Grafton – Apple Tree Arts will be presenting “Elf Jr. The Musical” Friday, Jan. 8 and Saturday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Grafton Middle School, 22 Providence Rd., Grafton. Tickets will be sold at the door for $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and children five and older, and free for children four and younger.
The musical tells the story of Buddy, a young orphan who crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is whisked off to the North Pole where he is raised by Santa’s elves. His large stature and lack of toy-making abilities lead Buddy to realize that he’s human and not an elf. He decides to go to New York City to seek out his true identity.
“We chose to produce this musical because it’s a fun family show,” explained Theatre Arts Director Lisa Scarlett. “When the junior version became available, we were excited to have the chance to stage it especially since the musical has not been produced by another regional theatre group. We wanted to try a seasonal show, too.”
The show has several company numbers in which the cast sings, acts and dances. Cast members perform upbeat songs like “Happy All the Time,” “World’s Greatest Dad” and “There is a Santa Claus.”
The 31 actors are from Grafton, Sutton, Uxbridge and Worcester. Cast members from Grafton include Annika Alves, Patrick Bartosiewicz, Ashley Berardi, Christina Burr, Katherine Dowling, Anna Fiore, Bobby Hammer, April Harnett, Belle and Madie Geoffroy, Juliana Kallio, Brenden Lavallee-Bartlett, Lauren Leclair, Emily Mossey, Maggie Mussler, Amanda Murdock, Rowan Paulman, Ali Schiavoni, Kelsey Sidman, Emma Swanick and Sophia Swartz.
Several people are assisting Scarlett with different facets of the production. She is co-directing the show with theatre arts faculty member Laurie Baker and Shannon May, early childhood and theatre arts educator. Apple Tree Arts’ students are assisting with the production including Kate Benbenek, Delanie Burke, Grace Deschenes, Cassie Lobe and Taylor O’Connor. Teddy Kiritsy and Noelle Scarlett are co-stage managers. Tom Desimone is working on the scenery and several of the sets. Ron Burke has created a few of the set pieces.
Parents are assisting with the production by helping sell tickets, making and coordinating refreshments. Dawn Geoffroy is sewing costumes for the show.
Founded in 1989, Apple Tree Arts is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization that has grown to serve over 1,000 children and adults annually with early childhood music classes, group keyboard lessons, private music and voice instruction, ensembles and theatre arts programs. The school provides a wide range of performances, special community musical and theatre arts events year-round. For more information, visit www.appletreearts.org.
