Fox's latest live musical event has just lined up an amazing lead: Maya Rudolph is set to play Ralphie's mom in "A Christmas Story."

The network made the announcement this week during the Television Critics Association summer press tour, revealing that Rudolph would be playing the quirky family matriarch who's continually exasperated with 9-year-old protagonist Ralphie Parker. Rudolph is no stranger to live television, having starred on "Saturday Night Live" for seven seasons, where she frequently showed off her impressive singing voice. She also recently co-headlined the variety show "Maya & Marty" alongside Martin Short.

"A Christmas Story: The Musical," based on the beloved 1983 movie, first hit Broadway in 2012, and features a score from recent Oscar and Tony winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the duo responsible for music from 2016 awards season juggernaut "La La Land" and buzzy Broadway show "Dear Evan Hansen." Fox announced that Pasek and Paul will write "several new songs" for the live version.

Announcements of additional cast members are expected from Fox "soon," Variety reports. "A Christmas Story: The Musical" will debut live on Fox on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. EST; it will later air on tape delay on the west coast.

[via: Variety]