Review: Singing Loud for All To Hear in CenterPoint Legacy's ELF THE MUSICAL.

If smiling is your favorite and you delight in all things Christmas, then gather your friends and family and head to CenterPoint Legacy Theatre in December!

ELF THE MUSICAL, (Book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, Lyrics by Chad Beguelin, Music by Matthew Sklar) is the story of Buddy the elf, made famous by the endearing Christmas film starring Will Ferrell.

Buddy, played by Ben Heder, (double cast as Aaron Ford), crawls into Santa's gift sack on Christmas Eve as an orphan baby. Santa, played by Randy Honaker, (double cast as Dave Hill), and his elves raise Buddy as an elf on the North Pole. Finally, when he has outgrown all the other elves by several feet, Buddy discovers he's not an elf after all. That's when Santa reveals that Buddy has a father in New York City who never knew about him.

Buddy sets off through the Candy Cane Forest to find his father in New York City. What he discovers along his journey is true love, the joys of family, and the power of believing!

Buddy's father, Walter Hobbes, played by Andrew Gemperline, (double cast as Todd J. Wente), is a workaholic who treats his family and employees with disdain, and definitely doesn't care about Christmas. It takes some time (most of the show) for Buddy to defrost his father's cold heart and remind him what life is truly all about.

Buddy also changes the life of Jovie, his coworker at Macy's. Jovie, played by Niki Waite, (double cast as Hannah Roskelley) is living the cynical single life when Buddy comes along and sweeps her off her feet. Waite and Heder make a sweet pair, exploring the city and celebrating the spirit of the season in the joyful number, "A Christmas Song."

CenterPoint Legacy's production of ELF THE MUSICAL is nothing short of dazzling. The set design and props really took this show to the next level. From a floating iceberg that transported Buddy across the stage, to an ice skating rink that the cast easily glided around on their ice skates, to Santa's sleigh drifting across the set and even a surprise appearance from the narwhal below the stage! Executive producer and set designer, Scott Van Dyke, Prop designer, Jackie Smith, and scenic charge artist, Cynthia Klumpp, truly outdid themselves!

Klumpp also starred in the show as Buddy's stepmother, Emily Hobbes, (double cast as Kirsten Jacobson). Her vocals were smooth and captivating, especially when partnered with her son Michael Hobbes, played by Will Hoagland, (double cast as Zack Abercrombie). The pair made a beautiful mother/son duo, which was highlighted by their vocal harmonies in "I'll Believe in You" and "There is a Santa Claus."

The show's choreography, by Kelley Richardson, really brought the entire cast to life. The opening number by the elves was equally impressive and hilarious, engaging the audience right from the start. Whether the cast was performing toy-making dance routines in Santa's Workshop, or elaborate tap numbers in the office of Walter Hobbes or Macy's department store, they executed it beautifully.

The costumes, designed by Rachel Lindsay, were as sparklejollytwinklejingley as they come! Colorful and glistening and all together Christmasy.

The cast vocals and harmonies were a treat for the cheering crowd, and the entire show was a gleeful Christmas experience! ELF THE MUSICAL at CenterPoint Legacy Theatre will bring holiday cheer to kids from one to 92.

Don't be a cotton headed ninny muggins! Catch this show before it closes on December 22. For a list of show times and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.centerpointtheatre.org/show/christmas-show-2018/ or call 801-298-1302.

Photo Credit: Ben Heder