Matthew Broderick is set to play a key role in Fox's upcoming live musical staging of "A Christmas Story," with the Tony winner signing on to narrate the proceedings.

As fans of the beloved holiday classic know, the narrator is an adult version of Ralphie Parker, the 9-year-old protagonist who pines for a Red Ryder BB gun in both the 1983 flick and 2012 musical, on which Fox's adaptation is based. The part should be a natural fit for Broderick, who's both a Tony winner ("How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying") and voice acting vet ("The Lion King").

Broderick takes over narration duties from the late humorist Jean Shepherd, on whose writings the original film was based. He joins the previously-announced Maya Rudolph, who will play Ralphie's mother, Mrs. Parker, in the production.

Recent Oscar and Tony winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul -- the duo responsible for the tunes behind Best Picture nominee "La La Land" and Best Musical winner "Dear Evan Hansen" -- wrote the original score for "A Christmas Story: The Musical," and will be penning several new songs for Fox's version. Additional cast members are set to be announced soon.

"A Christmas Story Live!" debuts on Fox on December 17.

[via: Variety]