Fox has found the young actor who will take on the lead role in the live musical production of A Christmas Story Live!. Following a nationwide digital casting call, 11-year-old Seattle actor Andy Walken landed the role of Ralphie Parker in the upcoming musical event. Walken was chosen from among more than 350 actors who auditioned for the role played by Peter Billingsley in the 1983 holiday film.
Walken joins Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids), previously announced to star as Ralphie’s mother, and Matthew Broderick (Manchester by the Sea) who’ll be narrating the musical. A Christmas Story Live! will air on December 17, 2017 (live on the East Coast at 7pm, taped delayed on the West Coast).
Marc Platt (Grease: Live, La La Land) and Adam Siegel (Grease: Live) are executive producing, and Robert Cary and Jonathan Tolins are writing and co-executive producing. Scott Ellis (She Loves Me) is on board as the director overseeing the stage direction while Alex Rudzinski (Grease: Live) is the live television director. Ellis and Rudzinski are also executive producing. A Christmas Story: The Musical‘s composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are composing new songs for Fox’s A Christmas Story Live!.
