ELF The Musical is Magical!

ELF The Broadway Musical is on tour and it's onstage at the Fox Theatre right now! I'm so happy that I got to see this show, one of the many holiday shows slated for the Fox stage this holiday season. It's fun, it's peppy, it's colorful...it's truly magical!

ELF The Musical On Tour | Photo by Chris Bennion

The first full-cast number is hilarious! You can't help but don a huge smile and tap your feet...especially when you see the elves' feet. Don't tell anyone, but they're humans who are wearing elf shoes...on their knees. They're brilliant! The elves...and Santa...and Buddy...the entire cast is brilliant!

ELF The Musical On Tour | Photo by Chris Bennion

As described by Broadway in Atlanta, "Elf is an original musical that brings to life the heartwarming and hilarious tale of Buddy, an orphan who mistakenly believes he’s really one of Santa’s elves." 

The musical is based on the 2003 blockbuster movie Elf starring Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf and Zooey Deschanel as Jovie, his love interest.

I'd not seen the movie when I was invited to see the musical, but I made sure I did before the performance—I'd heard good things about both. 

Two nights before seeing the musical I watched the movie (Gotta love modern technology!)...I smiled and laughed and even shed a happy tear. The musical elicits the same emotions, but it brings an additional dimension of humor—the kind of over-the-heads-of-children humor that you see and hear in today's blockbuster animated films.

ELF The Musical On Tour | Photo by Chris Bennion

Buddy is perfectly performed by the 6'4" too-tall-to-be-an-elf Daniel Patrick Smith, who has a voice that would make the Sirens jealous and a natural acting ability that, well, landed him the lead role in a touring Broadway holiday show...everyone loves him! Aside from brilliantly performing a contagiously happy elf—Daniel has quite the impressive actor resume. 

ELF The Musical On Tour | Photo by Chris Bennion

Buddy's love interest—and it was love at first sight—is Jovie, a co-worker at Macy's. 

Don't worry, you'll learn quickly how Buddy gets from an orphanage...to the North Pole...to Macy's in New York City in hardly any time at all. Actually for him it's 30 years, but for you the trek will be mere minutes.

Maggie Anderson, who performs Jovie, is absolutely and incredibly brilliant! And what a beautiful voice! THIS is the reason I enjoy musicals.

ELF The Musical On Tour | Photo by Chris Bennion

The script is written, much to my delight, such that the characters—narrator Santa in particular—can interject local events, locales and sports teams. The first mention—think college football—got a huge laugh from the audience!

And having visited New York City many, many times, I was delighted to reminisce experiences of places where Buddy and others appear in the story, including Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Tavern on the Green and the Empire State Building, to name just a few. It's been too long since I've been to NYC...I really must visit again soon. 

ELF The Musical On Tour | Photo by Chris Bennion

Santa, who was...I hesitate to use the word...a secondary character, was for me one of the significant characters in the show...he brought it to a whole other level. In the movie, the story was narrated by Pappa Elf, but in the Broadway play, the story is narrated by Santa. And this Santa, performed magnificently by Ken Clement, takes stand-up comedy (that was unexpected, but endeared) to a whole other level.

A huge, biggest-present-under-the-tree "Thank you!" to BRAVE Public Relations and Broadway in Atlanta for the tickets, but mostly for the experience! I've said many, many times that I write my own thoughts, feelings and opinions...they're not influenced at all, ever, by complimentary tickets, and I'm not compensated for what I write. I love being on media lists, but will never compromise my integrity. I love being a tourist, and a blogger! I'm grateful others enjoy what I share.

Now then, some of you may have heard about a technical difficulty that occurred shortly after the show began. At first, I thought the "technical difficulty" announcement was part of the show...then I became concerned for the safety for the cast and crew behind the curtain that the packed house couldn't see. 

I don't know what happened, and will not venture a guess, but I know what I saw when they returned to the stage. The cast and crew performed...true to their art they demonstrated, in true professional spirit, that "the show must go on". 

We may never know what happened, but I sincerely hope that the people who made it possible that they could continue are honored and revered for what they contributed that night. From this member of the audience, "Kudos to you, to you and your colleagues and anyone else who made the evening happen! YOU are appreciated!"


Go see ELF The Musical while you still can. There are only four more performances between now and Sunday, December 6...and what a magical reason to experience the Fox Theatre! 

Read All About It...Newsies Makes Headlines!

NEWSIES delivers the best synchronized dancing I've seen since A Chorus Line. Worthy of its 2012 Tony Award for best choreography, NEWSIES is a high-energy, well-performed story of young paperboys' defiance of exploitation by big business...This is based on a true story! 

Now at The Fox Theatre through Sunday, January 25, NEWSIES On Tour garnered the grandest, most heartfelt standing ovation I've seen on an opening night in ages!

Newsies on Tour (Photo: Deen Van Meer)

A 1992 movie of the same title didn't do so well, but Disnesy's NEWSIES stage performance has taken command of audiences, bringing adults to their feet and smiles to children's faces...and putting Newsboy Caps on their heads. 

Is NEWSIES responsible for the resurgence of this 1900s fashion? I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised. Even Nordstrom sells them! And there were quite a few in the audience opening night. I love seeing that kind of support for such a magnificent show.

Newsies on Tour (Photo: Deen Van Meer)

Looking back through modern history, there have been many newsboys strikes, but this show is the story of one strike in particular. A newsboys strike that took place in New York City in 1899. And it has a few familiar names...Pulitzer, Hearst and Roosevelt, to name a few.

This musical changed the name of the lead character--the leader of an emerging newsboy union--to Jack Kelly, brilliantly performed by Dan DeLuca. This young man has not only mastered dancing and acting, he puts on a rather convincing turn-of-the-century New York City accent.

The entire cast is brilliant. It truly has been a while since I've seen a cast work so incredibly well together. Either their each and every one 1,000 percent dedicated to their art or they're all best of friends offstage. Perhaps they're both. The performance is flawless!

Newsies on Tour (Photo: Deen Van Meer)

The cast truly is brilliant...they're ALL amazing! The "is-it-for-real?" developing love story between Jack Kelly (Dan DeLuca) and Kathrine (Stephanie Styles) was delightful in humor, as well as romance. You can't help but root for shy Davey (Jacob Kemp)--I was a very shy kid, so I identified with this character--and Crutchie (Zachary Sayle) is a personal favorite--his resolve and determination are heroic...my kind of character.

The dancing and acting are joined by superb singing. It's as if their voices were made for each other. Their voices harmonized perfectly, just as their dance steps. I think the only thing I didn't like about this show is that it was over in two hours...I'd have stayed as long as they'd have kept dancing! 

The first thing that caught my attention--and kept it throughout--was the set(s). Tony-nominee (for Newsies) Tobin Ost did a magnificent job. 

Check out this Broadway.com video interview with Ost, when he discusses how the sets were inspired by the printing press used in the show.

AND...there's tap dancing! Exceptional tap dancing. It thrills me to no end to see so many young people who obviously have an amazing grasp on this delightful style of dancing. It's been a favorite of mine since I was a kid--although I never learned myself--I so love to see a spectacular tap performance. 

Newsies on Tour (Photo: Deen Van Meer)

One of the more profound lines in the show is delivered by then Governor of New York Teddy Roosevelt, "Each generation must, at the height of its power, step aside and invite the young to share the day." The youngsters in Disney's NEWSIES on Tour...not only share the day, they've seize the day, to the enjoyment of Atlanta and I'm certain every city on its national tour.

Get you tickets to NEWSIES right away...it'll be in the headlines for quite some time, but only on stage in Atlanta through Sunday.

A huge wanderlust ATLANTA "Thank you" to Broadway in Atlanta and BRAVE PR for inviting me to the show. I hope you will make the time to see it as well.