‘Christmas Story: The Musical,’ coming to Bass Hall, stays largely true to movie

Greg White recalls the first time he saw “A Christmas Story.” It was in a movie theater in 1983, and he immediately made a connection with the now classic film.

“I was 13 and my parents, that time in the movie was their era,” he said. “We’d watch it over and over and just laugh over and over.

“It’s become part of American culture. You meet very few people who don’t know the story.”

Now, the Deer Creek, Oklahoma, native is a part of that story at 55 and instead of watching with his parents, they’ll be watching him. He plays the “old man,” or the dad of Ralphie, the young boy who dreams of getting a Red Rider BB gun, only to be told again and again by his mother “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

“A Christmas Story: The Musical” is coming to Bass Hall Dec. 5-7 as part of Performing Arts Fort Worth’s Broadway at the Bass Series.

While White grew up in an area of Oklahoma that had no theater program in his school, that didn’t stop him from finding the spotlight.

“My teachers were in tune with the fact that I was theatrical. They’d even let me emcee certain events,” he said. “We did a Disney concert and I remember my parents helping me write an emcee script. I think I was in the first grade.”

Later, White would play piano and sing in the choir. Then, one day, his teacher took the class to audition for roles in “The Music Man” and White was cast.

“Years later it would be my first professional production,” White said. “I was in the ensemble both times. I would like for the role of Harold Hill (the main character) to come my way someday.”

White toured professionally as an actor in his 20s before he would go on to be director of the theater department at the University of Central Oklahoma, retiring in July after 23 years.

“I have students on Broadway and everywhere. It’s very gratifying,” he said. “And now, I’m back out there.”

Of course, he was “out there” even as he was teaching — though it was largely in the summer months and with productions that didn’t take him away from the college for long.

He’s also expanded his résumé to include commercials and small roles in films such as “Hope’s Hollywood Christmas” and “Forgotten Fortune” alongside Jimmy JJ Walker of “Good Times” fame (known for his famous phrase “Dyn-o-mite!).

“Every scene I was in Jimmy was also in,” he said.

White has also played the iconic role of George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” In fact, he’s played EVERY character in that show in a production named “This Wonderful Life.”

In it, a single actor portrays all the roles that were in the renowned Frank Capra film. It’s the epitome of telling a story — something White was said he was born to do.

“Storytelling has always been my passion,” White said, adding that as a youth he would pretend to be entertaining an audience in his room.

White noted a common bond between “A Christmas Story” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

“They both center on what it means to be a family, and I love that about each one,” he said. “One (’A Christmas Story’) is funnier than the other, but in the end they’re about what it means to have that family connection and how critical it is in our lives.”

White’s writing experience includes a one-man show entitled “Stewart and Son,” in which he played the legendary Oscar-winning actor remembering his father.

Among white’s other works is a show named “Flipside: the Patti Page Story” about the late singer who was also from Oklahoma. He wrote, produced and directed the production.

Page and White became friends and worked together on the production, taking it to the Kennedy Center in Washington off-Broadway and on a national tour.

“The first time I met Patti was backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. She came offstage and introduced herself and I thought I was going to die,” White said. “I enjoyed her friendship.”

White is considering reviving the show once his time with “A Christmas Story” ends. He might even join the cast.

“It’s about time to bring the old girl back,” he said. “People love the nostalgia stories.

“I might like to play her dad, but I’d have to brush up on my guitar.”

White said the musical version of “A Christmas Story” stays largely true to the movie version, but, of course, with music.

“All of the iconic moments you’re looking for are there. All of the fantasy scenes — Ralphie has such a wild imagination — can become a big musical number, and they do,” he said. “They did the show right. The people who made this have great respect and love for the source material. It’s funny where it needs to be and poignant where it needs to be.”

The team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote the songs. The same duo penned the music for the Oscar-winning movie “La La Land.”

White was among the first performers to play at Bass Hall, which opened in 1998. He was in the musical “State Fair.”

“I have a love affair with Fort Worth. I’m enamored with it,” White said, adding that he’s also played in productions at Casa Mana.

“We’re playing some of the most beautiful theaters in the nation with this show, and Bass Hall fits right in. People in that area are so fortunate.”

His parents are coming down from Oklahoma to take in the show. He’s anxious to get their perspective with the music added.

“I’m so excited for them to see it,” he said. “They’ve been a part of the whole process all the way back to when we enjoyed it together years ago.

“And now we’re enjoying it together again.”