OK, I have a confession: I do not like “Elf.”
I’m referring to the movie of course, but after seeing the Broadway North American tour of “Elf the Musical” at Clowes Memorial Hall on Tuesday night, I’ve had a change of heart. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
You may be thinking, “Chloe, why did you go see a show you know you didn’t like?”
I support the arts; that’s why.
And I ended up liking it, so it’s a good thing I went.
I tend to enjoy most live theater, so it was entirely possible the stage adaptation of the beloved 2003 Christmas movie would change my mind about what an incredibly fun and festival holiday story the show truly is … and it did.
So, here’s five reasons I think you should add it to your list of holiday experiences to try before the year is up (whether you like the movie or not).
It’s family-friendly
“Elf the Musical” is pretty much just like the movie, but with more singing, dancing and tinsel. The show itself runs true to the film about Buddy the Elf, a human man raised alongside elves in the North Pole, who one day sets out to find his father in New York City.
The stage adaptation of the show is funnier, the sets and costumes more vibrant and colorful and the element of theater magic only elevates the spirit of Christmas spirit. The children in the audience were laughing and “oohing” and “aahing” the whole time, completely mesmerized by Santa and his flying sleigh, the paper shredder snow and the tap-dancing elves.
I mean, some of the jokes and innuendos are definitely for the parents and adults and the audience, but they are vague enough to go right over a kid’s head.
The cast is incredible
Don’t worry if you’re a stickler for the original. I promise the touring cast of “Elf the Musical” does the story justice, and Jackson Hurt’s performance as Buddy the Elf was just delightful. It didn’t feel like I was watching an actor act like Will Ferrell acting like Buddy the Elf. Each character onstage felt as real as the person next to you in the audience.
It’s not often I get to see an understudy in a lead role for a touring performance, so I was pretty jazzed; everything about Hurt’s performance made Buddy even more likable.
Beyond that, the rest of the cast and ensemble gave captivating performances from start to finish, from Zuly Cabrera’s performance as Deb to Tyler Price Robinson as both Mr. Greenway and the Macy’s store manager to every iteration of Santa.
READ MORE: The best holiday movies and traditions, according to your city officials
The music improves the story
The original music and lyrics by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin add an element to the story that cannot be taken for granted.
While, yes, most of the songs are over the top, cheery, jazzy and “Sparklejollytwinklejingley,” the music adds a certain amount of humor that I think adults can appreciate, especially surrounding the stress of the holidays.
“Never Fall in Love (With an Elf)” sung by Jovie (Tara Nicole Vinson) is both hilarious and relatable to anyone with dating history woes. It taps on, nay, breaks the fourth wall in a way that invites the audience into the story in a beautifully hilarious way.
“Nobody Cares about Santa” is the big, flashy and almost sultry ensemble number at the beginning of Act II where out-of-work Santa impersonators lament about kids not believing anymore as they sit in a Chinese restaurant on Christmas Eve.
It offers an escape
Live theater has always been a place where people can temporarily escape from the stress and worry of the real world. For two and a half hours, you can just sit back, relax and laugh as the story of Buddy the Elf comes to live right before your very eyes with all the best lines and moments from the movie you grew up with.
Plus, I always love when Broadway tours show take the time to do a little research for each city they perform in and customize lines in the show to make local audiences feel welcome. I won’t spoil which nods to Naptown made the show, but just know the audience loved it, and so did I.
“Elf the Musical” is alive, bright, fun and absolutely worth a trip out into the fluctuating Midwest winter weather.
It kicked off the Broadway in Indianapolis 2024-25 season
Following “Elf the Musical,” a handful of shows will make their way to Indianapolis, including “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” Jan. 14-19, 2025, and “Wicked” Jun. 18-July 6, 2025, at Old National Centre as well as “Annie” Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2025, “Six” March 4-9, 2025, and “Beetlejuice” April 8-13, 2025, at Clowes Memorial Hall.
“Elf the Musical” is onstage at Clowes Memorial Hall now through Dec. 22. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit indianapolis.broadway.com.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
