The Players Club of Swarthmore Theater encourages families to start a new holiday tradition with their presentation of "A Christmas Story"

The Players Club of Swarthmore Theater is encouraging families to start a new holiday tradition, with their presentation of /A Christmas Story/. Just as some shop on certain days, others put up their decorations in a special way or have traditional foods – The Players Club of Swarthmore would like to see families include a trip to the theater in their seasonal festivities.

But Players Club president George Mulford explains this isn't something /entirely/ new, “We've been putting family-friendly offerings on our stage during the holiday season for years. But this is the first time in a while that Christmas /itself/ has played such a starring role.

/A Christmas Story/, is a reminiscence by Ralph Parker of the year that all he wanted for Christmas was a Red Ryder BB Gun, but all he heard was, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” Laugh along as grown-up Ralphie recalls memories of holidays past.

Director Jim Carroll of Springfield has assembled an outstanding group of local talent: Carl Heyde of Wayne; Kevin McPeak of Media; Jennifer Wolfe of Chester; Jill Cassidy of Pennsburg; Hart Clements, Daniel Grossman and Margaret Mester of Swarthmore; Marci Monaco-Vavrik and J.J. Vavrik of Wallingford; Ben Iffrig of Springfield; Philip Nicosia of Havertown; Daniel Venini of Drexel Hill; Courteney Olenzak of Malvern, and Nick and Alex Yurcaba of Lansdowne.

To add a little extra fun to the experience, The Players Club is offering a chance to win the iconic leg lamp from the show and other /Christmas Story/-related prizes. Plus, before each of the Sunday matinées (November 25, December 2 and December 9), The Players Club plans to offer “Lunch with Santa” from 12:30-1:30 pm on their Second Stage. Food will be provided by 320 Market Café. Cost of admission will be $5 per person.

/A Christmas Story/ runs Nov. 23-25, 29, 30, Dec. 1, 2, 6-9 and 13-15. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 8pm and Sunday matinées are at 2pm. The Players Club of Swarthmore is located just minutes from the Blue Route and I-95 at 614 Fairview Avenue in Swarthmore. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for students (18 and under or college students with ID), plus a family four pack of tickets (two adults and two students) is available for the discount price of $38. All tickets and ticket packages are available at the box office, or may be purchased in advance by visiting www.pcstheater.org or calling 1-866-811-4111 (ticket sales through TheaterMania). For Info or Group Sales: 610-328-4271.