Entertainment & Lifestyle

Discussing the triple-dog-dare in “A Christmas Story” are, from left, Matthew Hemminger, Lauren Cole, Olivia Doria and Kolin Morgenstern.

Kolin Morgenstern, of West Akron, plays Ralphie in the Cleveland Playhouse’s production of “A Christmas Story,” on stage through Dec. 21.

Photos: Peter Jennings

WEST AKRON — The triple dog-dare gets a triple dose of Akron talent in “A Christmas Story” this season at the Cleveland Play House’s Bolton Theatre.

Three West Akron youths, all sixth-graders at Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts, appear in the play based on the popular movie about a boy who wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas.

Playing Ralphie, the main character, is Kolin Morgenstern, 11, the son of Kathy and Keith Morgenstern. Olivia Doria, 11, daughter of Dawn Doria, plays Esther Jane, a female classmate of Ralphie’s and the object of his affection. And Matthew Hemminger, 12, the son of Alan and Katheryn Hemminger, plays Schwartz, Ralphie’s friend, who gets to utter “I triple-dog-dare you!” to Flick in the play.

The three youths auditioned for their roles in the summer and were thrilled to be chosen to participate in the professional production.

“I love this show,” said Kolin, who played Flick at Cleveland Play House last season.

Now that he’s played Ralphie, Kolin said he’s become more like that character.

“I really want a BB gun,” said Kolin, who previously attended Fairlawn Elementary School (now Resnik Community Learning Center). “He really wants a BB gun. When a regular kid really wants something, they’re going to work for it and ask and ask and ask.”

For Matthew, this is the third year he is appearing in the play. He played Flick in 2006 and 2007 at the Magical Theatre Company in Barberton.

“I’m making this a tradition for myself,” said Matthew, who previously attended Fort Island Primary School in Fairlawn.

Olivia, another Fairlawn Elementary alumnus, is also “A Christmas Story” veteran, having played the same role at Magical Theatre Company last year.

“I would love to do it again,” she said.

The fact the three West Akronites were chosen has made getting the students to practice and performances a lot easier, according to Kathy Morgenstern. The families have been taking turns carpooling, she said.

The three started rehearsals in earnest in early November, heading up to the playhouse for hours of practice after a full day of school.

Olivia said teachers at Miller South, Akron Public Schools’ magnet school for students interested in the arts, have been a big help for the three.

“It’s really nice to know our teachers are there to help us when we need it,” she said. “They have our work ready for us. They understand we have late rehearsal.”

During tech week, the week before the show opened in late November, the three were required to be at the playhouse from noon to midnight. Since the show opened Nov. 28, the schedule isn’t quite as demanding, but the three have performed every day but Monday for the past three weeks.

The actors are enjoying the experience and are in awe at their fellow adult actors, all professionals. Charles Kartali plays the Old Man, Elizabeth Ann Townsend plays Mother, Wilbur Edwin Henry is the adult Ralph and Carole Monferdini is Miss Shields.

“You really are working with professional actors,” Kolin said. “The mom has been in ‘The Sopranos,’ and the adult Ralph has been on Broadway.”

He also gushed about the “awesome” set.

“It has these tracks, so they slide the Higbees mountain in,” Kolin said.

His favorite scene is one of the first, when little brother Randy is encouraged to eat his breakfast like “a piggie.”

“I love the morning scene when Randy puts his face in oatmeal,” Kolin said. “It’s real oatmeal. It’s a fun scene.”

The stage version has some differences from the movie. The adult Ralph in the play is actually the main character, and he appears on stage as he narrates. In the movie, the narrator is heard but not seen.

Also, Olivia’s character of Esther Jane is a much bigger part of the stage play than she is in the movie.

“A Christmas Story” was released in theaters 25 years ago this year. The story was based on humorist Jean Shepherd’s tales of growing up in Indiana in the 1930s. The movie was filmed partially in Cleveland, and today the house that was used for exterior shots has been turned into a museum with memorabilia from the film. This is the fourth year the Cleveland Play House has presented the stage version.

All three of the actors said they can see why the story has become such a favorite.

“You can really see how an adult looks back on his childhood and how he wanted one thing for Christmas and he got it,” Olivia said. “As an adult, you can probably think of stories of when you were little and wanted something.”

“A Christmas Story” will be on stage at the Cleveland Play House, 8500 Euclid Ave., Dec. 18-19 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 20 at 3 and 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. For tickets, call (216) 795-7000, ext. 4 or go to www.clevelandplayhouse.com.