
VENISE ST. PIERRE COSTUME DESIGNER
Venise St. Pierre is very excited to be working on A Christmas Story again after designing vibrant seaside costumes for this spring’s Twelfth Night. We’ll be using the tradition of “hand me down” clothing for our new Christmas Story family members. I hope the charm left in the costumes carries on and grows this year and for years to come.
ROBERT J. AGUILAR LIGHTING DESIGNER
Previous designs for Pittsburgh Public Theater include Twelfth Night, The Hobbit, A Christmas Story: The Play, Little Shop of Horrors, and Marjorie Prime. Additional credits include: Seattle Rep, Portland Center Stage, Arizona Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Seattle Opera, Milwaukee Rep, Intiman Theatre, ACT, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Tantrum Theater, The Old Globe, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Robert is the Lighting Director of Seattle Rep. robertjaguilar.com @fake_robert
SARTJE PICKETT SOUND DESIGNER
Sartje Pickett is a composer & sound designer for theater, film & interactive storytelling. Recent and upcoming productions include work with American Players Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Trinity Repertory Company, Quantum Theatre & Virginia Stage Company. Pickett is the co-founder of District 5 Sound, specializing immersive and interactive storytelling environments.
BRYCE CUTLER PROJECTION DESIGNER
Previous designs include Grand Horizons on Broadway, 2020 Pulitzer Prize finalist Soft Power at the Public Theater along with world premieres by John Patrick Shanley, Dael Orlandersmith, Matt Aucoin, Grammy Award winner Steve Mackey, production design of Samsung’s virtual reality television series Interpretation of Dreams, and a virtual reality arcade for Muse’s 2019 World Tour www.brycecutler.com
SHERRY DEBERSON HAIR & MAKEUP DESIGNER
Sherry is happy to be back with The Public working on A Christmas Story. Sherry has worked on many production for the Public, Pgh CLO, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Elson Associates, City Theater, and Film, and Commercials. Thank you for having me back.
JOSÉ PÉREZ IV FIGHT AND INTIMACY DIRECTOR
José Pérez IV is the Resident Fight & Intimacy Director of Pittsburgh Public Theater. Select credits at The Public: Noises Off, Twelfth Night, The Hobbit, The Coffin Maker. Regional credits: POTUS (City Theatre), Enron, Seagull, A Moon for the Misbegotten (Quantum Theatre), Dracula: a feminist revenge fantasy (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (Cleveland Play House), Breakfalls (Vermont Stages).
DAINA MICHELLE GRIFFITH ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Daina Michelle Griffith is an actor, educator and director who is proud to call Pittsburgh her artistic home. A proud AEA, SAG-AFTRA Union Member for 20 years, she has been seen over a dozen times on The Pittsburgh Public Theater’s stage, numerous times with every professional theater in Pittsburgh and on stages across the United States. She has extensive film/television credits including Christopher Nolan’s THE DARK KNIGHT RISES and Richard Linklater’s WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE, to name just a few. Daina was named PPG’s PERFORMER OF THE YEAR
TINA SHACKLEFORD PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Tina Shackleford returns to The Public for another year of A Christmas Story: The Play. Her stage management credits include productions at theaters across the country, most recently the premieres of Out of Character for Berkshire Theatre Group and Salvage for Opera House Arts. For USITT she is a founding member of the EDI Initiative and former Management Commissioner. Tina teaches stage management at Carnegie Mellon and is a proud member of Actors Equity Association.
KELLY HAYWOOD ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
Kelly Haywood is excited to be back with PPT. Select productions with PPT include: Noises Off, A Raisin in the Sun, Dial M for Murder, Steel Magnolias, Little Shop of Horrors, The Hobbit, Noises Off, An Iliad and Tell-Tale Heart. Kelly has also done several productions with the Pittsburgh Opera, CLO and Pittsburgh Ballet.
HEARTFELT THANKS TO OUR CHRISTMAS STORY FAMILY
Callee Miles
Daniel St. Pierre
Zoe Abuyuan
Will Chambers
Suraya Love Collins
Jude Ziggy Glover
Jason McCune
Joseph McGranaghan
Dr. Richard Moriarty
Moira Quigley
Zora Rose
Claire Sabatine
Charlie Julian Stull
Mark Stys
Nikolai Zevchak
Adjoa Opoku-Dakwa
Sebastian Madoni
Colin Bozick
Catherine Kolos
Kaaveri Patil
Natalie McGovern
Ezekiel Tiago Dunn
Cameron Edwards
Rohan Parekh
Caris Tomaceski
AJ Sansonetti
Gabriella Walko
Taylor Meszaros
Group Sales partners at Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
Photo:
Pittsburgh Public Theater is a member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT) and operates under agreements between LORT and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
The scenic, costume, lighting, and sound designers in LORT theaters are represented by United Scenic Artists, Local USA-829 of The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
Local IATSE affiliations include Local No. 3, (stage technicians); The Wardrobe Union, Local 787 (costume and wardrobe personnel), and The American Federation of Musicians Local 60-471.
The Director is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Inc., an independent national labor union.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Public Theater is grateful for the generous support of the individuals and institutions that make up our Supporting Cast.
$50,000+
Hilda M. Willis Foundation
The Pittsburgh Foundation
The Hillman Foundation
Allegheny Foundation
$20,000 – $49,999
The Benter Foundation
$10,000 – $19,999
Giant Eagle Foundation
Roy A. Hunt Foundation
CORPORATE, FOUNDATION, AND GOVERNMENT FUNDERS
The Shubert Foundation, Inc.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Arthur J And Betty F Diskin Cultural Endowment Fund
The Heinz Endowments
McCune Foundation
Allegheny Regional Asset District
Richard King Mellon Foundation
The Anne L. & George H. Clapp Charitable Trust Roesch Family Charitable Trust
$5,000 – $9,999
Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball
$4,999 & UNDER
James & Louisa Rudolph Philanthropic Fund
James T. and Hetty E. Knox Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation
Rackoff - Loeb Family Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation
Irving & Aaronel deRoy Gruber Foundation
PPG Industries Foundation
PLATINUM ($10,000+)
Anonymous
Robert C. Levin & Dr. Kerry Bron
Kristen Clendaniel Clark
GOLD ($5,000 – $9,999)
Anonymous Anonymous
Anonymous
William P. Anderson
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas L. Bakaitus, Jr.
Ellie & Bob Bernstein
Drs. Barbara & Albert Biglan
Mr. & Mrs. Grady Gaspar
David Hairhoger
SILVER ($2,500 – $4,999)
Anonymous
Drs. Richard Ambrosino & Renata Hoca
Angelo Baiocchi & Maureen Puskar
Wittmer Zoerb Foundation
James M. and Lucy K. Schoonmaker Foundation
MAK Fund
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
The Burke Foundations
Byham Charitable Foundation
The Donald & Sylvia Robinson Family Foundation
Paul & Dina Block Foundation
Bruce & Barbara Wiegand Family Foundation
Rooney Family Giving Fund
Ackerman Family Fund
Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation
The Jack Buncher Foundation
RMK Fund Of The Pittsburgh Foundation
Spang and Company Charitable Trust
R. Drew and Mary S. Kistler Family Fund
Binkley Charitable Fund of the Marietta Community Foundation
INDIVIDUAL PARTNERS – DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE
M. Patrick Daniels Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation
Robert & Marilyn Egan
Janet & Bill Hunt
Adam R Henderson and Bruce C Marshall
Marilyn & Donald Jenkins
Becky & Tim Kcehowski
The Burke Family
Krysia Kubiak & Ricardo A. Vila-Roger
Jeff & Katie Kulbieda
Michael Martorella & Patty Diulus-Myers
Patricia K. Nichols
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel A. Onorato
Rhoda & David Hartmann
Ms. Marcia Metelsky
Eric & Sharon Perelman
Ms. Barbara H. Bott & Mr. Robert L. Jennings, Jr.
Barbara Cooley & Robert M. Thaw
James & Stephanie Dewar Charitable Fund
Mr. Albert Gordon
John & Arlene Ham
BRONZE ($1,000 – $2,499)
Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Abbott
Carolyn Hess Abraham & Jay Apt
Richard C. Barney
Ivan & Sybil Baumwell
James Bobenage
Bobbi Bonnett
Elizabeth & David Brown
John Buckley & Emily Rosenthal
Calihan Foundation
Ms. R. Yvonne Campos
Cynthia G. Custer
Mary Lu & Jim Denny
Todd & Michele Dominick
Dr. & Mrs. Julian Eligator
Jan & Howard Engelberg
Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Flinn
Richard E. Rauh
Neil M. Resnick & Susan L. Greenspan
George & Marcia Seeley
Miriam Shapira & David Ross
Preston & Annette Shimer
Michael & Cathy Ginsberg
Frank & Maria Guyette
Chela Sanchez & Kyle Haden
Brian & Jill Hamlin
Dale Hershey
David & Loretta Hoglund
Alice Jane Jenkins
Russell W. Johnson
Carolyn J. Jones
Mr. & Mrs. Daniel G. Kamin
Scott Koedel
Gary & Dixie Kulbieda
Carol K. Lampe
Mary Casillo McCormick
Tom & Becky McGough
Mark & Mary Ellen Meyer
Jim & Susan Morris
Katherine Needham
Paul M. Palevsky, MD & Sharon R. Roseman, MD
M. Catherine Peters
Laura & Steven Powell Family Giving Fund
David & Susan Matter
Christian Stein
Mr. & Mrs. Hayes C. Stover
Barry & Ann Sullivan
Robert & Christine Pietrandrea
Jessica Priselac
Peter & Leslie Robinson
Ms. Sheri Sable
Samar Sinharoy
Joseph & Lynn Smith
Fred Steinberg, Jo DeBolt
Mr. and Mrs. F. Conn Thieman
Kate A. Sphar
Tom & Judy Thompson
Stewart Urist
Elaine Wertheim
Richard Witherspoon
Dr. Eric Rickin and Ms. Melissa Marks
John Rieck
Mr. & Mrs. William F. Roemer
Harvey & Lynn Rubin
Christine I. Rudock
Rich & Linda Ruffalo
Linda & Richard Shaw
Lee & Myrna Silverman
Marjorie K. Silverman
Joanne & Terence Starz
Ms. Bonnie Sun
Marlene A. Tomasello
John & Nancy Traina
The Suzanne & Richard Wagner Charitable Foundation of the JFCS
Gerri Weiss
Vera & Tom White
Bruce & Barbara Wiegand Family Foundation
Doris C. Williams
Bud & Barb Wise
JAN 17–FEB 8
Malcolm X and Redd Foxx
Washing Dishes at Jimmy’s Chicken Shack in Harlem
by JONATHAN NORTON directed by DEXTER J. SINGLETON
Before they were icons, they were two young men washing dishes in Harlem. It’s 1943 and Foxy (soon to be Redd Foxx) befriends fellow dishwater Little, better known, many years later, as Malcolm X. Through a summer of heartbreak, uprisings, and leftovers, the two shape each other into the legends they are known to be through a revolutionary mix of humor
Pittsburgh Public Theater A
INDIVIDUAL PARTNERS – THE SUPPORTING CAST
PRODUCER
Anonymous
Anonymous
Jo-Anne Bala
Larry Allen & Scott Bell
Ron & Phyllis Bianchetti
Mark Blatter and Jacque Imro
Kathleen Boykin
Helen & Stephen Casey
Mr. & Mrs. Carlo Caso
Alvin & Sheila Catz
The Honorable & Mrs. Thomas Corbett
Nelson & Carol Craige
Ms. Phyllis C. Echement
Mr. Frederick N. Egler Jr. & Ms. Kathleen W. Buechel
Banford & Terri Exley
Moses & Laryn Finder
Will Flanagan
Dr. & Mrs. Robert E. Forman
Dr. John & Therese Gallagher
PLAYWRIGHT
Anonymous Anonymous
John & Gretchen Barbor
Mr. Larry Bering
Joan & Keith Bernard
Robin Joan Bernstein
Mike & Carol Blessel
G. Frederic Roth & Sherry S. Bloom
William & Arlene Brandeis
James & Maegan Bregenser
Mr. Thomas Burgunder
Mr. & Mrs. William Ceriani
Ms. Hanley B. Cox
Judy & Bob Cunningham
Steven Doerfler
Hallie and Joshua Donner Philanthropic Fund
Dan & Sandy Donovan
Peter Donovan
Christine Dvonch
John A. Dymun
Joe & Lynn Fey
Paula Fey
Freddie & Hilda Fu
Deborah Galson & Philip Auron
Sally & Pat Getty
Mr. and Mrs. John Geyer
William D. & Margaret S. Ghrist
Rabbi James & Barbara Gibson
LEAD ACTOR
Dr. & Mrs. Rudolph P. Almasy
John & Pat Auld
The Patti & Sandy Berman Foundation of the Jewish Community Foundati
Andrew Bloomgarden and Leah Nicolich-Henkin
Mr. Michael Blow
Reggie & Marianne Bonfield
Carolyn M. Branthoover
Karen & Reece Brock
B. Jean Brown
Kim & Scott Brown
Robin Ziegler & Cliff Chen
Mr. Steve Cuden
William Cullen & Susan Kelly
Mr. and Mrs. John Geyer
Jane N. Gilbert
Hanna Gruen
Richard & Lori Guttman
Christine A. Hartung
Micki F Huff
Mary Ellen Johnson
Sherdina G. Jones
Robert Julius
Mary Ruth & Ward Kelsey
Arthur J. Kerr, Jr.
Ellen Kight & Steve Woods
Tom Kissane
Carl Krasik
William and Toni Land Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation
Ron & Fran Landay
Elsa Limbach
Ms. Dorothy Davis & Mr. David Lynch
Julie McKnight
Elliot Gill
Dr. Terri F. Gould
Lynne & Marvin Gross
Nancy Heastings
Mr. and Mrs. Fred P. Heidenreich
Lynne & Blair Jacobson
Jack & Ellen Kessler
Debra & Jack King
Milton & Lynn Klein
George & Joan Kotjarapoglus
Linda & George Kraemer
Karen D. Kuhar
Helena Leslie
Ken Lewis and Diane Ichikawa
Denise Little & Patrick Furey
Ms. Martha Luzer
Michel Makaroun & Silva Arslanian
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Malnati
John A. Martine
William McClendon, Jr.
Jeffrey Miller & David McDougal
Gary & Cherie Moshier
Patricia & Raymond Nepa
Adrienne Olsen
Barb & Larry Otto
Christopher & Mary Rawson
Norb Connors
Jeanne D. Rosen
Judy & Ron Davenport
Marie C. & Arlene DeFrances
Joan Drexler & Bob Ciardi
Dana Estep
Ruth G. Foltz
Stephen Frankola
John & Susan Frantz
Alan & Ruth Garfinkel
William E. Goehring
Goldberg Family Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation
Phyllis Moorman Goode
Thomas & Kathy Gribbin
Nancy E. Gruner
Eileen Hardy
Mr. Richard Harris
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas A.P. Hayden
Alan Helgerman & Sandra LaPietra
Vicky & Steve Hoffman
Bruce & Joanne Jansen
Mary McSorley
Joel & Sandy Miller
Barb & Jim Moyer
Mr. Henry Posner III & Ms. Anne Molloy
Katie Prosen
Douglas & Terri Reiss
Rick & Kim Roadarmel
Ed Scheid
Mr. and Mrs. John Schultz
Carole & Mark Shepard
The Singer Family Charitable Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Ann Slonaker
Henry & Mary Snyder
M. Ellen Tarpey & John S. Battaglia
James S. Thompson
Mr. & Mrs. Walter M. Turner
Dr. & Mrs. Michael R. Wollman
Janine Pershing Wright
Susan Rossetti & Curt Woodhead
Don & Mary Rugh
Dr. & Mrs. Larry Shuman
Jay Silberblatt & Lori Sisson
Helena Ruoti & Sam Simone
Kemal A. Mericli & Stella L. Smetanka
Cotter Smith
Ruth R. Snyder
Beth & Jonathan Spatz
Kenneth Spillias and Monica Saumweber
Sara & John Henry Steelman
Marcia M. Stewart
Thea & Dick Stover
Daniel Sweeney
Rev. James R. Torquato
Linda Torres & Vincent Petti
Ms. Eleanor Weaver
Mr. & Mrs. Brad Wheeler
Peggy C. Whitehurst
Ms. Lois Wholey
Rebecca & Thomas Wiles
Dr. & Mrs. John & Valerie Williams
James & Ramona Wingate
Ronda Winnecour & Keith Lundin
Joanne A. Wright
Dr. David Zubrow
Elna M. Johnson
Janis & Jonas Johnson
Roger & Judith Juselius
Dolores Kara
Janie Katz
Patsy & P.K. Kennedy
Jeanne Keys
Ms. Farah Khan
David & Susan Laurent
Guy & Lauren Lawhead
Mr. & Mrs. Frederick L. Maddalena
Drs. Ellen Mandel & Lawrence Weber
Mrs. Anya A. McMillen & Dr. Ryan McMillen
Ms. Jolie McCarthy
Ruth McDonald
Nicky McLaughlin
Dr. Eric & Mrs. Marion Miller
Drs. Phillip & Sarah Neusius
Fred Noel & Rick Fredin
Monica Pagano
Pittsburgh Public Theater A
INDIVIDUAL PARTNERS – THE SUPPORTING CAST (CONT'D)
Laurie and Jerry Malarkey, in honor of Jenny Malarkey
Mr. Richard Mallary
Alex Mann
Ms. Ashley Martin
Robert Mason
Edward Massarsky & Sylvia Slavkin
Mr. Douglas McCann
Reverend David V. McFarland
Mark McGranaghan
Mrs. Ann M. McHoes and Mr. Bob Kleinmann
William & Rosemary McLaughlin
James K. McNeel
Kortney Mcquiston
Mr. Art McSorley
Paul Meade
George & Toni Mesiarik
Dorothea Metelsky
Bob and Chris Meyer
Ms. Nancy Mihalcin
INDIVIDUAL PARTNERS – THE SUPPORTING CAST (CONT'D)
Rev. Mark Carl Miller
Linda Miller-Pretz
Dr. & Mrs. Ricardo J. Mitre
Bonnie & Michael Mokotoff
Sarah Monahan
Richard Munroe
Dr. & Mrs. Daniel J. Murphy, Jr.
Joe Murphy
Mr. & Mrs. John R. Musser
Esther Nathanson
Robert & Carol Wolfe Neu
Ms. Gail Neustadt
Ms. Melissa Newara
Eleanor Newman
Mr. Saihou Njie and Mrs. Valerie Njie
Linda Noll
Robert W. Obee
Mr. William Obenour
Ruthann Omer
Trish & Trevor Orchard
Paul and Peggy Outon
Mr. & Mrs. Paul D. Palmer
Miss Lisa Papenbrock
Amy & Anthony Pardo
Mr. Nicholas Parrish
Anne Payling
Barbara Peace
Janice Peischl
Ms. Bridgette Perdue
Mr. Ralph J. Perko
Ms. Kate Pieratt and Mr. Clark Webb
Mrs. Myrna H. Pollock & Mr. Charles N. Stroz III
Denise & Edward Ponczak
Richard Potter
Dana Priest
Mark & Frances Prus
Lara Putnam
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas E. Qualters
Beth Radke
Ms. Lesley Rains
Marya Sea Kaminski by Sr. Rita M. Yeasted, SFCC
Sister Rita Yeasted by Bill & Kathy Gavlak
Alec Silberblatt by Jay Silberblatt & Lori Sisson
In Loving Memory of Dr. Richard Moriarty by David Hairhoger
Elaine Belle Krasik by Carl Krasik
Robert Furst by Mrs. Selma B. Furst
Charles E. Reese, MD by M. Catherine Peters
Catherine Raphael
Mr. Stuart Redshaw
Ms. Sara J. Reed
Bonnie Resinski
The Forward Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation
Rebecca Rickard
Kiera Rider
Gustave Rieck
Ms. Deborah Rosen
Robert Ross
Dr. Gilan El Saadawi
Arlene & Steve Sablowsky
Diane Salvatora
Ms. Elizabeth Sanchez
Brigitte Schmidt
Margaret and Stanley Schmiedecke
Nicole Schneider
Ellie Schoenberger
Benjamin Schran
Tina Shackleford
Mabel Jeanette Shaner
Mr. Jeremy Shapira and David Gilinsky
Ms. Dannette Shebest
Roz Sherman
Ruta I. Silenieks-Butson
Mr. & Mrs. Paul A. Silver
Mr. Robert Simon
Stephen Sims
Sue Sirianni
Ms. Candace Sizer
Caitlin Skaff and Brian Stoots
Mr. & Mrs. James Skiles
Amy Smith
Mr. & Mrs. Harold M. Smoliar
Mr. Allan Snyder
Lynn Starr
Jeff & Linda Stayer
Carolyn Stewart
Christine Stives
Mr. J. Stofcik
Victor Peischl by Janice Peischl
Delphine Hvozdovich by Monica Pagano
Michael J. Leonard by Mr. Ken Bolden
John McSorley III, MD by Mary McSorley
Sallie J. Zoerb by Wittmer Zoerb Foundation
Anthony Strain
Ann Strong
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Stull
Harikesh Subramanian
Ms. Paula Suhrbier
Mr. & Mrs. Myron M. Sussman
Ms. Ellen Sussna-Heyman and David Heyman
Mr. & Mrs. Perry R. Swanson
Mr. Eric Swendsen
Rosa Szalinski
Dr. Gary H. Tabas
Mr. & Mrs. David Tauch
Georgia M. Taylor
Kimberly Taylor & Stephane Bucklew
LaShawnda A. Thomas
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Troeger
Linda & Jerry Turk
Dr. & Mrs. Adrian R. Van Strien
Claire & Mel Vatz
Colleen Vermillion
Matthew & Susanne Vila
Carey & Tracey Vinson
John Visconti
Nancy Vrhovac
Ms. Jennifer Waldron
Ms. Erin Walsh
Steven & Amy Warner
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Watzman
Bryan Webler
Ms. Jo Ann C. Whelan
Jeffrey White and Elizabeth Smith
Dr. Michael J. White
The Whitehill Family
Mr. Ben Wiliams and Ms. Sandra Kozera
Ms. Beth Williams Esq.
Susan Wingfield
Bill & Laurie Winslow
Darlene S. Wood
William E. & Monica N. Zanieski
Margaret & John Zimmerman
Marcia Metelsky by Dorothea Metelsky Miriram Shapira by Ms. Bonnie Sun
Bold indicates upgraded membership this season.
Christopher Abbott, Vice Chair*
John Bettis, III
Angela Blanton
Robert E. Cochran
Michelle Gainey
Kyle Haden*
Josie Innamorato*
William Jenkins
Becky Kcehowski
Anthony L. Bucci
Carolyn M. Byham
Judith M. Davenport, DMD
John P. Friel
Michael Ginsberg
William E. Hunt
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Krysia M. Kubiak, Chair*
Jeff Kulbieda, Treasurer*
Michael R. Martorella
Shaunda McDill**
Erin McLaughlin
Ayisha A. Morgan-Lee, EdD
Daniel A. Onorato
Eric Perelman
Jessica Priselac, Secretary*
EMERITUS TRUSTEES
Diana R. Jannetta
Marilyn M. Jenkins
Linda Kortlandt
Jeremy Z. Kronman
David M. Matter
W. Thomas McGough, Jr.
Marcia Metelsky
PITTSBURGH PUBLIC THEATER STAFF
Shaunda McDill, Managing Director
Kyle Haden, Artistic Consultant
Lindsay Barr, Manager of Executive & Artistic Operations
ARTISTIC
Brian Pope, Casting & Literary Director
José Pérez IV, Resident Fight & Intimacy Director
Mora V. Harris, Resident Playwright
Adil Mansoor, Resident Director
Anya Martin, Resident Playwright
Brian Pope, Resident Playwright
Kelly Trumbull, Resident Playwright
TJ Young, Resident Playwright
HUMAN RESOURCES
Lisha Logan, Director of Human Resources
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
Maya Holmes, Company Manager
Trent Wolfred, Associate Director of Operations
Adrianne Redwood, Events Consultant
FINANCE
Adam List, Controller
Coltin Kuhaneck, Staff Accountant
Gwen Rouse, Staff Accountant
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Aja Jones, Chief of External Affairs
Ali Mohammed Srour, Patron Services Data Analyst
Matty Wingfield, Senior Manager of Institutional Giving
Brian Starks, Community Liaison
PARTICIPATION & PARTNERSHIPS
Dominique Briggs, Director of Participation & Public Partnerships
Jenny Malarkey, Senior Manager of Education
INTERNS
Mikayla Stasny
Amanda Przygonska
Madelyn Miessmer
Alexander Farrell
Peter D. Robinson*
Arthur J. Rooney II
Bal Srinivasan*
Miriam Shapira
Joseph B. Smith*
James D. Snyder*
Kate Sphar
F. Connelly Thieman
Jeremy Waldrup
TJ Young
John Mills, III
Stuart M. Miller
Richard W. Moriarty, M.D.+
Barry R. Sullivan
Thomas M. Thompson
Stanley Yorsz
PRODUCTION
Monica Bowin, Director of Production
Rob McLeod, Technical Director
Lisa Harshbarger, Production Studios Manager
Drew Palajsa, Head Carpenter
Sean DeKonty, Carpenter
Joe Paski, Carpenter
Shannon Seibel, Carpenter
Celeste Parrendo, Charge Scenic Artist
Anna Lena Kempen, Scenic Painter
Lindsey-Rose Flowers, Charge Scenic Artists
Nassau Peden, Scenic Painter
Deborah Thomas, Scenic Painter
Alexandra Vogelsong, Scenic Painter
Gay Kahkonen, Properties Head
Kelly Yann, Properties Coordinator
Venise St. Pierre, Costume Shop Head
Kyle Huber, Costume Shop Associate
Erin Prokopchak, Costume Shop Coordinator
Joshua Beumer, Head Electrician
Zach Moore, Head Sound Engineer
Mars Tailor, Wardrobe Head
Jo(e) Herr, Dresser
Kathy Mathews, Hair/Wig Stylist
Mikey Abate, Head Stage Carpenter
Philip Cassidy, Production Key/A-2
Christina Dragen-Dima, Production Key/Projections
ACTORS COLLECTIVE
Ethan Davis Butler
Mary-Cait Cox
Liam Gannon
Kiki S.
Sarah JK Shoemaker
Mike Anthony Zolovich
A CHRISTMAS STORY STAFF
Riley Maria Tate, Youth Supervisor
Madeline Walker, Youth Supervisor
Ray Morgen, Assistant Sound Designer
Eve Bandi, Assistant Lighting Designer
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A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE PLAY PLAY GUIDE
Your education guide to understanding the show
WELCOME TO PITTSBURGH PUBLIC THEATER!
Did you know that The Public first opened in September 1975? We are entering our 51st season this year! We have not always been at this location The Public Theater spent 24 years on the North Side (in what is now the New Hazlett Theater) before moving to its current home the O’Reilly Theater in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. The new performance space, which was built by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, opened with the world premiere of August Wilson’sKing Hedley II in December 1999
The ground on which we currently stand, at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, is home to the Seneca People More information about our land acknowledgement and why it’s important to honor those who came before us can be found here: PPT.org/Mission
The mission of Pittsburgh Public Theater is to provide artistically diverse theatrical experiences of the highest quality We also strive to challenge and entertain our audiences through unique and captivating storytelling We look forward to continuing to expand and diversify our audience and enrich our Pittsburgh community and beyond. Visit our website to learn more: PPT.org
Our theater is a thrust stage, which means the audience sits on three sides of the stage This creates a really fun and inclusive environment to experience our shows In fact, because of this design, there isn’t a bad seat in the house!
So, whether it’s your first time joining us, or you have visited many times, thank you for being here. We hope you have a wonderful experience!
THEATER ETIQUETTE
Attending a student matinee at Pittsburgh Public Theater is an exciting event Everyone in the audience has been looking forward to seeing the performance just as much as you have, so it’s very important to remember the rules of theater etiquette Live theater, or theater seen in person, is much different from going to the movies or streaming a show at home The one big difference is that the actors are performing for you live onstage, and they can see and hear what goes on in the audience just as you can see and hear them. Because of that, the way people behave at a play is different from when they’re at the movies or at home Here are some things to keep in mind to guarantee that everyone has a fun, safe, and enjoyable time
Please be on time Do your best to arrive on time and with enough wiggle room to use the restroom before the show starts
Stay with your group and wait to be seated - we want to make sure everyone is in the right place. All cellphones and electronics must be turned off or silenced before the show starts. We will usually make an announcement before the show as a reminder
The light and motion of your devices can be distracting to the audience and performers so refrain from texting as well If your phone rings during the performance, turn it off and don’t answer Allow yourself to fully experience the performance without any distractions.
Be polite, attentive, and respectful. Our Student Matinee audience includes teachers and students from all areas of the city and disciplines of study. Remember, your behavior affects the experience for the entire audience as well as the actors
Be mindful of side conversations: don’t talk during the performance, as this can disturb the audience and performers
However, don’t be afraid to react appropriately to the performance:laugh when something is funny, cry when it’s sad, or gasp if it’s shocking This is what makes live theater so much fun!
Use the restroom before the show, after the show, or at intermission If you get out of your seat during the performance, it is distracting to the students around you If you need to use the restroom during the performance, please do your best to wait and exit during a break, such as between musical pieces or scene changes.
Please keep entrance aisles clear for the performers and crew
Don’t chew gum, drink beverages, or eat during the performance
Stay for the curtain call! Not everyone stays to watch movie credits roll, but in theater, applauding for the actors is a way you can show them how much you enjoyed their performance.
Addditional Tips for Educators
Review theater etiquette with your students and chaperones and set definite guidelines before attending any performance
Make sure that your chaperone to student ratio makes it possible for you to enforce your instructions and that your chaperones know what is expected of them Let your students know that improper behavior will not be tolerated and follow through If the show is performed with an intermission, it will generally be just long enough for the audience to use the facilities and stretch their legs.
We do not serve concessions during student matinees.
STUDENTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Each year a handful of talented student actors from across Pittsburgh take the O’Reilly Theater stage to perform alongside some of our region’s best adult actors. From learning lines and trying on costumes to performing in front of thousands of audience members, these young actors have an excellent range of reflections and advice.
Previous page and above: The cast of A Christmas Story: The Play in 2023 at Pittsburgh Public Theater. Photos by Michael Henninger
ABOUT THE PLAY
SYNOPSIS
Ralph Parker: A storyteller
Based on the movie of the same name, a young boy, Ralphie Parker, attempts to convince his parents, his teacher, and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun is the perfect Christmas gift. We are guided through the memories by Ralphie's adult self, as a satirical tale of a middle-class family negotiating the challenges of Christmas unfolds
Ralphie Parker: Ralph at 9 years old
CONTENT RATING
This show is rated PG and and is suitable for most audiences with guidance urged for pre-teens
Details from the play are below (*warning, may contain spoilers):
Implied profanity: A character uses gibberish words in place of explicit language
Violence: Brief and mild violence on stage and themes of bullying
SETTING
Randy Parker: His little brother
Hohman, Indiana Christmas time both past and present
Mother: His mother
The Old Man: His father
CHARACTERS
Miss Shields: His teacher
Flick: His friend and classmate
Schwartz: His friend and classmate
Esther Jane Alberry: A classmate
Helen Weathers: A classmate
Scut Farkas: A bully
Find the cast and other info about the production in the digital program.
c 1950's: Radio performer Jean Shepherd begins sharing humorous stories inspired by his childhood in Hammond, Indiana.
1964: At the encouragement of poet Shel Silverstein, Shepherd begins transcribing his stories and publishing them in magazines
1966: Shepherd publishes a collection of his short stories titled In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash
1971: Shepherd publishes a second collection titled, Wanda Hickey’s Night of Golden Memories and Other Disasters.
1976: The Phantom of the Open Hearth, marks the first film appearance of the fictionalized Parker Family, as a made for TV movie
1983: A Christmas Story the movie premieres Jean Shepherd, the original author, features as the voice of adult Ralphie narrating the story.
2000: The stage adaptation A Christmas Story: The Play by Philip Grecian premiers
2012: A musical version, A Christmas Story: The Musical, premiers on Broadway.
2022: A Christmas Story: The Play, opens for the first time at Pittsburgh Public Theater The show would go on also be produced in December 2023 and December 2024
2025: A Christmas Story: The Play returns as a holiday tradition at Pittsburgh Public Theater, directed by Michael Berresse.
AChristmasStorymovieposter Cover
REMEMBER WHEN: THE GENRE OF MEMORY PLAYS
“ I put up my tree last week Had to assemble it first Then I threw an artificial Yule log on the propane-augmented fire and began to reminisce The holidays tend to do that I found myself remembering another Christmas in another time ... another place. ”
*RECORD SCRATCH* *FREEZE FRAME* Yep, that’s me... I bet you’re wondering how I got here...
A memory play is a play in where the lead character narrates the events of the story, which they are recalling from memory The term was originally coined by playwright Tennessee Williams when he described his 1944 play The Glass Menagerie In the stage directions, or the description of setting provided by the playwright, Williams says:
“The scene is memory and is therefore non-realistic. Memory takes a lot of poetic license It omits some details; others are exaggerated, according to the emotional value of the articles it touches, for memory is seated predominantly in the heart ”
In A Christmas Story we relive all of the events from Ralphie’s perspective, as an adult remembering his childhood. He retells the story of his childhood Christmases with a lot of nostalgia. Nostalgia describes a longing for the past that includes good or formative
by Michael Henninger
ples of memory stories in film, Some examples include the films: roove, and Ratatouille; the books e, 13 Reasons Why, and To Kill a
nt of the past, we naturally focus on etails. Sometimes that leads us to misremember them. ERATION
Tennessee Williams
Sebastian Madoni portraying young Ralphie in 2023 at Pittsburgh Public Theater.
Photo
ADAPTING MEMORY
“Never let the truth get in the way of a good story ” -Mark Twain
Nostalgia can sometimes cloud our memory, and confuse details, or remember things better or worse than they were Bob Clark, the director of the 1983 movie adaptation of A Christmas Story, stated that both he and the original author Jean Shepherd wished for the film to be seen as "amorphously late-'30s, early-'40s"
The story is never set in a specific year. If you look closely at the details in the film, many props and pop culture references are from different years, or sometimes decades! Some examples include:
The two songs by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters used in the film, "Jingle Bells" and "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" were recorded in 1943, but the Crosby version of "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" is from 1951.
Look magazine that Ralphie hides the Red Ryder ad in, is the December 1937 cover with Shirley Temple and Santa
Ralphie's Little Orphan Annie Secret Society Decoder Pin bears the date 1940 (and is the real-life decoder pin released to society members that year, though by that time Ovaltine had ceased its sponsorship and Quaker was the primary sponsor of the series)
the parade in front of Higbee's features characters from MGM's version of The Wizard of Oz, which was released in 1939.
The "Old Man's" treasured Oldsmobile 6 is a 1937 Oldsmobile F-Series Touring Sedan.
ACTIVITIES
Create your own: Decoder Wheel
For ages 7+
Ready to try your own hand at a spy decoder? Print out the next page, grab a friend, and see if you can crack the code. Happy sleuthing!
MATERIALS
Cardstock
Scissors
Brad Pen
Markers/crayons (optional)
Brad
LEARN MORE ABOUT DECODERS
A secret decoder is a device that allows one to decode or encrypt a message by working in the opposite direction
As inexpensive toys, secret decoders have often been used as promotional items by retailers, as well as radio and television programs, from the 1930s through to the current day. Decoders, whether badges, rings, or pins, are an entertaining way for children to tap into a common fascination with encryption, ciphers, and secret codes, and are used to send hidden messages back and forth to one another
Decoder Wheel Activity: Custom Code Version
Create and decipher secret codes with your friends!
Have students use their entire body and remember: levels, expression, interesting choices
Keep students frozen in that pose for a moment. Use the word “RELAX” to unfreeze and have them return to their normal stance
If your space does not allow for all students to go at one time, you can break it up into groups and have an “audience” observe the “performers” then flip-flop so everyone gets a chance to participate
ACTIVITIES
COLLABORATIVE GAMES (CONT...)
Tableaus: Frozen Story-telling (Best suited for ages 8+)
Once you and your students have explored creative expression through emotional statues, now you are ready to move onto TABLEAUS
Instructions:
Separate your class into small groups. Best results occur if groups are around 6-8 people.
Instruct that each group will be secretly assigned a theme
They must keep these themes a secret so the other groups can guess at the end
Instruct groups that they will have 5 minutes to work together to create a frozen tableau that represents their specific moment.
Remind students about engaging tableau tips (list can be found on previous page)
If needed, talk through best practices of working as a team, stressing the time limit and how everyone’s idea might not be chosen.
Then go around and secretly assign each group a theme.
Once all groups have their assigned theme, start the clock!
Once time is up, select one group to go first Have the students freeze in their tableau while the other students observe
Have the other groups see if they can guess what moment they are portraying and what role each of them are playing in the moment
Theme ideas:
Level 1
Riding a roller-coaster, attending a wedding, yoga class, trick-or-treating, shopping at a grocery store
Level 2
Have students pick their own theme
Level 3
After seeing A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE PLAY, have students recreate moments from the show
If you could create your very own holiday, what would it be?
What is the name of your holiday?
What date do we celebrate your holiday?
What in particular does your holiday celebrate?
What traditions or festivities do people do during this holiday?
Are there any rules during your holiday?
Are there any special foods prepared during your holiday?
Are there any special decorations used to celebrate your holiday?
Are there any particular outfits that are worn during your holiday?
Draw a picture that represents your holiday.
ACTIVITIES
INTERVIEW SKILLS
For ages 8+
Interview a Grown-Up About Their Holiday Traditions
Invite students to learn more about the people in their lives by interviewing a grown-up about their holiday traditions This activity encourages listening, curiosity, and meaningful conversation while helping kids discover new customs and celebrate what makes each family unique.
What is one of your favorite holiday memories?
What are some of your favorite things to eat during the holidays?
Do you have a favorite holiday?
How have holiday traditions changed since you were my age?
Do you have any favorite holiday traditions?
What is one things you are thankful for this year?
A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE PLAY - GLOSSARY
Adriana Casilotti: was an American actress and singer and was the voice of the title character of the first Walt Disney animated feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), for which she was named a Disney Legend in 1994, making her the first female voice-over artist to achieve this.
Airlock: a compartment with controlled pressure and parallel sets of doors, to permit movement between areas at different pressures
Allowance: to give (someone) a sum of money regularly as an allowance
American Legion halls: The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization that focused on service to veteran’s, servicemembers and communities A legion hall is a building associated with the American Legion.
A&P: or the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, was a chain of grocery stores that operated in the United States and Canada from 1859 to 2015. A&P was the largest grocery retailer in the United States from 1915 to 1975, and the largest retailer of any kind in the country until 1965
Armaments: military weapons and equipment
Balsams: a small to medium-sized evergreen tree native to North America that is a popular Christmas tree.
Baste: to pour juices or melted fat over (meat) during cooking in order to keep it moist.
Benrus: an American watch brand that was founded in 1921 by the Lazrus brothers in New York City
Black Bart: was an English-born American outlaw noted for the poetic messages he left behind after two of his robberies.
Celluloid: a type of plastic used to make many things, especially, in the past like photographic film
Clinker: the stony residue from burned coal or from a furnace
Cloverleaf sight: a hinged sight on a firearm that can be folded down or raised
Compass: an instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it.
Connoisseurs: an expert judge in matters of taste
Conspiracy: a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful
Contrived: created or arranged in a way that seems artificial and unrealistic
Adriana Cailotti
A&P
Black Bart
Celluloid
Coup de grace: an action or event that serves as the culmination of a bad or deteriorating situation
Daniel Boone: was an early American frontiersman and legendary hero who helped blaze a trail through Cumberland Gap, a notch in the Appalachian Mountains near the juncture of Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Decoder pin: a small metal device that allows users to decode secret messages or encrypt messages The Orphan Annie decoder pin was a popular decoder pin that was part of the radio series Orphan Annie from 1931 to 1940
Department store: a retail establishment offering a wide range of consumer goods in different areas of the store, each area ("department") specializing in a product category
Desperado: a bold or violent criminal; a bandit of the western U S in the 19th century
Double dog dare: An intensified form of a dare, frequently used after the dared person initially refuses.
Dr. Einstein: Albert Einstein was a German-born physicist who developed the special and general theories of relativity and won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921 for his explanation of the photoelectric effect
Ed Wynn: American actor and comedian He began his career in vaudeville in 1903 and was known for his Perfect Fool comedy character, his pioneering radio show of the 1930s, and his later career as a dramatic actor, which continued into the 1960s His variety show (1949–1950), The Ed Wynn Show, won a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award
Flit gun: a hand-pumped insecticide sprayer used to dispense FLIT, a brand-name insecticide widely used against flies and mosquitoes between 1928 and the mid-1950s.
Friction motor: a simple mechanism that uses a flywheel to propel toys like cars, trucks, trains, and action figures.
Fuse: a safety device consisting of a strip of wire that melts and breaks an electric circuit if the current exceeds a safe level
Galoshes: a waterproof overshoe, typically made of rubber
Decoder Pin
Daniel Boone
Dr. Albert Einstein
Ed Wynn
Gilbert chemistry set: a set of equipment for children to learn chemistry through experiments The A C Gilbert Company, founded by Albert Carlton Gilbert, a former Olympic pole vaulter, released their first chemistry set in 1923 The sets were marketed to boys and were designed to teach basic chemistry skills
Higbee’s: a department store chain in Ohio that was founded in 1860 and operated until 1992
Insensate: completely lacking sense or reason; lacking sympathy or compassion; unfeeling
Invective: abusive, or highly critical language.
Inquisition: a period of prolonged and intensive questioning or investigation.
Juju baby, root beer barrel, and licorice pipe: Old fashioned candy.
Lake Michigan: one of the five Great Lakes of North America It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume
Lexicon: the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge
Lifebuoy: a British brand of soap marketed by Unilever Lifebuoy was originally, and for much of its history, a carbolic soap containing phenol (carbolic acid, a compound extracted from coal tar)
Lincoln Logs: a children's construction toy that consists of small, square-notched wooden logs that can be used to build model buildings and forts; The toy was invented by John Lloyd Wright, the son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, around 1916. The toy is named after Abraham Lincoln, the U.S. president who once lived in a log cabin. Wright received a patent for Lincoln Logs in 1920, and the toy was first introduced in 1924 Lincoln Logs were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1999
Lionel train set: Lionel Trains is a model train company in New York City, founded and developed by Lionel Cowen in 1900 The company introduced the first train in 1901, known as The Electric Express Lionel Cowen wasn't the first to manufacture toy trains, but his talents as an engineer and salesman soon put Lionel ahead of its competitors
Gilbert Chemistry Set
Highbee’s Department Store
Lifebuoy
Lionel Train Set
Little Orphan Annie: is a character created by James Whitcomb Riley that represents the American spirit of resilience and hope in the face of hardship The character is known for her plucky and optimistic demeanor Her story also explores themes of poverty, family, and the power of imagination; The Little Orphan Annie radio show, transmitted secret code segments that usually previewed the upcoming episode
Lone Ranger: is a fictional masked former Texas Ranger who fought outlaws in the American Old West with his Native American friend Tonto. The character has been called an enduring icon of American culture.
Lug nuts: a large, rounded nut that fits over a heavy bolt, used especially to attach the wheel of a vehicle to its axle.
Malevolent: having or showing a wish to do evil to others
Michelson-Morley experiment: The experiment was performed between April and July 1887 by American physicists Albert A Michelson and Edward W Morley at what is now Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio The experiment compared the speed of light in perpendicular directions in an attempt to detect the relative motion of matter
Milling: moving around in a confused mass
Monkey Ward catalogue: Montgomery Ward was called “Monkey Wards” by some people because it supposedly once offered exotic monkeys in some of its stores and through its mail-order catalog. Founded in 1872, Montgomery Ward revolutionized retail sales at the turn of the century through its mail-order catalog, which was the only one of its kind back then.
Mount Olympus: In Greek mythology, Olympus is the home of the Greek gods; in A Christmas Story, Ralphie uses it to refer to Santa sitting up high
Mulled: think about (a fact, proposal, or request) deeply and at length
Nuance: a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound
Number three Erector set: A C Gilbert conceived the Erector Set, an educational toy that encouraged kids to create their own miniature buildings; it introduced kids to engineering and the structural principles of modern skyscrapers.
Lone Ranger
Little Orphan Annie Radio Show
Number 3 Erector Set
Oldsmobile: a brand of American automobiles, produced for most of its existence by General Motors
Open Road for Boys: a boys' magazine encouraging the outdoor life, was published from November 1919 to the 1950s
Orson Welles: an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theater. He is considered to be among the greatest and most influential filmmakers of all time.
Ovaltine: is a brand of milk flavoring product made with malt extract, sugar, and whey Some flavors also have cocoa The US children's radio series Little Orphan Annie (1931–1940) was sponsored by Ovaltine They had promotions in which listeners could save proofs-of-purchase from Ovaltine jars to obtain radio premiums, such as "secret decoder ring" badges, or pins that could be used to decode messages in the program
Palmolive: an American multinational brand that grew from one product, Palmolive bar soap Made of coconut, palm and olive oils, Palmolive bar soap was introduced in 1898 Originally, the bar soap floated like Procter & Gamble's Ivory bar soap. By the turn of the 20th century, Palmolive bar soap was the world's best-selling soap. The soap became very popular, due to an advertising campaign promoting it as the type of soap that would have been favored in ancient Egypt by the Pharaohs.
Perfume atomizer: small refillable bottles that offer a convenient solution for spraying perfume on the go
Pierre Andre: was an announcer in the era of old-time radio
Piquant: having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavor
Pulverized: reduce to fine particles
Remorse: deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed
Reveries: a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream; a fanciful or impractical idea or theory.
Scheming: the activity or practice of making secret or underhanded plans.
Perfume Atomizer
Ovaltine
Orson Wells
Shakespeare: Full name, William Shakespeare, is an English playwright who wrote many famous plays and poems (sonnets) during the late 16th and early 17th centuries
Simoniz: a brand of cleaning and protection products for vehicles, buildings, and other industries
Sneevily, snively: marked by sniveling, tearful, whiny, or weakly sentimental.
Subconscious: of or concerning the part of the mind of which one is not fully aware, but which influences one's actions and feelings.
Sundial: an instrument showing the time by the shadow of a pointer cast by the sun on to a plate marked with the hours of the day.
Terre Haute: A city in Indiana
The Principle of Relativity: developed by Albert Einstein, essentially states that space and time are not absolute, but rather relative to the observer's frame of reference Meaning how fast you are moving affects how you experience time and space The laws of physics are the same for all observers regardless of their motion, as long as they are moving at a constant speed in a straight line; a key concept is that the speed of light is always the same for everyone, no matter how fast they are moving
Tin zeppelin: is a toy that's made of tin and has a metal key that you wind up to make the propeller spin and the wheels move Tin zeppelin toys were popular before World War II.
Tinker Toys: in 1913 or 1914, stonemason Charles Pajeau invented the Tinkertoy construction set after watching children play with sticks and spools.
Trough: a long, narrow-open container for animals to eat or drink out of.
Unbridled avarice: an extreme and uncontrolled desire for wealth or possessions
Vamoose: depart hurriedly
Varmints: a troublesome wild animal; a troublesome and mischievous person, especially a child
Vigil: a period of keeping awake during the time usually spent asleep, especially to keep watch or pray
Zenith: the time at which something is most powerful or successful; or in astronomy, the point in the sky or celestial sphere directly above an observer
Tinker Toys
Tin Zeppelin
Simoniz
William Shakespeare
PENNSYLVANIA CORE STANDARDS
English Language Arts: Grades 6-12
CC.1.2.8.G: Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums (e g , print or digital text, video, multimedia) to present a particular topic or idea
CC.1.2.9-10.G: Analyze various accounts of a subject told in different mediums (e.g., a person’s life story in both print and multimedia), determining which details are emphasized in each account.
CC.1.2.11-12.G: Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats (e g , visually, quantitatively) as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem
CC.1.3.8.A: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summery of the text.
CC.1.3.9-10.A: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text
CC.1.3.11-12.A: Determine and analyze the relationship between two or more themes or central ideas of a text including the development and interaction of the themes; provide an objective summary of the text.
CC.1.3.8.C: Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision
CC.1.3.9-10.C: Analyze how complex characters develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
CC.1.3.11-12.C: Analyze the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama
CC.1.3.8.G: Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by directors or actors
CC.1.3.9-10.G: Analyze the representation of a subject or a key scene in two different artistic mediums, including what is emphasized or absent in each treatment
CC.1.3.11-12.G: Analyze multiple interpretations of a story, drama, or poem (e g , recorded or live production of a play or recorded novel or poetry), evaluating how each version interprets the source text
CC.1.4.8.H: Introduce and state an opinion on a topic.
CC.1.4.8-12.M: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events
NATIONAL CORE STANDARDS
GRADE 8
TH:Cr1.1.8
a Imagine and explore multiple perspectives and solutions to staging problems in a drama/ theater work
b Imagine and explore solutions to design challenges of a performance space in a drama/theater work
c. Develop a scripted or improvised character by articulating the character’s inner thoughts, objectives, and motivations in a drama/theater work.
TH:Re7.1.8
a Apply criteria to the evaluation of artistic choices in a drama/theater work
TH:Re8.1.8
a Recognize and share artistic choices when participating in or observing a drama/theater work.
b. Analyze how cultural perspectives influence the evaluation of a drama/theater work.
c. Apply personal aesthetics, preferences, and beliefs to evaluate a drama/theater work
TH:Re9.1.8
a Respond to a drama/theater work using supporting evidence, personal aesthetics, and artistic criteria
b Apply the production elements used in a drama/theater work to assess aesthetic choices.
c. Assess the impact of a drama/theater work on a specific audience.
https://dictionary cambridge org https://www britannica com webster.com/dictionary
Grade Hs proficient
TH:Cr1.1.HSI
a Apply basic research to construct ideas about the visual composition of a drama/theater work
b Explore the impact of technology on design choices in a drama/theater work
c. Use script analysis to generate ideas about a character that is believable and authentic in a drama/theater work.
TH:Re7.1.HSI
a Respond to what is seen, felt, and heard in a drama/theater work to develop criteria for artistic choices
TH:Re8.1.HSI
a. Analyze and compare artistic choices developed from personal experiences in multiple drama/theater works.
b. Identify and compare cultural perspectives and contexts that may influence the evaluation of a drama/theater work
c Justify personal aesthetics, preferences, and beliefs through participation in and observation of a drama/theater work
TH:Re9.1.HSI
a. Examine a drama/ theater work using supporting evidence and criteria, while considering art forms, history, culture, and other disciplines.
b. Consider the aesthetics of the production elements in a drama/theater work
c Formulate a deeper understanding and appreciation of a drama/theater work by considering its specific purpose or intended audience
https://www.lionel.com/articles/timeline/ "On the Relative Motion of the Earth and the Luminiferous Ether" . American Journal of Science. https://museumofplay org/toys
