Pride Films And Plays Presents BARNEY THE ELF

Pride Films and Plays to produce fourth annual production of BARNEY THE ELF
Cast and crew announced for director Michael D. Graham's new production of LGBTQ-focused holiday musical satire opening December 14.

The musical of an elf who must leave the North Pole to find a new home after Santa Claus retires has itself found a new home for its fourth annual incarnation. BARNEY THE ELF, Bryan Renaud and Emily Schmidt's LGBTQ-themed musical inspired by the ELF feature film, will be staged in the Broadway theatre of the Pride Arts Center from Friday December 14 through Sunday, January 6. Michael D Graham will direct the production. In Renaud and Schmidt's musical satire, which incorporates Renaud and Schmidt's parody lyrics to popular songs, Barney the Elf finds he must leave his home at the North Pole after Santa's retirement causes chaos among the community of elves. He makes his way to a nightclub in Chicago, where he is befriended by drag queen Zooey, and learns to embrace his "inner elf."

The musical was developed by Renaud and Schmidt for The Other Theatre Company, with whom Renaud is an Artistic Associate, and was produced at the Greenhouse Theater Center for the past three holiday seasons.

This new production will be directed by Michael D. Graham, former Artistic Director of Piccolo Theatre, and will feature BARNEY THE ELF veterans Dixie Lynn Cartwright as Zooey, Maggie Cain as Mrs. Claus and Roy Samra as Barney. Cartwright and Cain played their roles in all three prior productions of the musical. Samra first donned Barney's tights for the 2017 productions. Also in the cast for this new production are PFP Company Member Chris Logan (BOY FROM OZ, Jeff nominee) as Santa Jr., Alisha Fabbi (Cookie), Conor McGarry (Drew, Barney u/s), Joseph Beal (Buttons, Tour Guide), Maggie Ward (Pinecone, Kathy), Thomas Tong (Topper), Larry Trice (Twinkle, Bouncer), Tuesdai B. Perry (Nutmeg), Brooke Emmerich (Chorus, Swing), Nico Joshua (Chorus, Swing), Claire Hart (Choreographer), Jimmy Jagos (Scenic/Props), Becs Bartle (Lighting), Blake Cordell (Sound), Michael Starcher (Stage Manager), Christopher Sylvie (Assistant Director).