PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "What a Mother Does..." Behind the Scenes at A Christmas Story, The Musical with Jenny Lee Stern | Playbill

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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "What a Mother Does..." Behind the Scenes at A Christmas Story, The Musical with Jenny Lee Stern

Everyday working side by side with John Bolton is like having access to a free comedy master class. Today we're working on "Funny Faces" or "Mugging" or "Do anything to get the laugh no matter how cheap and/or shameful." As you can see, we're nailing it.

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "What a Mother Does..." Behind the Scenes at A Christmas Story, The Musical with Jenny Lee Stern

Musical comedy dynamo Jenny Lee Stern, most recently seen in Forbidden Broadway, is back on the New York stage this winter in the holiday return of A Christmas Story, The Musical. She documented some of the backstage fun as the show kicked off its Madison Square Garden engagement following runs in Hartford and Boston.
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Everyday working side by side with John Bolton is like having access to a free comedy master class. Today we're working on "Funny Faces" or "Mugging" or "Do anything to get the laugh no matter how cheap and/or shameful." As you can see, we're nailing it.
Hello friends, and Seasons Greetings! Jenny Lee Stern here. With my fancy-dancy ALL ACCESS pass, Loretta "Bunny" Rosenthal-Schwartz will give you a behind the scenes glimpse into <i>A Christmas Story</i>, playing Madison Square Garden in NYC.
My first day of school. A girl, a leg lamp, a script, and a dream.
The Boston crew turned it out and decked the halls for us backstage!
Our STAR! Broadway Newsie Jake Lucas (Ralphie) signs in for the day.
Just a simple bald girl. Then in the magic hands of the strapping and gifted Jeff Knaggs, I become Bunny Schwartz. Before your very eyes.
Tanya Birl tries a new look for the opening number. Merry Christmas, mon.
Look who I found in the hallway! Its Flick. When he's not sticking his tongue to flagpoles he enjoys long walks on the beach, Real Housewives and anything "fierce." My favorite little Crispi Chicken Nugget, Michael Crispi!
An actor prepares. Some on Pintrest…
...some with extreme cowboy stretching. (and whatever Nick's doing) I mean, its your process. Go with it.
Erin Dilly and the process of the Diva Juice. Get the ratios EXACTLY right or you're fired. After she beats you senseless. She's had 3 different dressers in the past 2 months. Being in 3 different cities is purely coincidence. THAT's what a mother does!
Ms. Caroline O'Connor gets her daily intermission serenade. She loves it.
Dan Lauria: the nicest TV dad on Broadway! Even takes the time to run the boys' football pool. So kind and generous on top of being an insane talent. And a pop culture icon.
Everyday working side by side with John Bolton is like having access to a free comedy master class. Today we're working on "Funny Faces" or "Mugging" or "Do anything to get the laugh no matter how cheap and/or shameful." As you can see, we're nailing it.
And back to neutral.
The REAL stars of the show: Pete & Lily. Biggest laughs for the LEAST amount of stage time. Ah, its a dog's life…
The lovely and talented Lindsay O'Neil as Bree Van deCamp as Mrs. Flick in "Desperate Christmas Housewives: The Musical.”
Former <i>Mary Poppins</i> stars Lucas Schultz and Alexa Niziak reunite in <i>A Christmas Story</i>. Here they are giving me a little backstage mad hot ballroom action.
Our beautiful child swing Gabriella Baldacchino (center, pigtails) goes on for the first time and the gang shows their support!
Beada Briglia, Alexa Niziak and Hannah Isabel giving you a sensible warm-up.
Then lookie-loo who joins in the fun! Of course. My sweet and delicious Apple Crispi. A la mode, of course.
May The Schwartz Be With You. My stage son (Nicky Torchia) giving you face.
Keven Quillon, Jose Luaces, and Tanya Birl get into character. Mad Elf Style.
Gee whiz! What am I gonna do about this modern day bad-assery?
Theatre magic folks! Now ya see it, now ya dont!
Perfectly period painted lady ready to go rock a leg lamp 1940's bombshell style.
I got your MAJOR AWARD right here, big boy. Leg Lamp Fantasy Selfie.
We all know and have seen Broadway's biggest transformations: Beast into Prince. Princess into Ogre. But nothing compares to Random Leg Lamp Chorus girl magically morphing into Random Featured Ensemble Mom. I mean, how DO we do it???
Mara to the Rescue! Our hottie patottie swing Mara Newbery steps in for the first time in Boston. Yippie Ka Yo!
Tongue stuck to a pole? We gotcha. CSRS. Christmas Story Rescue Squad. Tuesdays on ABC. Starring Kevin Quillon, David Purdy, Lindsay O'Neil, Jenny Lee Stern and Thay Floyd.
The Christmas Story 5K! A great morning in Boston!
Keven Quillon, my daughter Pats and I celebrate our accomplishment. Well, Keven's accomplishment.
...see, when I say I ran my first 5K... by "ran" I mean "walked." By "walked" I mean "walked halfway and went to brunch." I chalk this up to #winning nonetheless.
Before we leave the Wang Theatre in Boston, we leave our mark. A tradition.
Hey NEW YORK! We're back! Don't shoot your eye out!
Security is super tight at MSG. Here I am getting my super sexy daily pat down.
Follow the arrows...where would YOU like to go?
The boys chillaxing in their crazy pimped out dressing room. I'd show you a picture of the girls in out room, but i couldn’t fit the three of us AND my iPhone in there at the same time.
The Christmas Story Leg Lamp Workout. You've won a MAJOR AWARD. The major award of a super hot bod. (with Keven Quillon)
The man who taught me everything I know. I am only where I am because of him. I schlep this mug from beauty station to beauty station to remind me of the glorious powerhouse talent of the one and only Craig Laurie. I only hope to be as genius as he.
Working on some heavy scene work with Nicky. He said WHAAAAAT?
It's hard to stop. We're just THAT committed.
On stage sound checking at The Garden. Thats 5500 seats behind me! Almost FOUR Broadway houses combined! Like, whoa.
Tap dancing maven, Luke Spring and the dashing and hilarious Noah Baird. The future of Broadway. I mean couldn't you just dip them in duck sauce and sing "Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra?"
A lovely shot of my favorite hat in the show: The Elpha-beret. She's green. She defies gravity. Ya get it. Charissa Bertels is SUPER impressed.
Sound Check Realness. My Crispi Seaweed Snack is at it again. Get ready, Broadway. You're about to be taken over. Is my obsession with this boy clear?
#elfie is the new #selfie. Get into it. Thay Floyd, Keven Quillon, Lizzie Klemperer and I letting you have it.
My father Marty Stern is a highly decorated Track/Field coach. Our first performance at MSG coincided with his 77th birthday! Especially emotional as he had coached several relay teams to WORLD RECORDS in this very arena! W/ my gorgeous mother Sharon!
We're OPEN! And we're a hit! Welcomed back to NYC with the loving embrace of a standing ovation!
Thanks for coming along for the ride Playbill.com! Happy Holidays from my family to yours! Patsy, Jeremy, Nora and I wish you Love & Many Blessings in 2014! #KeepingUpWithTheKushniers
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