Fifty years after the beloved stop-motion animated television classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer made its network television debut, the longest-running and highest-rated television special comes to life, on stage with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (www.rudolphthemusical.com).
The tour is visiting 25 cities through Dec. 27, stopping at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, Dec. 23 for two shows, at 2 and 7 p.m.
The world’s most famous reindeer and his holly jolly cast of iconic characters including Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snow Monster star in a musical so faithful to the original show that it practically transports audience members into a television special.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical is a new tradition for families and theatregoers of all ages,” Producing Partner Jonathan Flom said. “Audience feedback has been overwhelmingly positive thanks to our creative team and the incredibly talented cast lead by Lexy Baeza starring as Rudolph. Lexy won the role not only because of her experience and talent, but because she was able to emulate Rudolph’s voice better than anyone else.”
The story tells the tale of a young Rudolph who, because of the appearance of his bright, shining nose, is ousted from the Reindeer Games in Christmas-town. He flees town, meets up with new friends Hermey and Yukon, and a series of funny and endearing adventures ensue, including a visit to the Island of Misfit Toys. Rudolph journeys home, where a snowstorm of epic proportions is threatening Christmas. Can Rudolph save his family and friends and help Santa save the holiday?
This year, PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center is encouraging parents to use the relatable story of Rudolph to address the issue of bullying with their children.
“Just like Rudolph, each of us shines bright in our own way. If we can embrace things that make us different, the world will be a brighter place,” Flom said.
To help guide a discussion before or after watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, parents and educators can access resources that use the story as a platform for teaching important lessons by visiting www.pacer.org/ShineBright.
The touring version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical is directed by Dana Solimando and produced by Michael Cohl & S2BN’s Alison Spiriti and Justin Sudds.
For more information, visit www.rudolphthemusical.com.
Tickets to the show at Kravis start at $20 and may be purchased at the Kravis Center’s web site at www.kravis.org; by calling the box office at (561) 832-7469 or (800) 572-8471; or in person at the Kravis Center box office, located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach.
2014 is the 50th anniversary of the first broadcast of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the longest-running and highest-rated holiday special of all time. The anniversary celebration includes a major tie-in with the U.S. Postal Service, tribute promos from CBS, new products and programs across all retail channels, a collector’s edition DVD and Blu-ray with new bonus material, new theme park and in-mall attractions, a Carnegie Hall concert tribute and a social media campaign (#ShineBright) that celebrates uniqueness in association with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center.
ABOVE: A scene from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, on stage at the Kravis Center Dec. 23.
