Don't Miss ELF THE MUSICAL at Syracuse Stage

The good news from Syracuse Stage is that there are still excellent seats available for the holiday family show "Elf The Musical," scheduled to run Nov. 23 - Jan. 6. While many performances are full or near capacity, the Syracuse Stage Box Office recommends patrons check dates after Dec. 28 as performances with good availability.

Tickets may be obtained at www.SyracuseStage.org, by phone at 315-443-3275 and in person at the Box Office.

Based on the popular 2003 movie "Elf," starring Will Ferrell, the musical recounts the story of Buddy, a human child raised at the North Pole by Santa's elves, who journeys to New York City to reunite with his family, including his father Walter Hobbs, a successful and cynical executive.

Adapted for the stage by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin (book), Matthew Sklar (music) and Chad Beguelin (lyrics), the musical opened on Broadway in November 2010. It returned to Broadway the following year and launched a national tour in 2012.

The Syracuse Stage production features Donna Drake's direction, musical direction by Brian Cimmet, and choreography by Brian J. Marcum. The production marks a return to Syracuse Stage for Drake who directed last season's acclaimed "The Wizard of Oz."

"I'm so happy to be back at Syracuse Stage," Drake said. "I feel like I left a little piece of my heart here last year."

Drake added that her job this year is easy because "Elf The Musical" is written with "such heart, such warmth and such hilarity." Drake especially urged people to bring children to the show, "They are going to have a blast." Like the movie, however, the show would be rated PG for mild language and sarcasm.

This production also represents a kind of homecoming for choreographer Marcum, who was the associate choreographer on the original Broadway production. Marcum started with the musical when it was still in workshop development in 2009. It was his job to help shape the look and feel of the dance numbers.

While Marcum's experience will be valuable to the Syracuse Stage production, he does not to intend to simply recreate the Broadway dances.

"This will be a fully Donna Drake version of the musical," he said. "The idea is to pay homage to the Broadway choreography not to replicate it. That's more fun."

"Elf The Musical" marks the eighteenth holiday collaboration between Syracuse Stage and the Syracuse University Department of Drama. The annual show has become a tradition with many Central New York families and represents the value the 46-year partnership between Syracuse Stage and Syracuse University Department of Drama has for the students, the theater and the community.

"The holiday time is special at Syracuse Stage," said Bob Hupp, artistic director of Syracuse Stage. "We look forward to welcoming thousands of Central New Yorkers to our theatre to celebrate this most magical time of year with this most magical musical for the whole family."