‘Elf The Musical Jr.’
Presented by Ghostlight Productions’ ‘Young Thespians’
Shows: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8-9, 15-16; 2 p.m. Nov. 9-10, 16-17
Location: Port Angeles Community Playhouse, 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd, Port Angeles
Tickets: $12 in advance at www.ghostlight-productions.com, or at door
More info: Call 360-207-0130
One of the most cheerful characters in recent years — Buddy the Elf, played by 17-year-old Ethan Cameron — brightens your evenings this November in Ghostlight Productions’ “Young Thespians” shows of “Elf The Musical Jr.”
Twenty-five student actors ages 7-18 from Sequim and Port Angeles perform eight shows between Nov. 8-17 at the Port Angeles Community Playhouse, 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd, Port Angeles.
Tickets are $12 and can be purchased in advance at www.ghostlight-productions.com or the door.
The play adapts a 2003 movie starring Will Ferrell, and features songs by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin based on a book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin.
Director Danielle Lorentzen said the characters and plot are similar.
“It’s fairly faithful to the movie, which is great because it’s a pretty perfect movie,” she said.
For those who missed the movie, the family-friendly musical follows an orphan who crawls into Santa Claus’ gift bag and mistakenly goes to the North Pole where he is raised by elves. Unaware he’s a human through the years, Buddy learns the truth and seeks out his father in New York to reconnect and help restore his family’s Christmas spirit.
Cameron, a senior at Port Angeles High School, said he wasn’t necessarily looking to play Buddy but appreciates the character’s enthusiasm.
“Part of me is super happy all the time and this allows me to take it over-the-top,” Cameron said.
“Buddy’s whole purpose is to make people happier.”
Said Lorentzen, “Buddy (emits) optimism and childlike excitement. He’s so pure; there’s no selfishness in him.”
This is Cameron’s second time on stage, he said, and that being the lead is “super awesome” because he wants to be out of his comfort zone.
Lorentzen takes the directing reigns as a solo director for the first time with this show and said the young actors are doing great.
“It’s going well,” she said. “They went off book for the first time the other day and knew all their lines and blocking.”
Her previous experience leading children included last summer’s “Annie Jr.,” Ghostlight’s first “Young Thespians” show.
For the sake of practicality, some of the more extensive scenes and moments are removed, but Lorentzen said the humor remains and the actors have great comedic timing.
“The lines themselves are funny; they’re straight out of the movie,” she said. “I’m laughing throughout and there are some tender moments.”
Cameron said the show maintains the character moments, father-son, mother-son and all three.
He’s also excited for the music and dancing, including the song “Sparklejollytwinklejingley” and the choreography by Anna Pederson.
“I love the choreography. I don’t get to dance often,” he said.
For the show, about 20 of the actors play multiple parts, too.
“Elf The Musical Jr.” is presented throughspecial arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
For more information, call 360-207-0130.
Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
Ethan Cameron, 17, as Buddy, and 24 other actors started rehearsals for “Elf The Musical Jr.” in mid-September in the Sequim High School choir room before moving to Sequim Middle School’s choir room. They’ll practice this week at the PA Playhouse where their show runs Nov. 8-17. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
Santa Claus (Brock Hope) listens to his elves sing at a recent practice for “Elf The Musical Jr.” Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
“Elf The Musical Jr.” director Danielle Lorentzen said Ghostlight Productions’ version is close to the film it’s based on. “It’s fairly faithful to the movie, which is great because it’s a pretty perfect movie,” she said. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash
