Stage Production Notes
Elf the Musical is a musical version of the 2003 movie of the same name. It tells the story of Buddy, a human who is accidentally raised as one of Santa’s elves. Upon reaching adulthood, Buddy returns to Manhattan to find his birth father and help the city re-discover the Christmas spirit.
The movie Elf, starring Will Ferrell was released by New Line Cinema in 2003. The film was a huge hit continues to be frequently aired on television during the Christmas season. According to Fandango, the film is rated as the best Christmas movie of the 21st century.
Elf the Musical received a workshop presentation in December 2009. The workshop was directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw (who choreographed the concert versions of Candide and South Pacific, and appeared in Victor/Victoria), the production featured Sebastian Arcelus as Buddy, Amy Spanger as Jovie, Beth Leavel as Emily, and George Wendt as Santa.
Elf opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on November 14, 2010 for a limited engagement.
New York Times theatre critic Charles Isherwood described Elf as “tinseled in synthetic sentiment, performed with a cheer that borders on mania, and instantly forgettable.”
Despite the reviews, Elf did well at the box office. In the second week of its run, it was the third-highest grossing Broadway musical behind Wicked and The Lion King.
After 57 performances, Elf closed on Broadway on January 2, 2011.
A year later, Elf was revived at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, opening on November 9, 2012. The revival was once again directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, and featured Jordan Gelber, Leslie Kritzer, Beth Leavel, and Wayne Knight.
The revival played for 74 performances before closing on January 6, 2013.
Elf received its UK premier at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth in 2014. The production received some updates for British audiences.
The Christmas-themed musical transferred to the West End, opening at the Dominion Theatre in November 2015 for a limited run. With tickets at £240 each, Elf the Musical set the record for the most expensive show on the West End.
The West End production received generally positive reviews. While critics praised the production values and performance of Ben Forster, they were quick to point out the high ticket prices.
Elf opened at the Lowry in Manchester on November 24, 2017.
The UK touring production received positive reviews. John Anson, writing for the Lancashire Telegraph stated Elf is “a glittering production” that is the “ultimate festive treat for the whole family.”
In 2014, the musical was adapted into an animated television special on NBC called Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas. The animation featured the voice talents of Jim Parsons, Mark Hamill, and Ed Asner.
A junior version was performed at the Hampton Hill Theatre outside of London in 2016.
Elf continues to be performed around the United States during the holiday season. As of December 2017, Elf was being performed in New York City (at Madison Square Gardens), Denver, Detroit, St. Louis, and Knoxville.
Elf the Musical is a musical version of the 2003 movie of the same name. It tells the story of Buddy, a human who is accidentally raised as one of Santa’s elves. Upon reaching adulthood, Buddy returns to Manhattan to find his birth father and help the city re-discover the Christmas spirit.
The movie Elf, starring Will Ferrell was released by New Line Cinema in 2003. The film was a huge hit continues to be frequently aired on television during the Christmas season. According to Fandango, the film is rated as the best Christmas movie of the 21st century.
Elf the Musical received a workshop presentation in December 2009. The workshop was directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw (who choreographed the concert versions of Candide and South Pacific, and appeared in Victor/Victoria), the production featured Sebastian Arcelus as Buddy, Amy Spanger as Jovie, Beth Leavel as Emily, and George Wendt as Santa.
Elf opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on November 14, 2010 for a limited engagement.
New York Times theatre critic Charles Isherwood described Elf as “tinseled in synthetic sentiment, performed with a cheer that borders on mania, and instantly forgettable.”
Despite the reviews, Elf did well at the box office. In the second week of its run, it was the third-highest grossing Broadway musical behind Wicked and The Lion King.
After 57 performances, Elf closed on Broadway on January 2, 2011.
A year later, Elf was revived at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, opening on November 9, 2012. The revival was once again directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, and featured Jordan Gelber, Leslie Kritzer, Beth Leavel, and Wayne Knight.
The revival played for 74 performances before closing on January 6, 2013.
Elf received its UK premier at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth in 2014. The production received some updates for British audiences.
The Christmas-themed musical transferred to the West End, opening at the Dominion Theatre in November 2015 for a limited run. With tickets at £240 each, Elf the Musical set the record for the most expensive show on the West End.
The West End production received generally positive reviews. While critics praised the production values and performance of Ben Forster, they were quick to point out the high ticket prices.
Elf opened at the Lowry in Manchester on November 24, 2017.
The UK touring production received positive reviews. John Anson, writing for the Lancashire Telegraph stated Elf is “a glittering production” that is the “ultimate festive treat for the whole family.”
In 2014, the musical was adapted into an animated television special on NBC called Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas. The animation featured the voice talents of Jim Parsons, Mark Hamill, and Ed Asner.
A junior version was performed at the Hampton Hill Theatre outside of London in 2016.
Elf continues to be performed around the United States during the holiday season. As of December 2017, Elf was being performed in New York City (at Madison Square Gardens), Denver, Detroit, St. Louis, and Knoxville.
Filmed Production Notes
Elf the Musical was filmed live at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester.
Channel 5 broadcast the musical on television on December 23 and 24, 2017. It included a backstage feature showing the cast getting ready for the performance. With advertisements, the broadcast had a running time of 3 hours.
In a rather harsh review in The Stage, critic Tim Bano stated “for all its sweetness and festive wrapping, it’s actually pretty bland.” While Bano noted that the animated backdrops worked well on television, he claimed “there is very little incentive to watch this… other than Forster’s superb singing.”
According to The Stage, a total of 842,000 viewers tuned in to watch Elf over its two television broadcasts, 516,000 viewers on December 23, and 326,000 on December 25. Reviewer Matthew Hemley noted the viewership was significantly lower than A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, which aired on BBC on January 31, 2017, and drew in 4 million viewers.
Elf the Musical was not available to view outside of the UK.
Elf the Musical was filmed live at the Lowry Theatre in Manchester.
Channel 5 broadcast the musical on television on December 23 and 24, 2017. It included a backstage feature showing the cast getting ready for the performance. With advertisements, the broadcast had a running time of 3 hours.
In a rather harsh review in The Stage, critic Tim Bano stated “for all its sweetness and festive wrapping, it’s actually pretty bland.” While Bano noted that the animated backdrops worked well on television, he claimed “there is very little incentive to watch this… other than Forster’s superb singing.”
According to The Stage, a total of 842,000 viewers tuned in to watch Elf over its two television broadcasts, 516,000 viewers on December 23, and 326,000 on December 25. Reviewer Matthew Hemley noted the viewership was significantly lower than A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, which aired on BBC on January 31, 2017, and drew in 4 million viewers.
Elf the Musical was not available to view outside of the UK.
Elf the Musical PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: The Lowry, Manchester
Producer: Michael Rose, Nine Lives Media, Cat Lewis, Katie Taylor
Book: Thomas Meehan, Bob Martin
Music: Matthew Sklar
Lyrics: Chad Beguelin
Director: Morgan Young, Film: Nick Morris
Musical Director: Stuart Morley
Choreography: Morgan Young
Scenic Design: Tim Goodchild
Lighting Design: Tim Lutkin
Sound Design: Clement Rawling
Cast:
Ben Forster (Buddy), Liz McClarnon (Jovie), Louis Emerick (Santa Claus), Joe McGann (Walter), Jessica Martin (Emily)
Theatre: The Lowry, Manchester
Producer: Michael Rose, Nine Lives Media, Cat Lewis, Katie Taylor
Book: Thomas Meehan, Bob Martin
Music: Matthew Sklar
Lyrics: Chad Beguelin
Director: Morgan Young, Film: Nick Morris
Musical Director: Stuart Morley
Choreography: Morgan Young
Scenic Design: Tim Goodchild
Lighting Design: Tim Lutkin
Sound Design: Clement Rawling
Cast:
Ben Forster (Buddy), Liz McClarnon (Jovie), Louis Emerick (Santa Claus), Joe McGann (Walter), Jessica Martin (Emily)
Sources
Articles
Websites
- John Anson, “REVIEW: Elf the Musical, the Lowry, Salford Quays,” Lancashire Telegraph (Nov 29, 2017)
- Tim Bano, “Elf the Musical: Live on Channel 5 review – ‘slow-moving and anodyne’” The Stage (Dec 24, 2017)
- Michael Billington, “Elf the Musical review – don't come, all ye faithful” The Guardian (Nov 6, 2015)
- Broadway.com Staff, “Broadway Grosses: Wicked, The Lion King & ElfSet Records in Smashing Holiday Week,” Broadway.com (Nov 29, 2010)
- Dianne Bourne, “Review: Elf the Musical is a Christmas cracker for all the family at The Lowry” Manchester Evening News (Nov 29, 2017)
- Dominic Cavendish, “Elf, Dominion Theatre, review: 'Magic, for a steep price’” The Telegraph (Nov 6, 2015)
- Brian Gallagher, “Elf is the Top Christmas Movie of the 21st Century,” MovieWeb (Dec 22, 2017)
- Patrick Healy, “Musical Version of ‘Elf’ Heading to Broadway,” New York Times (June 11, 2010)
- Matthew Hemley, “Elf – The Musical starring Ben Forster to be broadcast on Channel 5,” The Stage (Dec 19, 2017)
- Matthew Hemley, “4 million watch Mischief Theatre’s A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong,” The Stage (Jan 2, 2018)
- Charles Isherwood, “North Pole Naïf Tries to Thaw Hearts,” New York Times (Nov 14, 2010)
- Tom Millward, “Review of Elf - The Musical at the Theater at Madison Square Garden,” New York Theatre Guide (Dec 14, 2017)
- Sophia Moir, “Gutted that Elf isn’t on TV this year? Elf: The Musical is coming your way” Metro UK (Dec 23, 2017)
- Mark Shenton, “Elf the Musical review at the Dominion Theatre, London – ‘overpriced, but genuinely charming’” The Stage (Nov 6, 2015)
- Angela Thomas, “Elf The Musical to be screened on Channel 5,” Musical Theatre Review (Dec 22, 2017)
- Uncredited, “Elf: new family musical,” New York Theatre Guide (June 30, 2010)
Websites
- Elf, “Creative,” Accessed via: https://elfmusicaltour.com/creative/
- Elf, “Elf the Musical Tour Schedule,” Accessed via: https://elfthemusicaltour.com/
- The Lowry, “Events at The Lowry: Elf - The Musical,” Accessed via: https://www.thelowry.com/events/elf-the-musical
- Playbill, “Elf,” Accessed via: http://www.playbill.com/production/elf-al-hirschfeld-theatre-vault-0000013668
- Playbill, “Elf,” Accessed via: http://www.playbill.com/production/elf-al-hirschfeld-theatre-vault-0000013980
- Radio Times, “Elf: The Musical - Live Onstage,” Accessed via: http://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/f28t54/elf-the-musical---live-onstage/
- UK Theatre Web, “Elf! The Musical - Junior Version,” Accessed via: https://www.uktw.co.uk/archive/T093404750
Written by Luisa Lyons (December, 2017. Updated January 2018.)