Tuscaloosa Children’s Theatre returns with holiday-themed ‘Elf the Musical Junior’

Its success inspired “Elf The Musical,” which ran on Broadway for Christmas 2010-2011, and 2012-2013, then moved to London’s West End for 2015-2016, and toured annually from 2012-2017.

The musical made a few changes from the movie: It’s narrated by Santa Claus who doesn’t appear in the musical.

Ferrell’s height – 6 feet, 3 inches – was augmented by using actual children as younger elves, and forced perspective and other effects to make the comedian appear to tower over the other adults.

Like most of the world, TCT and its young performers put together smaller Zoom and online performances during the pandemic, but this will be the group’s first big production since March 2020.

Ferry has been with the group since kindergarten; assistant director Autumn Fuller began her acting career with TCT, then grew up into Theatre Tuscaloosa and University of Alabama theater.

The music director is Merry Livingston; choreographer Ashlyn Lambert; sound and light designer David Jones; costume designer Tiffany Yeager; props manager Cyndi Wilson; and technical director Will Flowers.

“It’s over two years since we’ve been in the Bama, because of COVID,” Baker said.

Because many area schools aren’t currently doing field trips, TCT won’t be playing its usual school shows, although it will perform one for homeschool students at 10 a.m.

Tickets are $20 for the premium seats, in the first 10 rows, center aisle; $15 for general admission; and $10 for students and seniors, each with a $1 facility fee.

Ticket sales have been rapid, Baker said, probably because, much like the kids, patrons are ready to get back to something approaching normal.

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