–>

MARSHALL — The Marshall High School Tiger Theatre is getting in the spirit and spreading the holiday cheer with a run of “A Christmas Story” for its fall production musical, and will be performing four shows this weekend.

“I think the energy that we’re going to bring with this musical is going to be so heightened and bright,” senior Elly Lewis, who plays Miss Schields, said. “I really hope the audience feeds off our energy that we’re going to give.”

The first show takes place tonight at 7:30 p.m., followed by Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and the final show is Monday at 7:30 p.m. All performances will take place at the Schwans Performing Arts Center at the high school.

The play is based on the famous book written by Jean Shephard, which the movie is based on, with hints of Joseph Robinette, the playwright who eventually adapted it as a musical.

Ralphie Parker, played by Gabe Louwagie, works through the production of convincing those around him that a Red Ryder BB gun would be the perfect Christmas gift.

“Definitely the emotional aspect,” Ethan Schuckhart, who plays the father, known as the ‘Old Man,’ said about what the audience can look forward to. “There are times where it’s really bright and cheery, but also really pulls at your heart strings.”

While being a humorous play that includes a handful of key props and scenes from the movie and takes the audience through a nostalgic journey, it overlines a bigger theme of the holiday season.

“It’s a story of a Christmas where virtually everything that was planned to be perfect goes wrong, so what is left at the end is a family spending time with each other and enjoying the warmth and connections of the season,” theatre director Dan Smith said. “For being a very funny play, it’s really quite touching in its closing scenes, and I think that people will enjoy that.”

Louwagie said the public will enjoy the music, because it’s fun to listen to and perform. Nathan Larson, playing Ralphie’s brother Randy, added there are jokes and scenes that will catch the humor and attention of all ages.

The cast acknowledged that the play will spark a sense of nostalgia for the audience.

“I’m excited for my dad to see this. This is one of his favorite Christmas movies, and we made a stage production of it,” Natalie Schuckhart, Ethan’s sister and plays Ralphie’s friend, Schwartz, said. “He is seeing all of his favorite movies live on stage and his kids playing roles in it.”

The play is told in the voice of Shephard, narrated by senior Carter Gehrke, who originally wrote the book in a radio studio telling the story about a Christmas he remembers, according to Smith.

“What I love about it, is that it captures and hits all of the scenes that everybody loves from the movie,” Smith said. “Every time I talk to people about it, they’re like, ‘Is there a leg lamp? Does the kid get his tongue frozen to the pole?,’ … Everybody has their favorite scenes, and they’re all in there.”

Gehrke, Ethan, Natalie, Louwagie, Lewis and Larson all mentioned that before taking stage, they try to fully transform into their characters as if they’ve always been them, to give the best performance.

“I think one big thing for me is just to stay loose and have fun with it. Mr. Smith says that all the time, to stay loose and have fun,” Lewis said. “I really take that to heart, because I truly work the best when I honestly don’t think about it. I put myself in my character.”

There are about 60 total people involved in the production, between cast, crew and a live orchestra. Rehearsals have been going for over two months and began when school started.

Gehrke echoed the idea that the production will be a wholesome feeling that anyone can find joy in.

“I think the story is really great … For anyone who’s seen the movie, we try to stay really close to that for a lot of the things that we can,” Gehrke said. “It’s pretty good at doing that … I think it’s just a great story overall.”

Tickets can be purchased at the door and will be $8 for adults and $6 for students for all shows.

“It also becomes this really moving and touching celebration of the warmth and feeling of connectedness that we all love about the holiday season,” Smith said. “At the end … You have them as a family together, enjoying the warmth and connection of the holiday season, and they sing this beautiful song in the end that I think people are just going to love.”