Del Mar Drama student Cameron Spencer has been working their way toward getting on a community theater stage for some time.
“I’ve been auditioning for Aurora [Arts Theatre] and Harbor [Playhouse] for years,” Spencer said.
All that hard work finally paid off when he got the call to be in “A Christmas Story,” a role he accepted.
“I was glad to get in,” Spencer said.
Based on the 1983 film of the same name, “A Christmas Story: the Musical” follows nine-year-old Ralphie Parker doing anything he can to get his hands on his dream Christmas gift: a Red Ryder carbine action BB gun. The story is presented by an older Parker re-telling his youth to a radio audience.
Local performing arts venue Aurora Arts Theatre is staging the musical for the holiday season. This marks the return of the musical to Corpus Christi since its last staging at Aurora in 2022.
Spencer expressed some anxiety when auditioning for the production.
“I was very nervous, but I had friends going with me,” Spencer said.
“I basically went in blind.”
Other cast members, such as Mariah Simmons, were also anxious about auditioning.
“My best friend Ailenis made me audition,” Simmons said.
“I was very skeptical about it, I wasn’t sure I was gonna get in.”
Both were cast as ensemble members and have been going through the rehearsal process ever since.
“Rehearsals have been a little bit hectic since some people have been missing days,” Spencer said.
“There’s been a lot of laughing and a lot of hard work as well.”
Another cast member, Dominic Cruz, echoes the hard-working sentiment.
“Everything gets done on time,” Cruz said.
“I like the rehearsals, they’ve been very productive.”
The production calls for many children to be in the cast, which Simmons admitted to being difficult.
“Handling it with kids can be a little rough,” Simmons said.
Despite that, she has been enjoying her time as well.
“We’re definitely good,” Simmons said.
“I got used to being in it with kids and stuff.”
She credits her casting to having faced her fears of rejection.
“Believe in yourself, it’s the key,” Simmons said.
“I was very intimidated and nerve-wracked from auditioning, but I got in.”
Where Simmons looks to self-confidence, Cruz looks to timeliness.
“Being on time is really helpful,” Cruz said.
The production is close to performing, with Friday, Nov. 15 scheduled as opening night.
“It’s my first show at Aurora,” Simmons said.
“I want to show people what I can do.”
She also admits that the timing was also a positive.
“It’s around Christmas time, so that’s just a time where everyone can come together and see a nice show,” Simmons said.
Cruz’s time in “A Christmas Story” gave him a chance to reflect on his time in Corpus theater up to now.
“Doing theater for the past three to four years has given me such a great outlet from my everyday life,” Cruz said.
“We’re a wonderful little community and we really are like family.”
“A Christmas Story: the Musical” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at Aurora Arts Theater. The show runs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 4.
Tickets cost $25 for general admission and $30 for front row VIP seats. They can be purchased at https://www.auroraartstheatre.com/shows/a-christmas-story.
