Prepare
to dive into a winter wonderland as the beloved holiday comedy “Elf” is turned
into a musical extravaganza on Broadway. With some of Broadway’s brightest
stars at the helm (including six-time Emmy Award winning actor George Wendt as
Santa, Tony-winner Beth Leavel as Emily and a much-acclaimed group of
producers, writers and songwriters, “Elf The Musical” is sure to be one of the
highlights of the holiday season. We caught up with one of the show’s stars
(she plays Emily, Buddy’s “stepmother”) and Broadway vet Beth Leavel to chat
about motherhood, the holidays, and of course, Buddy the Elf!
You have two sons, how old are they now?
My
oldest is almost 21 and my youngest is 15—he’s a sophomore in high school,
which makes life a little less complicated. Some of the moms in “Elf” have
six-month-olds and one has a newborn—I remember that journey! I was lucky
enough that my husband was a stay-at-home dad for 11 years.
How did you balance being a new mom and a
performer?
Once
we got on a normal schedule it wasn’t too bad, except for the sleep
deprivation. If we have eight shows a week, we don’t have to be at work until
after the baby has usually gone to bed, but its just getting up [in the middle
of the night]—I remember being in a coma a lot. I went into “Showboat” six
months after I had a c-section with Sam. I had a costume fitting two weeks
after I gave birth and I remember explaining to the woman who was taking my
measurements that “these are not my breasts, these look nothing like my breasts,”
and they kept shrinking and shrinking during the run, and [the costume
designers] kept taking everything in. They let me take my time though, and boy,
did it whip me back into shape.
Are you finished with “Mamma Mia”?
I have
five more shows at “Mamma Mia.” I’m actually doing double duty for two weeks
with “Elf” and then “Mamma Mia” at night. What’s wrong with me? But you know
what, I can’t complain. [Having the opportunity] to do two Broadway shows? I
can’t complain.
How similar is the musical to the film?
The
musical is pretty much based on the movie. It’s been tweaked for Broadway but the
message is still the same—finding your own authenticity, finding who you are,
liking who you are, for all the characters through the eyes of an elf.
Is “Elf” a big holiday movie in your
house?
Yes,
it is. “Elf,” “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Scrooge.” It’s just not Christmas
until we’ve watched them!
How is it working with [six time Emmy award
winner] George Wendt, who plays Santa?
Oh I
love George Wendt. This is the second time I’ve worked with him—we did a show
out in Los Angeles called “Minsky’s.” He is a delight and he is a great Santa.
What’s your favorite musical number in the
show?
I
have a favorite one that I sing and I have a favorite one that everyone sings.
I sing a song with my son called “There is a Santa Claus” where we both
discover there is Santa, and it’s magical. Then there is a beautiful song
called “The Christmas Song” that we all sing at the end of the show when
everyone discovers Santa Claus. There is also one number where all the Santas
who work on the street meet up at a Chinese restaurant—you can only imagine the
bedlam that ensues.
What are some NYC holiday traditions in
your family?
I
make sure we see the tree and walk up and down Fifth Avenue because it’s so
amazing—I love to check out all the windows. We see the Radio City Christmas
Spectacular, of course. New York is a wonderful city during the holidays. It’s
deep and the spirit is palatable.
“Elf” sounds like it’s going to be a huge
success, any last words?
I can’t imagine that it won’t be—it’s just a delight. People
are going to leave the theater just filled with glee and holiday spirit. It’s
just a show about love.
Elf the Musical will be performed at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre through January 2nd. For more
information, visit elfmusical.com.
