Above, an earlier Kansas City Repertory production of "A Christmas Story, The Musical." 

Chicago is to be in the center of a new, nationally touring production of "A Christmas Story, The Musical," a relatively new show (and wholly new production) based on the much-loved 1983 holiday movie, that was in turn based on the writings of Jean Shepherd.

Among its iconic scenes: Christmas lunch in a Chinese restaurant, a flagpole that traps tongues and the meanest Santa that Northwest Indiana ever saw.  Events in "A Christmas Story" take place in and around Hohman, Ind., a fictional stand-in for Shepherd's hometown of Hammond. Peter Billingsley, who played the central character of Ralphie in the movie, is one of the producers.

After runs in Hershey, Penn. (Nov. 8–13); Detroit, Mich. (Nov. 15 – 27); Raleigh, N.C. (Nov. 29 – Dec. 4) and Tampa, Fla. (Dec. 6-11), the seasonal tour will conclude at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., with a run Dec. 14-30. (Unusually for such projects, Broadway in Chicago is not involved.) 

Warren Carlyle, who directed the recent, highly acclaimed Broadway revival of "Finian's Rainbow" has signed on as director. The show will audition in Chicago in June and rehearse in the city this fall.  Walt Spangler ("Desire Under the Elms" at the Goodman Theatre and on Broadway) is the designer.

"A Christmas Story, The Musical" features a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a book by Joseph Robinette. The cast will feature 27 Equity actors and 16 live musicians.  

"We decided that Chicago would be a great place to kick this off," said producer Gerald Goehring, noting that the budget for the show will be around $5 million. 

Earlier versions of the show have been seen in Seattle and Kansas City, but Carlyle is newly attached and Goehring said that the material has been tweaked and fixed.

"Now we're ready to give it to the country," Goehring said, "and we're using Chicago as a place to do it."

Glenn Beck Live at the Chicago Theatre, Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.

“I really believe Chicago is the nicest city in America,” a grinning Glenn Beck said from the stage of the town's namesake theater Thursday night. “Now if we could just get rid of all the commies and progressives, we'd be set.”

That stuff is red meat for his demographic and Beck knows it. He obliged with a quick endorsement of his 2012 dream team: Allen West (president), Michele Bachmann (vice president) and Rand Paul (secretary of the treasury). He proffered his fervent declaration that he would rather “scoop his eye out with spoons” than join in one of the fundraisers for President Barack Obama (whom he called a Marxist), that were taking place in town simultaneously with Beck's show at the Chicago Theatre. And although he walked out on stage dressed like a card-carrying member of the Local Two stagehands union, he took some obligatory licks at Al Gore and the United Nations.

But Beck's heart didn't really seem to be in that stuff anymore.

If Thursday night's mighty strange and thoroughly fascinating show revealed anything, it's that Beck is moving away from the political arena and toward the religious realm, albeit one of his very singular definition. The open question is how many of his followers from the Fox News Channel are ready to make the same journey. (The Chicago Theatre was less than half full Thursday, but then Beck was playing a town from which he only half-jokingly suggested that those who stand with him should move.) Beck, a far smarter man than many realize, clearly knows that it will be a tricky transition, economically and otherwise, and that it will require all his considerable charm and force of personality.

 
The Chicago Theatre on State Street is owned by Madison Square Garden Entertainment. (Tribune photo)

David Carlucci, the vice-president and general manager of the Chicago Theatre, has been fired in recent days, along with three other managers, sources said. The decision was made by Madison Square Garden Entertainment, which owns and operates the historic Loop venue.

Also exiting with Carlucci: Jeff Hamand, the vice-president of building operations; Meghan Brasuell, the director of front-of-house operations; and John McCall, the director of production.

"Per company policy, we don't comment on personnel matters," said an MSG Entertainment spokesman. Carlucci did not return calls requesting comment.

Tribune Company has a business relationship with the theater, renting the basement space for the Chicago Tribune's Thursday night "Chicago Live" show.