Holiday spirit will take center stage when “Elf Jr.” opens at Greasepaint Youtheatre Dec. 5-14, featuring North Central Phoenix performers Liliana Bell and Shiloh McDonough. Adapted from the 2003 hit film, the family musical blends broad comedy with a message about belonging that lands for kids and adults alike.
The story follows Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole, who heads to New York City to find his father and jump-start the city’s flagging Christmas spirit. The Hobbs family – Walter, his wife, Emily, and their son, Michael – find their routines upended as Buddy’s cheer collides with deadlines, doubts and a boss who expects miracles by end of day. Along the way, Buddy meets Jovie, a sharp New Yorker with a guarded heart, and discovers that Christmas spirit can be contagious.
Closer to home, two North Central performers step into key moments of the story. In her role as Matthews, Bell joins the scramble to keep the boss happy as deadlines loom. Meanwhile in Central Park, McDonough, as Darlene, is won over when Buddy recalls her childhood Christmas gift – one of the moments that reignite New York’s belief.
The stage adaptation features a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, with music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin, the team behind “The Wedding Singer” and “The Prom.” Crowd-pleasers like “Happy All the Time,” “World’s Greatest Dad” and “There is a Santa Claus” keep the show moving at a sleigh-bell clip.
As part of Greasepaint’s commitment to inclusion and accessibility, the company will offer a sensory-friendly performance at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6. Admission is free for qualifying families, and tickets may be requested by emailing Moe Dias-Watson at moe.dias@greasepaint.org. The sensory-friendly performance is made possible through a grant from APS. An ASL-interpreted performance will be presented at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, with interpretation provided by ASL Impact.
Performances of “Elf Jr.” take place at Greasepaint Youtheatre, 7020 E. 2nd St. in Scottsdale. Tickets are $25 at greasepaint.org.
