Mary Brzezinski, Desmond Uranga, Jacob Chavez, and Jude Chavez Stromei Photo by Emily Gael

The movie version opened in 1983 and I dare say that it is fondly remembered by anyone who saw it. Just mention a Red Ryder BB gun, "You'll shoot your eye out," the leg lamp, "fragile," or a tongue stuck to a flagpole, and most people of a certain age will know what you're talking about.

The movie is based on the reminiscences of writer Jean Shepherd about one December during his childhood in Hammond, Indiana (a town just across the Illinois state line from Chicago). Shepherd (unseen) was the narrator in the movie, and when the movie was turned into a musical, the narration was maintained, with Shepherd now being one of the main characters on stage. It adds just the right touch of nostalgia, an adult looking back on his youth.

The first version of the musical opened in 2009 but was heavily revised before it made it to Broadway for a short holiday run in 2012. The original music and lyrics were scrapped and replaced by those of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who later became famous for shows like Dear Evan Hansen and the film La La Land. Most of the songs are not all that memorable, but there are two lovely songs for the mother ("What a Mother Does" and "Just Like That"), performed here beautifully by Mary Brzezinski, that alone would make the show worth seeing.

This is not meant to imply that the rest of the musical numbers are unnecessary. They provide the kind of singing and dancing that you expect from a Broadway musical. Why is there a Busby Berkeley style dance number with a dozen leg lamps? Why is there a tap dance number? Because it's a Broadway musical! It's fun, and it doesn't have to make sense.

The story centers around Ralphie, a boy whose only Christmas wish is for a Red Ryder BB gun, and his mother, father, little brother, and Jean Shepherd, the grown-up Ralphie. But there are 23 other people in the cast. Tanner Sroufe, the director, and stage managers Linnea Mae, Em Voss-Clawson, and Ashleigh Donaldson have done an amazing job putting a big show like this together and making it run smoothly from start to finish.

It takes a village to mount a production like this. The rotating set by Jason Roman is terrific, the lighting design by RayRey Griego is spot-on, sound design by Lando Ruiz is very fine, costumes by Celena Cox and Melanie Ebaugh are wonderful to look at, and props by Jordan Claghorn and Lando are just right. Where did they get all those leg lamps? The music director is Lindsey Meek and choreography is by Jonathan Ragsdale, assisted by Dru Martinez.

The five leading actors are perfectly cast. Ralphie is excellently portrayed by Jude Chavez Stromei as kind of a nerdy kid, which is just what is required since there's a song called "When You're a Wimp." It's a big part for a child actor, and he never falters. Desmond Uranga is almost unbearably cute as little brother Randy. How someone so young can remember all his lines, I don't know.

Timothy Chivalette does fine work as the narrator/Jean Shepherd, and at the end when he talks about how you knew your parents loved you even though they never said it out loud, it gave me a lump in my throat. Jacob Chavez as the father gives the best performance that I have ever seen him give. Who knew he could sing and dance and do physical comedy so well? And Mary Brzezinski is transcendent as Ralphie's mother, with a beautiful voice and superb acting.

There are so many things going on in Albuquerque before Christmas (several plays, Messiahs, Nutcrackers, concerts, etc.) that it's hard to decide what to see, but ALT's A Christmas Story, The Musical is not one to miss.

A Christmas Story, The Musical runs through December 24, 2025, at Albuquerque Little Theatre, 224 San Pasquale Ave SW, Albuquerque NM. Performances Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday at 7:30; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00; Christmas Eve day at 1:00. For tickets and information, please visit albuquerquelittletheatre.org.