With Adam Cooley leading the way, SDMT’s A Christmas Story will bring warmth, wonder and multigenerational charm back to the stage.
by tony reverditto
The beloved holiday classic A Christmas Story began as a 1983 film directed by Bob Clark, adapted from humorist Jean Shepherd’s semi-autobiographical stories about growing up in 1940s Indiana.
The movie follows young Ralphie Parker’s comical quest for a Red Ryder BB gun, making it a nostalgic favorite for its witty narration and iconic scenes like the leg lamp and the tongue-on-the-pole. Its enduring popularity inspired the Broadway musical adaptation, which premiered in 2012, bringing the film’s warmth and humor to the stage with song and dance.
Adam Cooley is a dynamic stage and screen performer whose magnetic presence and fearless range have earned him acclaim from New York to San Diego. A graduate of Elon University’s prestigious musical theater program, Cooley has appeared in productions across the country, from the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to celebrated regional performances in Cabaret, Grey Gardens and Avenue Q.
Beyond performance, he has carved out a reputation as a bold creative force, self-producing and starring in Hedwig and the Angry Inch — a project that showcased his talent for merging rock-theater intensity with sharp comedic flair.
Cooley is now preparing for his role as The Old Man in A Christmas Story with San Diego Musical Theatre. The RAGE Monthly caught up with him shortly before the opening.
You’ve tackled everything from rock musicals like Hedwig and the Angry Inch to classics like Cabaret and now A Christmas Story. What keeps you excited about bouncing between edgy theater and family-friendly classics?
I think storytelling is storytelling, and no matter what the genre, there is beauty, truth, education and fun to be had. I have loved music in all forms since I was a kid, and as a performer, I’m lucky that there is such diversity in plays and musicals because it keeps it fresh for me and the audience.
I love learning new material that uses different musical styles, subject matter, characters and time periods. The more diverse shows I get to do only make me a more multidimensional performer and person.
What personal experiences or insights are you channeling to bring authenticity to this iconic father figure and make it your own?
Not until I was in my 40s did I realize that I AM my mother and father [laughs]. Growing up, my father was very much The Old Man. A gruff exterior with a heart of gold, who is vulnerable, has his own hopes and dreams and loves his kids. The song, “A Major Award,” is what I feel like when I get cast in a new show, movie or commercial.
So, I’m very well-versed in the excitement of a dream fulfilled. The love he shares for his wife and how they are a team in raising their kids is very similar to my relationship with my husband. There’s a security and a power in that bond and pairing. The Old Man comes home from work most days disgruntled and just world-weary and in the current political climate, I can certainly relate!
From your early days in New York City to your work in regional theater and touring productions, how has your journey through different theater communities shaped you both artistically and personally?
Every time you work with different people in different settings, you learn that there are many ways to get to the same outcome. You also learn A LOT about how to work with so many different personality types. With the diversity of experiences I’ve had over the past 30 years of my acting career, I’ve had mostly positive ones.
Unlike non-artists, an actor is always starting a new acting job, often in many new locations, so you get to meet many new coworkers (some who remain close friends of mine to this day), as well as discovering new places you’d like to live. Because of all the work travel I’ve done, I’ve gotten to see so many beautiful places, and some not so beautiful, which is partially how I recently ended up choosing California as my home.
As audiences continue to rediscover A Christmas Story every holiday season, what do you hope they take away from this stage version and from your performance in particular?
Well, the stage version elevates so many of the iconic moments in the movie to magical musical heights that you just can’t help but laugh and smile while watching it. I mean, there are multiple tap numbers in the show, and who doesn’t love a good tap number?
It is a feel-good musical that I think we all need right about now. Hopefully, people can come to the theater to escape the stress of the holiday season and be transported to a simpler time. It is a nostalgic story.
I hope people are inspired to keep following their dreams, much like Ralphie and his BB gun and The Old Man’s dream of recognition. Both characters eventually get what they want in the end. I would like people to leave the show with hope, goodwill towards their neighbor, and a sense of joviality.
As far as my performance, I just hope they enjoy it! I hope the audience relates to his relationship with his family, his peaks and his pits, and that they are rooting for him the entire show.
Theater, film, music — you do it all. Which space medium is your favorite, and what do you want to do with your career next?
They are all so different and fulfill different things within me. Theater is great for the live audience, the bond you form with your cast and crew, and a good way for me to go back to my roots. Film/TV/commercial work is great for the brevity of time commitment, the pay and, if you’re lucky, a really good script and special effects. You get to act in a different way, too.
And music? Well, music is life and weaves its way into every aspect of my personal and professional life. Music has been with me through being unemployed, the good times and the bad, and it has always gotten me through to the next gig. I’ve played piano since I was eight and dabbled in other instruments along the way.
I play music for me. Mostly because I’m not good enough to play for other people, but because without that form of expression, I would feel lost. Music has always meant the most to me in life. And that’s why I’m thankful I’ve gotten to spend my life working in that arena.
My dream is to be on a long-running sitcom. I love comedy. Sitcoms also use live audiences, so in that regard, it is very similar to theater, which I love. You shoot about 20 episodes per season, so the script is always changing, and you can watch the characters grow and change over time. To me, it’s the best of both worlds: a steady income and constant change.
A Christmas Story: The Musical is on stage through December 28 at San Diego Musical Theatre. 858.560.5740 | sdmt.org
OUT AT A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL
Join San Diego Musical Theatre on Saturday, December 13, for a festive LGBTQ+ night out at the theater.
Arrive early for a community mixer, where guests can enjoy happy-hour pricing, mingle with fellow theater lovers and maybe even spot a surprise appearance from Santa.
It’s the perfect way to enjoy a cozy, campy community-filled holiday night at the theater.