Arts Live Theater will kick off the holiday season and spread some Christmas cheer this weekend in its production of "Elf: The Musical Jr."
The musical, based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, follows Buddy the Elf as he discovers he's really a human and subsequently searches for his birth family in New York City.
FAQ
‘Elf: The Musical Jr.’
WHEN — 7:30 p.m. today; 2 & 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday
WHERE — Global Campus Auditorium in Fayetteville, 2 E. Center St.
COST — $8-$12
INFO — 521-4932
Titus Shaver plays Buddy in ALT's production, directed by Missy Gipson. The show features about 30 young actors who have put in about 50 hours of rehearsal.
Abigayle Luttrell, a 16-year-old junior at Springdale Har-Ber High School, plays Deb in the production. She answered three questions for What's Up!
Q. Tell me about your role as Deb in "Elf: The Musical Jr."
A. I didn't audition for Deb, I was up for [any] role. When I saw the cast list, I didn't know who Deb was. I was with my best friend Abby, so she Googled a picture of "Deb from Elf," and when I saw who it was I died laughing. I got so excited. I think Missy chose me for this role because she knows I can have fun with a character, even if it is a small role. Also, Deb is an overly organized and high-strung character, and Missy knows me well enough to trust that I have plenty of personal experiences to pull from.
Q. How did you get into theater?
A. The Broadway bug first bit me when I was in the first grade. I was a flower girl in a wedding in New York City, and my parents took me to my first Broadway show, "Wicked." I was captivated by the singing, dancing, acting and performing arts. When I was in the fourth grade, I auditioned for my first show, "Alice in Wonderland," at Arts Live Theatre. Since then, I've been in over 30 community theater productions.
Q. How is the play different from the popular film? And why should people come see the play?
A. There's music and choreography! I've had a lot of friends ask me if [the musical has] the same wonderful one-liners. Good news folks -- there are a ton of similarities between the musical and the movie! [The story] is family-friendly, cheery, uplifting and Christmasy. "Elf" is the perfect opportunity to get in the Christmas spirit. Also, the theater is on the Fayetteville Square and it will be lit up with the Lights of the Ozarks starting tonight.
-- Kelly Barnett
NAN What's Up on 11/20/2015