Humorist Jean Shepherd's memoir of growing up in the midwest in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Santa Claus himself, at Goldblatt's Department Store. The consistent response: "You'll shoot your eye out." 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 pin; Ralphie's father winning a lamp shaped like a woman's leg in a net stocking; Ralphie's fantasy scenarios and more.
Ellie Armitage Helen Weathers
Ellie is 10 years old and was first introduced to theatre at the age of 4. Ellie has been involved in every Playhouse 51 production either on stage, set crew, scene painter, ushering, concessions, or advertising, but she especially loves to be on stage. She performed in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and It’s A Wonderful Life – A Live Radio Play at Playhouse 51 and Cinderella at Theatre Memphis. Ellie is a 5th grader at E.A. Harrold Elementary School and when not doing theatre, she spends most of her time reading or drawing. For Christmas she really wants an IPOD touch like her friend Lauren’s, but her parents think she’ll blow her eardrums out! Enjoy the show.
Kate Armitage Miss Shields
Kate would like to thank Jane Lester for the opportunity to be in this production and her husband, Danny for always being so supportive. She is thrilled to be able to work with her beautiful and talented daughter, Ellie. You may have seen Kate in Playhouse 51’s Rumors, Goodbye Charlie and It’s a Wonderful Life – a live radio play. She’s been involved with Playhouse 51 since its inception and encourages each of you in the audience to volunteer for your community theatre. Whoever you are; Playhouse 51 has a role for you! For Christmas she really wants new hardwood floors, but Danny says she’ll run through the house and break her neck!
Adia Baddar Scene Changer
Aidan is 9 years old and in the 4th grade. He has been acting in local theatres for four years. Some of his roles include the gosling in Charlotte’s Web, stinky pirate in The Little Ship of Horrors The Musical, and Orlando in As You Like It. Aidan is active in sports and the local YMCA. He would like to thank his parents for supporting him. For Christmas Aidan wants a tank he found on Ebay, but his Mom said he would blow up the house!
Phoenix "Coty" Brewer Randy Parker
Coty is making his theatrical debut as Randy. Coty is 9 years old and an honor student in 4th grade at E.A. Harrold Elementary School. For Christmas Coty would like legos – but his Mom says I’d build a red ryder 2200 shot carbine action range model air rifle and shoot his eye out!
Johnna Clements Ester Jane Alberry
Johnna is 11 years old and attends Munford Middle School. She likes to play softball, video games, and especially loves her friends and family. Johnna also loves to sing at her church. What she really wants for Christmas is ice skates, but her Mom says she’ll break her ankles!
Emily Criswell Scene Changer
Emily is a 7th grader at Munford Middle School. She keeps busy practicing the piano and French horn, attending youth activities at church and texting friends. She wants a laptop for Christmas, but her parents think she would use it so much her eyes would fall out!
Melinda Forsythe Mother
Melinda thought she had an empty nest when her own children grew up, but she keeps inheriting these theatre children! Melinda played the Mother in Playhouse 51’s production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and she also played the Mother in Miss Minerva and William Green Hill at The Ruffin. Melinda would like to thank Jane for allowing her to a part of this great production. For Christmas Melinda really wants one of those Indiana Pythons, but her husband Rick says they’re unforgiving!
Elizabeth Germany Scene Changer
This is Elizabeth’s theatrical debut. She is 10 years old and a 5th grader at E. A. Harrold Elementary School. For Christmas she really wants a cell phone but her sister is afraid she’ll never stop talking!
Olivia Germany Scene Changer
Olivia is 9 years old and in 4th grade at E.A. Harrold Elementary School. She loves everything artistic including acting. For Christmas Olivia really wants a corn snake, but she’s afraid the cats will eat it!
Don Holsinger Ralph Parker
Don makes his first appearance at Playhouse 51, has been involved in all areas of play production in high school, college, community theatre and Church drama. He and his wife Laurel have called have called Millington home for 26 years since moving here with the Navy. Don is an admission counselor for Union University Germantown campus and with his wife have a health & nutrition business in Millington. He wants to thank his wife who encouraged him to audition and then put up with nightly rehearsals. For Christmas he wants to spend Christmas with family, 4 grown children and 7 grandchildren and maybe “reminisce about Christmases past”.
Sean Lester The Old Man
Sean Lester is a steely-eyed forensic investigator by day and a bad actor in his spare time. His 4th grade teacher was Ms. Betty Goddard whom he fondly remembers for her tolerance of his “creative process.” Short of his own jetliner, Sean doesn’t really want anything for Christmas. He already has a leg lamp, what more does he need? Sean grew up in the theatre, and is excited and honored to act under the direction of his mother for the first time, making this an even more exciting Christmas season.
Jason Moody Flick
Jason is making his theatrical debut in the role of Flick. He is 12 years old and attends Millington Middle School. Jason loves to play basketball and acting. For Christmas he wants a miniature motorcycle, but his family says he’ll break his neck.
Daniel is currently an 8th grader at Arlington Middle School. He read about auditions in the newspaper and is very excited to be in the show. Daniel is no stranger to the stage having had prior experience at his school in “Kids on Stage.” For Christmas Daniel really wants an Audi 8, but apparently he can’t get one without a license. Go figure.
Daniel Moore Scut Farkas
Spencer Purcer Schwartz
Spencer is 12 years old and in the 7th grade at Millington Middle School. He is making his second appearance with Playhouse 51. He made is acting debut as Claude Herdman in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. He enjoys playing his trombone in the Pep Band at school. He also enjoys playing soccer, basketball and his favorite Lacrosse. And every Friday night during football season you can find Spencer on the sidelines with Millington Trojans as the ball boy. What Spencer wants for Christmas is a Remington 870 Express Shotgun to take duck hunting, but my Mom says no because she doesn’t want me to shoot Donald and Daisy!
Jordan Rollins Scene Changer
Jordan is 10 years old and a 5th grader at E.A. Harrold Elementary School. She is a member of Big Creek Baptist Church. This Christmas, Jordan wants a pet tarantula, but her Dad says it will gross your Mom out!
Wayne Smith Raphy Parker
Wayne is a 6th grader at Tipton Rosemark Academy. He is interested in camping, playing video games and going on youth trips with his church youth group. For Christmas he really wants a cell phone, but his parents think his fingers will fall off from too much texting!
Director Jane Lester
Jane Lester has been with Playhouse 51 “almost” since its beginning and has directed It’s a Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play and co-directed The Best Christmas Pageant Ever as well as performed in Bell, Book, and Candle; Odd Couple - The Female Version; and On Golden Pond. For Christmas, Jane hope to make it thru this production while keeping some shread of her sanity intact, but doesn't really expect to.
