[NEohioPAL] New Faces Revitalize "A Christmas Story" at Cleveland Play House

Tue Nov 11 12:38:25 PST 2008

MEDIA RELEASE

For photos, interviews, etc. contact:

Lisa Craig, Public Relations Manager 

(216) 795-7000 x236 

lcraig at clevelandplayhouse.com

NEW FACES REVITALIZE A CHRISTMAS STORY AT CLEVELAND PLAY HOUSE

New Ralphies and Updated Set Spotlight Fourth Annual Production of Holiday
Comedy Classic 

November 28 - December 21, 2008

Opening Night / Media Night: December 3, 2008

Cleveland, OH (November 11, 2008) - New actors in the roles of young Ralphie
and adult Ralph, an updated set and a fine-tuned script will shepherd the
annual production of A Christmas Story onto the Bolton stage at The
Cleveland Play House. Now in its fourth year entertaining tens of thousands
of Clevelanders and setting box-office records, this family-friendly holiday
classic opens Friday, November 28 and runs through Sunday, December 21, 2008
in the Bolton Theatre at The Cleveland Play House. Tickets are on sale now
at The Cleveland Play House box office by calling 216.795.7000 ext 4 or
online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com.

"We are very grateful to Northeast Ohio audiences for making A Christmas
Story a signature event for The Play House and our region," says Artistic
Director Michael Bloom. 

Cleveland Play House Associate Artistic Director Seth Gordon will take the
helm for the fourth year in directing A Christmas Story. "It's always such a
pleasure to direct this lovely, fun and moving play for families to come see
together," replies Gordon. "This year will be especially so, because there
is so much new to work on: Wilbur Edwin Henry playing adult Ralph, Akron
native Kolin Morgenstern playing young Ralphie, many other new kids, and a
streamlined script to make it more enjoyable. All the favorite parts are
still there, of course, and we've made the set a little nicer including
updated backdrops."

Of the cast of 12 actors (including two understudies), seven are newcomers
to the production and to The Cleveland Play House. Those returning to the
Play House this year are Charles Kartali (The Old Man), Cameron McKendry
(Scut Farkas), Carole Monferdini (Miss Shields), Kolin Morgenstern (Ralphie;
he was Flick last season), Joey Stefanko (Flick; he was Randy last season)
and Elizabeth Ann Townsend (Mother).

ABOUT THE PLAY and PLAYWRIGHT

Humorist Jean Shepherd's memoir of growing up in the Midwest in the 1940s
follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his seemingly impossible dream of
getting a genuine Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. The stories in his book In
God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash were later used as the basis for the 1983
movie  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Story> A Christmas Story,
filmed partially in Cleveland. In the year 2000, an authorized stage play
adaptation was written by Philip Grecian, based on the motion picture
written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark. 

Christmas is a time of great expectations, especially through the eyes of a
child. For Ralphie Parker, that great expectation is a genuine Red Ryder 200
Shot Carbine Action Air Rifle. No self-respecting cowboy would be without
one. Unfortunately, his mom, teacher and even the Santa Claus toiling away
at Higbee's Department Store share the same reaction to his Christmas wish,
"You'll shoot your eye out!" Like the movie, the play is narrated by the
adult Ralph Parker who weaves together tales from his family, school and a
visit with Santa. All the elements from the beloved motion picture are here,
including the family's temperamental exploding furnace; Scut Farkas, the
school bully; the boys' experiment with a wet tongue on a cold lamppost; the
Little Orphan Annie decoder ring; Ralphie's father winning a "major award";
and much more. This classic holiday comedy is suitable for ages 5 and up.

A CHRISTMAS STORY Cast:

ALEX BOLTON (Randy) a third-grade student at Falls Lenox Primary School,
Olmsted Falls, began his theatrical experience with Amherst Workshop Players
performing in Children's Letters to God. Since then he has appeared in 101
Dalmatians and Alice in Wonderland at Olmsted Performing Arts and The King
and I at Carousel Dinner Theatre. 

LAUREN COLE (Helen), a fifth-grade student at Hawken School, has enjoyed
life as a thespian since the age of six. Lauren recently performed in Camp
Robin Hood's production of The Sound of Music; Heights Youth Theatre
productions of Oliver, Peter Pan, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, and
Annie; and Beachwood Community Theatre productions of Cinderella, Annie, and
Peter Pan. Favorite roles include Molly in Annie and Louisa in The Sound of
Music. 

OLIVIA DORIA (Esther Jane) is a sixth-grade student at Miller South School
for the Visual and Performing Arts. She was one of the original children on
Akron Public Broadcasting's "Ask Gilby Show." Olivia was in the choir for
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Weathervane Playhouse, and
Theatre ETC's New Generation. She has performed in The Prince and the
Pauper, Peter Pan, and The Sound of Music. She is in The Movie Makers, a
Time Warner Cable production. She has previously played Esther Jane in A
Christmas Story at Magical Theatre in Barberton. Olivia has performed
various works of Shakespeare for school. She was chosen as a winning
playwright and her play The Dance was performed. She has attended various
area theatre workshops and camps, including five years with Magical Theatre.

MATTHEW HEMMINGER (Schwartz), a sixth-grade student at Miller South School
for the Visual and Performing Arts, just finished four months with Carousel
Dinner Theatre in Akron. He played a Lollipop Guild Munchkin and an Ozian in
The Wizard of Oz, and Louis in The King and I. At Magical Theatre in
Barberton, Matthew played Flick in A Christmas Story in 2006 and 2007 and
Meanie Jim in Junie B. Jones. At The Western Reserve Playhouse, he was seen
in Once Upon a Mattress and Speaking of Murder. Matthew has also enjoyed
being in independent films: Swing Gate, The Method (Ohio Film Festival),
Wall of Fame, The Goose, and feature film Jean Claude the Gumming Zombie.
This past spring, Matthew finished his second professional commercial for
the Ohio Lottery.  

WILBUR EDWIN HENRY (Ralph) Earlier this year Mr. Henry played the role of
Lawrence Garfinkle in Other People's Money at the John W. Engeman Theater in
Northport, Long Island. In 2007-2008 he performed in Is He Dead? on
Broadway. Last year he also portrayed Orson Welles in Round House Theatre
and Philadelphia Theatre Company's productions of Orson's Shadow. In 2006 he
portrayed Ludie in The Trip to Bountiful in Wichita, Gordon Gray in Keen
Company's In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer in New York, and Orson
Welles in Orson's Shadow at the Alley Theatre. In 2005 he understudied and
performed the roles of Orson Welles and Laurence Olivier in Orson's Shadow
off Broadway. Television credits include District Attorney John Landi on
CBS's "Hack," "Law & Order," "One Life to Live," "Guiding Light," "All My
Children," and "As the World Turns." 

CHARLES KARTALI (The Old Man) played The Printer in last season's staged
reading of The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman and multiple
roles in The Will to Art, both for FusionFest at The Cleveland Play House.
Mr. Kartali also recently appeared as Eric Weiss in the Mandel Jewish
Community Center's production of Brooklyn Boy. This is his fourth appearance
as The Old Man in A Christmas Story at The Play House, where he has also
performed the roles of Christopher Trumbo in Trumbo, Mitch Albom in Tuesdays
with Morrie, and was a participant in FusionFest in 2006-2007. Other
favorite Cleveland work includes The Price and Frankie and Johnny in the
Clair de Lune at Ensemble Theatre, A Bright Room Called Day at Cleveland
Public Theatre, The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? at Dobama Theatre, and Awake and
Sing at the Halle Theatre. Film and television includes High Spirits and
"Lost Subs." 

GEORGIA KOSTYACK (Understudy-female children), a fifth-grade student at
Green Valley Elementary School in Parma, began acting at Independence Youth
Theatre. There she appeared in Dumble the Dinosaur, Busy As A Bee, Wackadoo
Zoo, Twinderella, Toy Story, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,
Big Bad Musical, and Annie Jr. Georgia has also appeared in the Strongsville
Community Theatre production A Child's Christmas in Wales, the Olmsted
Performing Arts production of Willie Wonka, and a short film by Wahome
Productions entitled Distorted Reality. 

CAMERON McKENDRY (Scut Farkas), a seventh-grade student at St. Albert the
Great School in North Royalton, reprises his role as Scut Farkas, having
also portrayed Scut in last season's Cleveland Play House production of A
Christmas Story. He has appeared in productions such as Honk, the Musical at
the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, and The Full Monty at Royalton
Players. Cameron also appeared in an Ohio Lottery commercial. He has studied
Hip Hop and Jazz dance at Shaker Dance Academy, and acting, voice, and
improv at the Beck Center. This past summer, he attended Fairmount
Performing Arts Professional Training Camp. He was introduced to stage
acting at the Broadview Heights Recreational Center.

CAROLE MONFERDINI (Miss Shields) is returning to The Cleveland Play House,
having played Miss Shields in last season's production of A Christmas Story.
In between, she appeared as Lady Catherine DeBourgh in Pride and Prejudice
at Geva Theatre Center and Bess Frye in Close Ties at Ensemble Studio
Theatre in New York City. On Broadway she stood by for Dame Diana Rigg in
The Misanthrope. Off Broadway highlights include long runs in The Club, for
which she won an OBIE award; Vampire Lesbians of Sodom at the legendary
Provincetown Playhouse; and the one-woman show Full Gallop. Her national
tours include Full Gallop and Waltz of the Toreadors with Anne Jackson and
Eli Wallach. She has appeared extensively in regional theater across the
U.S. and in the films Next Stop, Greenwich Village; The Bell Jar; and The
Brass Ring. She is a founding member of Abingdon Theatre Company in New York
City.  

KOLIN MORGENSTERN (Ralphie) returns to The Cleveland Play House where he was
previously seen in the 2007-2008 season production of A Christmas Story as
Flick. He is currently a sixth-grade student at Miller South School for the
Visual and Performing Arts. Kolin has appeared in The Prince and The Pauper
and Peter Pan at The Margo Snider Theater. He has attended Theater Camp at
Weathervane Playhouse. He received the Miller South Thespian Troup
Playwright Award. 

LIAM MCCANN OZNOWICH (Understudy-male children) attended The Cleveland Play
House Summer Academy in 2007 and 2008, where he appeared in A Midsummer
Night's Dream and The Web of Anansi. He has also appeared in musical
productions at Hawken School. He placed first in the Power of the Pen
District Tournament in January of 2008, and was a national bronze medalist
in Le Grand Concours (The National French Contest) in April. Now in the
eighth-grade at Hawken School, Liam lives in Cleveland Heights.

JOEY STEFANKO (Flick), a fourth-grade student at Cuyahoga Heights Elementary
School, returns to The Cleveland Play House after playing Randy last season
in A Christmas Story. He appeared in Cassidy Theatre main stage productions
of Assassins and Godspell; in youth theater productions of The Wizard of Oz,
Jack and the Beanstalk, Babes in Toyland, Alice in Wonderland; in the
Cassidy Theatre summer drama camp show; and in Independence Community
Theatre main stage productions of Nuncrackers and Flashback. He was a member
of the 2005-2006 Radio Disney Pop Squad and a 2006 Playhouse Square Rising
Star Vocal Competition Semi-Finalist. He has attended Fairmount Performing
Arts Professional Training Camp and studies the guitar and the viola.

ELIZABETH ANN TOWNSEND (Mother) played all of the female roles in the staged
reading of The Will to Art during this past season's Cleveland Play House
FusionFest and is making her fourth appearance as Mother in The Play House
production of A Christmas Story this season. Select Cleveland credits
include Hay Fever, Great Lakes Theatre Festival; Our Town and Peter Pan,
Porthouse Theatre; Talley's Folley, Ensemble Theatre; The Exonerated, Dobama
Theatre; and Agnes of God and Boy Gets Girl, The Beck Center for the Arts.
Regional performances include world premieres of Leaving Iowa, Hope for
Corky and Completing Dahlia at the Purple Rose Theatre Company. Film/TV
credits include "The Sopranos," "Law and Order" and Jeff Daniels' film Super
Sucker. Ms. Townsend worked in New York City appearing in theatre,
television and national network commercials.

A CHRISTMAS STORY Creative Team:

PHILIP GRECIAN (Adaptation) began his "show business" career at the age of
four as a ventriloquist and a magician. He received his professional debut
with Creede Colorado Repertory Theatre, and he continues to maintain a
connection with that theatre as a playwright and a guest performer. He spent
six seasons as artistic/managing director and resident playwright for a
theatre company he founded at the age of 16, and, in 1976, he left the
company to create a professional dinner theatre, serving as producer and
artistic director. He then shifted his career to the film, video, and audio
production industry. In 1994, he became founding director/playwright for
I.H.S. Productions, Inc., which annually produces his stage adaptation of In
His Steps, based on the Charles Sheldon novel. Other works include Dickens's
A Christmas Carol, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Dragon of Nitt, Lion and the
Lyre (translated and performed in Russia), Little Pills (based on Moliere's
Imaginary Invalid), Toby Saves the Farm, and a translation Mozart's The
Magic Flute. Mr. Grecian has also adapted many novels and films into plays
for staged radio dramatization, including Dracula!, Frankenstein, Twisted
Tales of Poe, The Blood Countess, and It's a Wonderful Life.

SETH GORDON (Director) is associate artistic director of The Cleveland Play
House, where he produces FusionFest, runs the Playwrights' Unit, and assists
with season planning. Mr. Gordon directed Play House productions of Dinner
with Friends, Proof, Forest City (world premiere), Vincent in Brixton,
Tuesdays with Morrie, A Christmas Story, The Wind in the Willows (Play House
Theater for Children series), RFK, Of Mice and Men, Ferdinand the Bull
(Theater for Children series), The Chosen, Doubt, and later this season The
Lady with All the Answers. He served as associate producer of Primary Stages
in New York City, where he produced and/or directed countless productions,
workshops, and readings of new plays by America's leading playwrights. Here
in Cleveland Mr. Gordon has directed for Dobama Theatre, The Beck Center for
the Arts, and Cleveland Shakespeare Festival. He directed the Arabic
premiere of Our Town at el-Hanager Theatre in Cairo, Egypt. Mr. Gordon has
directed at many New York theaters, including Ensemble Studio Theatre and
Theatre for the New City; and directed and lectured at various universities,
including Case Western Reserve University. He received the Northern Ohio
Live Award for Excellence in Theatre in 2004 and 2006. 

The design team for A Christmas Story includes Michael Ganio (Scenic
Designer), David Kay Mickelsen (Costume Design), Richard Winkler (Lighting
Designer), James C. Swonger (Sound Design), and Larry Nehring (Fight
Choreographer). The Cleveland Play House's Production Staff is responsible
for the sets, costumes, lighting, props, furniture, scenic painting, sound,
special effects and/or wigs used in this production.

Special Events

*	'First Friday' Tasting Series - Friday, November 28 - Mingle with
other theatre fans and enjoy drink tastings and complimentary hors d'oeuvres
starting at 6:30pm in our lobbies. Specially priced preview tickets include
this pre-show reception and admittance to the play.
*	Sign Interpreted/Audio Described Performance - Saturday, December 6
at 3:00pm matinee 
*	100th Performance Celebration - Friday, December 12 at 7:30pm - Be
in the audience for the 100th public performance of A Christmas Story at the
Play House for a chance to win prizes and a few "major awards."

Ticket Information

Ticket prices for A Christmas Story start at $49, with discounts available
for select performances and for groups of twenty or more. Family 4-Packs are
available for $99 for Thanksgiving weekend, November 28 - 30. The Cleveland
Play House is located at 85th and Euclid Ave. next door to the Cleveland
Clinic near University Circle. 

A Christmas Story is presented in promotional partnership with Continental
Airlines. Official media sponsors of A Christmas Story are WEWS TV5 and
MIX106.5 FM.

Founded in 1915, The Cleveland Play House is the first permanently
established professional theatre in the United States. More than 12 million
people have attended over 1,300 productions at The Play House - including
more than 130 American and/or World Premieres. Today, under the leadership
of Artistic Director Michael Bloom and Managing Director Kevin Moore, The
Cleveland Play House is an artist-driven theatre that serves the Greater
Cleveland community by holding true to its mission: To produce plays of the
highest professional standards that inspire, stimulate, and entertain our
diverse audiences, to conduct training and educational programs that enhance
the quality of life for those we serve and help to insure the future of
theatre.

The Cleveland Play House is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents
through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and The Ohio Arts Council helps to fund
The Cleveland Play House with state tax dollars to encourage economic
growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

# # #

FACT SHEET

What:                     A Christmas Story

by Philip Grecian, based on the motion picture written by Jean Shepherd,
Leigh Brown & Bob Clark

Where:                  Bolton Theatre, The Cleveland Play House, 8500
Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio

When:                   Preview Performances:
Friday-Tuesday, Nov. 28, 29, 30 & Dec 2, 2008

                                Opening Night:
Wednesday, December 3, 2008

                                Final Performance:
Sunday, December 21, 2008

Who:                      Cast

Esther Jane.................................................................
Olivia Doria

Flick.......................................................................
....... Joey Stefanko

Helen.......................................................................
..... Lauren Cole

Mother......................................................................
.... Elizabeth Ann Townsend*

Ralph.......................................................................
..... Wilbur Edwin Henry*

Ralphie.....................................................................
.... Kolin Morgenstern

Randy.......................................................................
.... Alex Bolton

Miss Shields................................................................
Carole Monferdini*

Schwartz....................................................................
.. Matthew Hemminger

Scut Farkas.................................................................
Cameron McKendry

The Old Man..............................................................
Charles Kartali*

* Denotes members of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional
Actors and Stage Managers in the United States

Creative Team

                                Playwright:
Philip Grecian

Director:                                                Seth Gordon

Scenic Design:                                    Michael Ganio

Lighting Design:                                  Richard Winkler

Costume Design:                                David Kay Mickelsen

Sound Design:                                     James C. Swonger

Times:                  Thursday-Saturday Evenings            7:30 p.m.

                                Saturday Matinee
3:00 p.m.

                                Sunday Matinee
2:00 p.m.

                Weekday Matinee                               1:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008

Prices:             Regular ticket prices start at $49, with discounts
available for select performances early in the run and for groups of twenty
or more. Family 4-packs for only $99 are available for opening weekend,
November 28, 29 & 30, 2008.

For Single Tickets: Call (216) 795-7000, ext. 4, or visit
<http://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/> www.clevelandplayhouse.com

For Groups of 20 or More: Call Cosandra Wheeler, (216) 795-7000, ext. 180

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