AUDITIONS: 9/15, 9/16, 9/17

PERFORMANCES: 12/5, 12/6, 12/7

 

Greetings!

Thank you for your interest in auditioning for a Gas Lamp Players production! If you’ve auditioned for us before, welcome back! If this is your first time auditioning at Gas Lamp, we’re thrilled to have you! We’ve been around for over 30 years and wouldn’t have lasted so long without new people, new talent, and new voices. Whether you’re a veteran performer or you’ve never been on stage before but really want to try, we’d like to encourage you to audition. We’re aware that auditioning can be an overwhelming experience, even if you’ve done it a hundred times before. We’ve put this information packet together to help you learn a little more about the show, the characters you will be auditioning for, and to give you some idea of what to expect during auditions and rehearsals.

 

Break a leg!

 

About the Musical

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!”

Production Team

Stephen Buntrock, DIRECTOR

Erin Dilly, GUEST DIRECTOR

Heather Ballantyne, YOUTH DIRECTOR

Darren Gage, MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Stephanie Martignetti, CHOREOGRAPER

 

Important Dates

AUDITIONS

Ridgewood Avenue School Theatre (235 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge, NJ) Monday, September 15th appointments starting @ 5:30pm, Tuesday, September 16th @ 7:00pm.

 

CAN’T MAKE IT?

If you are unable to attend an in-person audition, please contact Rennae Pelayo (Producer) at glplayers@gmail.com.

 

CALLBACKS

Wednesday, September 17th starting around 6:00pm (by directors' invitation only.) If you are invited for a callback, an email will be sent by 8:00am on September 17th. *Please note that not every character will require a callback. Not receiving a callback does not necessarily mean you will not be cast, nor does receiving a callback guarantee you will be cast.

 

CAST LIST

This list will be posted on the A Christmas Story webpage at www.gaslampplayers.org and emailed to everyone who participates in the audition process. 

 

REHEARSAL PERIOD

September 22 - December 4, 2025 generally 7:00-9:00pm, Monday - Thursday. Two Saturday rehearsals (10:00am-2:00pm) will be scheduled and communicated with the detailed rehearsal schedule. The children’s ensemble may rehearse at an earlier time on Mondays and Wednesdays (5:00pm-7:00pm.) Not all actors will be called to all rehearsals.

 

TECH WEEK/DRESS REHEARSALS

December 1-4, 2025

Crew integration, cue-to-cue, tech rehearsals. Required attendance.

 

PERFORMANCES

Friday, December 5th at 7:00pm

Saturday, December 6th at 1:00pm and 7:00pm

Sunday, December 7th at 1:00pm

NOTE: Actors must be able to commit to all performance dates & tech/dress rehearsals.

 

Characters

RALPHIE – Male presenting Age 10-12

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.

 

JEAN SHEPHERD/NARRATOR – Male presenting Age 40+

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.

 

THE OLD MAN – Male presenting Age 30-40ish

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.

 

MOTHER– Female presenting Age 30-40ish

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.

 

RANDY – Male presenting Age 8-10

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.

 

MISS SHIELDS – Female presenting Age 18+

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.

 

SCHWARTZ – Male presenting Age 10-12

One of Ralphie’s best friends. He’s a bit of a know-it-all.

 

FLICK – Male presenting Age 10-12

Ralphie’s other best friend. Can’t refuse a triple dog dare.

 

SCUT FARKUS – Male presenting Age 10-12

The schoolyard bully.

 

GROVER DILL – Male presenting Age 10-12

Scut Farkus’s little sidekick

 

YOUTH ENSEMBLE - Presenting Age 10-15

Classmates and town kids

 

TEEN/ADULT ENSEMBLE -  Presenting Age 16+

Townspeople of Hohman, Indiana and players in Ralphie’s fantasy world.

 

Audition Instructions

Roles are available for the following:

7 boys presenting ages 8-12

5 girls presenting ages 9-12

8 women 18 and older

8 men 18 and older 

 

HOW TO SIGN UP FOR AUDITIONS

1. Sign up for an audition time slot(s) for Monday, September 15th (Kids/Teens/Adults) or Tuesday, September 16th (Teens (16+)/Adults only) by clicking the following link: AUDITION SIGN UP 
2. Review the times listed and choose the spot that works best for you. Please try & fill any gaps.
3. If you are interested in a role that requires dancing, please select a dance audition time slot in addition to your vocal audition time slot.
4. If you need to cancel, please remove your name from the sign up so others may use the time. 

 

FORMS

Please complete the audition/conflict form HERE prior to your designated audition time slot.

 

VOCAL AUDITIONS

Those auditioning should prepare a vocal audition. Please come prepared with a vocal selection not exceeding 60 seconds. Sing a song in the style of the show or a song that you think shows your singing voice off the best. A bluetooth speaker will be available if you have recorded music. Since wifi will not be available and data service is limited, please have music downloaded and not streamed from YouTube, Spotify, Internet, etc... You may also sing a capella. An accompanist will not be provided for this audition.

 

DANCE AUDITIONS

If you are interested in a role that requires dancing, please select a dance audition time slot using this LINK. You will learn a dance combination at the auditions. Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for dancing to the audition.

 

CALLBACKS

After auditions have concluded, the directors will determine who is needed for callbacks. Singing songs from the show, cold readings from the script and possibly more dancing can be expected for callbacks. Callbacks will be by director's invitation only. If you are invited for a callback, an email will be sent by 8:00am on September 17th. Please note that not every character will require a callback. Not receiving a callback does not necessarily mean you will not be cast, nor does receiving a callback guarantee you will be cast.

 

Participation Fee/Financial Assistance

A non-refundable script/materials fee of $75 will be collected for each cast member. Through the Missy Centanni Scholarship Fund, financial support is available to ensure that no one is prevented from participating in Gas Lamp programs due to cost. Please email glplayers@gmail.com for more information.

 

Gas Lamp’s mission is to nurture creativity, confidence, compassion and community through the performing arts.