Summer Stage Celebrates Christmas In July With Elf, Jr.!
Upper Darby Summer Stage invites audiences to escape the summer heat and experience North Pole magic during the most unexpected time of year with Elf, Jr! The show tells the story of Buddy the Elf as he brings his “sparklejollytwinklejingley” North Pole style to New York City. Performances are on July 20th, 21st, & 22nd at 10:30am and July 21st at 7:00pm.
Elf, Jr. is part of this year’s series of family-friendly, hour-long shows presented by Upper Darby Summer Stage’s Children’s Theatre program. Tickets range from $10 - $14 and may be purchased online any time at www.udsummerstage.org or by calling the Box Office at 610.814.7270 during office hours on Monday–Thursday from 1pm-4pm. The Upper Darby Performing Arts Center is located in Drexel Hill, at 601 N. Lansdowne Avenue, just minutes from the Main Line and Center City. Parking is free. Masks are suggested but not required.
Elf, Jr. follows Buddy the Elf (Michael McNicholas of Bryn Mawr) as he discovers he’s actually a human raised by elves and embarks on an exciting journey to New York City to find his dad, Walter Hobbs (Jack Habicht of Drexel Hill). Along the way, he meets a young woman named Jovie (Sasha Groch of Merion Station) and teaches her that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is by singing loud for all to hear. Upper Darby Summer Stage invites audience members to channel their inner elf as Buddy works to save Christmas, get his father off the naughty list, and remind those around him of what it truly means to believe.
Director Pat Walsh is no stranger to the story of Elf, Jr., as he says, “I stage managed this show back in 2016 and now I’m directing it! I’m so excited to be revisiting this story.” A longtime member of the Summer Stage family, it’s no surprise that Pat Walsh finds joy in revisiting a familiar show within the program. As he puts it, “we all know the movie for its comedy, but onstage its focus is really finding ‘home.’ And at Summer Stage, that’s such a wonderful message.”
As the cast of Elf, Jr. brings this heartwarming and comedic story to life on stage, they will perform on a set built to look like a giant snow globe. Upper Darby Summer Stage invites audience members to come wearing their favorite elf costumes, Santa hats, or holiday sweaters and join in on the magic. However audience members choose to express their holiday spirit, the cast of Elf, Jr. aims to amplify it. As actor Michael McNicholas, who plays Buddy, says, “I hope that when kids and families come to see Elf, they’ll take a little bit of joy home with them.”
Upper Darby Summer Stage is incredibly grateful to partner with Sign Dreamers to sponsor Elf, Jr. Upper Darby Summer Stage would also like to thank its season sponsor, Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School, for their support. Summer Stage 2022 is also supported through sponsor and host, Upper Darby School District, as well as founding sponsor, Upper Darby Township. Upper Darby Summer Stage is now officially a program of the nonprofit Upper Darby Arts & Education Foundation.