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Photo Coverage: ELF's Opening Night Curtain Calls on Broadway - Jordan Gelber, Leslie Kritzer and More!

ELF returns to Broadway this holiday season at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). Performances will began last night, Friday, November 9, 2012, and the production will play a limited engagement of nine weeks for the holiday season through Sunday, January 6, 2013. BroadwayWorld was at the opening performance and brings you photos of the cast and creative team taking their first bows!

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures in association with Unique Features and Jujamcyn Theaters present Jordan Gelber (Avenue Q, All My Sons) as Broadway’s favorite elf, ‘Buddy’ in the hit holiday musical ELF. He will be joined by Leslie Kritzer (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair) as ‘Jovie’ and Mitchell Sink as ‘Michael’ in his Broadway debut. ELF also features “Seinfeld” star Wayne Knight (Santa), Tony Award winner Beth Leavel (Emily), Tony Award nominee Mark Jacoby (Walter), Valerie Wright (Deb), Adam Heller (Mr. Greenway) and Michael Mandell(Store Manager). Leavel, Jacoby, Wright and Mandell are reprising the roles they originated in the 2010 production of ELF.

The company also includes Rory Donovan, Jason Eric Testa, Timothy J. Alex, Catherine Brunell, Callie Carter, Andrea Chamberlain, Jay Douglas, David Hibbard, Jenny Hill, Stacey Todd Holt, Emily Hsu, Nancy Johnston, Josh Lamon, Ariel Reid, Jonathan Schwartz, Eric Lajuan Summers, Jen Taylor and Lee Wilkin s.

Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit which starred Will Ferrell in the title role, ELF features a score by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar (Music) and Chad Beguelin (Lyrics)with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone). ELF is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winnerCasey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Monty Python’s Spamalot).

Scenic design for ELF is by Tony nominee David Rockwell (Hairspray, Catch Me if You Can), Costume Design is by Tony Award winner Gregg Barnes (Follies, The Drowsy Chaperone), lighting design is by three-time Tony Award-winner Natasha Katz (Once, The Coast of Utopia) and sound design is by Tony nominee Peter Hylenski (Rock of Ages, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever). ELF features orchestrations by three-time Tony Award-winner Doug Besterman (The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie). Hair and wig design is by Josh Marquette (The Book of Mormon, Gore Vidal’s The Best Man) and projection design is by Zachary Borovay (Evita, Rock of Ages).

ELF played a successful holiday engagement in 2010, breaking the Al Hirschfeld Theatre’s box office record three times during its run. ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Buddy is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list and his step-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

Theatre Marquee

Cast Board

Adam Heller & Valerie Wright with Company

Adam Heller

Valerie Wright & Company

Michael Mandell

Mark Jacoby, Beth Leavel & Mitchell Sink & Company

Mark Jacoby, Beth Leavel & Mitchell Sink

Wayne Knight & Company

Wayne Knight

Leslie Kritzer & Company

Leslie Kritzer

Leslie Kritzer & Company

Jordan Gelber & Company

Jordan Gelber

Beth Leavel, Wayne Knight, Jordan Gelber, Leslie Kritzer, Mark Jacoby & Mitchell Sink

Beth Leavel, Wayne Knight, Jordan Gelber, Leslie Kritzer, Mark Jacoby, Mitchell Sink & Company

Beth Leavel, Wayne Knight, Jordan Gelber, Leslie Kritzer, Mark Jacoby & Mitchell Sink

Beth Leavel, Wayne Knight, Jordan Gelber, Leslie Kritzer, Mark Jacoby, Mitchell Sink & Company

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As a 14 year old youth, Walter was transfixed by his first Broadway Show, the original production of 'GREASE'. His Journey to celebrity photojournalism began that fateful night. Meeting, photographing and getting to know the cast inspired him to spend his professional life doing what he loved. Walter moved to Manhattan and for a leading role as a Photographer & Photo Researcher. Currently headlining in New Jersey with his partner Richard and family members Dali (Jack Russell) & Gala (Schnoodle). Recently he made his Broadway debut sharing the stage with Hugh Jackman in 'Hugh Jackman on Broadway' as well as receiving the Actors' Equity Association Gypsy Spirit Award. Walter McBride Photography is syndicated worldwide by Corbis/AP.

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