Stagecrafters’ production of “Elf the Musical” will premiere Nov. 25 and run until Dec. 18. The musical will be performed at the Baldwin Theatre at 415 S. Lafayette Ave. in Royal Oak.
By: Mike Koury | Royal Oak Review | Published November 21, 2022
ROYAL OAK/CLAWSON — Stagecrafters in Royal Oak will be presenting a production of “Elf the Musical” for several weeks.
“Elf” will be showcased from Nov. 25 to Dec. 18 at Stagecrafters, located at the Baldwin Theatre at 415 S. Lafayette Ave. in Royal Oak.
The musical is an adaptation of the 2003 movie starring Will Ferrell, which tells the story of Buddy, an orphan who was raised as an elf at the North Pole and who later travels to New York City to find his father.
Director Deborah Landis-Sigler said the musical’s story is similar to that of the film.
“The fact that he gets sent to look for his human father in New York City and how that goes, the transition from being raised by an elf to joining in a very hectic human world, that’s a big part of the story, and the acceptance of his family and that kind of thing,” she said. “So the theme and story is pretty close to what people are used to in the movie. Logistically, of course, it changes a little bit because it’s live.”
“Elf” will be Landis-Sigler’s 29th production at Stagecrafters. She has directed musicals for it since 1985 and worked there since 1983.
The cast and company has been working on the production since auditions began at the end of August. The show is one that Landis-Sigler said she was excited to put on since a children’s show version called “Elf the Musical Jr.” was put on five years ago.
“It’s such a sweet, perfect holiday family show,” she said. “There isn’t anybody that can’t come see it. And as a director, you just enjoy the entire process of watching it come to life in front of you. All the thoughts that you’ve had prior to, and then you finally get to see it with the people that become involved with you.”
Geoff Wrobel, of Ortonville, will star as Buddy in the production. An owner of a handmade artisan market called Cultivate Arts in Clawson, this will be Wrobel’s second time as the lead for a Stagecrafters show.
Wrobel got into doing these shows because he loves to sing and dance and found acting to be a good creative outlet and an enjoyable time with other outgoing and fun people.
“I really enjoyed the people and everyone in the cast is super talented,” he said. “I really like there are kids in the show, so I really like working with the kids. And it was a little bit different in that we started with blocking and dance before we knew some of the music. So that created a challenge, but we overcame that for sure.”
Of his interest in Elf, Wrobel said he really liked the music and, admittedly, found a lot of himself in the character Buddy.
“I can relate quite a lot to Buddy in that, well, I’m an old kid,” he said. “I’m 35 years old and I have what I would consider the heart and energy of a kid. So I don’t say it was a bit of a typecast, but it isn’t too far of a stretch for me to be over the top, excitable and, you know, just with all the energy.”
Tickets for the show cost $35 for performances on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and $25 for Thursday shows. A $3 ticket fee will be applied to each ticket. Tickets can either be purchased at www.stagecrafters.org or by calling (248) 541-6430.