Audiences will embrace their inner “elf” when Ocean City Theatre Company (OCTC) students present their production of Elf The Musical JR.
The cast of Elf features kids from across Cape May and Atlantic Counties. Buddy the Elf is played by Erik Wagner of Ocean City and Jovee is played by Julia Wilson of Ocean City.
“Elf The Musical JR. is an uplifting musical about one boy’s quest to find his true identity. The story encourages each of us to approach each day with goodwill, wonder and cheer,” says Cohen. “From the first rehearsal the students have worked together as a team to create this wonderful experience for your community to enjoy”
The Greater Ocean City Theatre Company will present Elf The Musical JR. at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 at the Ocean City Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace and the Boardwalk. Tickets are $12 to $15 and are available at www.ocnj.us/boxoffice or by calling 609-399-6111. The show features 23 students in third through eighth grades.
Elf The Musical JR. is based on the 2003 New Line Cinema hit and features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar (The Wedding Singer) and Chad Beguelin (Disney’s Aladdin On Broadway,The Wedding Singer), a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone).
The musical tells the story of a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is given the name Buddy and raised by elves in the North Pole. Buddy lives happily unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list, and his stepbrother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of the holidays.
Elf The Musical JR. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). The OCTC Production is being directed by Michael Luongo with music direction by Joey Valliere and choreography by Karen DelSordo.
— News release from Ocean City Theatre Company
