Maya Rudolph to Star in Fox's Live Musical 'A Christmas Story'

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Maya Rudolph
is heading to Fox!

The Saturday Night Live alum will star in Fox’s live holiday musical production of A Christmas Story, Fox announced Tuesday during the Fox portion of the summer Television Critics Association press tour.

RELATED: 'Rent' and 'A Christmas Story' Live Musicals Coming to Fox

Rudolph will play the mother of 9-year-old Ralphie Parker.
The 45-year-old actress is no stranger to singing. She was a backup singer for several years before SNL, performed with The Rentals and is in a Prince cover band with her friend, Gretchen Lieberum.


A Christmas Story: The Musical
is based on the 1983 classic film, which was written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark, and the 1966 novel, In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Shepherd. The musical takes place in 1940s Indiana and centers on a child named Ralphie, who wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas.

Tony and Oscar winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land) will compose new songs for the live television event with Jonathan Tolins and Robert Cary (Fox’s Grease: Live) adapting the book. The TV adaptation will be filmed on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California.

RELATED: Emma Stone and Maya Rudolph Perform 'Call Your Girlfriend' Using Butter Tubs


A Christmas Story
is the latest live TV event for Fox, following Grease: Live in January 2016, which starred Julianne Hough, Aaron Tveit and Vanessa Hudgens. Fox will debut a live production of Rent at some point in the future.


A Christmas Story
will air Sunday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Fox.