Pioneer Theatre Company to Present ELF, 12/6-24

Pioneer Theatre Company presents a new musical version of the New Line Cinema film, Elf - The Musical, December 6 through December 24, 2013.

This production marks the Utah premiere of the new musical version that took Broadway by storm last holiday season. The musical is based on the 2003 holiday film that quickly became a Christmas classic. It's an evening of entertainment for the whole family that the New York Post called "a bona fide treat."

Quinn VanAntwerp plays the role of Buddy the Elf. VanAntwerp spent the last four years playing Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys on Broadway, the First National Tour, and the Toronto original cast - where he was nominated for a Dora Award for Best Actor. He has performed on stages all across North America with artists like Brian Stokes Mitchell, John Bucchino, Aaron Lazar, Colin Mochrie, Reba McEntire and Paul Gemignani, to name a few. Other New York credits include Take Me America and That Other Woman's Child. He has appeared in the films Four Christmases and Life as a Song. This is his PTC debut.

Libby Servais plays Jovie, the shop girl with whom Buddy falls in love. On Broadway Servais was seen in Wicked and the original Broadway cast of Lysistrata Jones. Her national tour credits include Wicked, both in San Francisco and on the original Munchkinland tour. Regionally she has appeared as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Martha Jefferson in 1776, Amber in Hairspray, Georgiana in Pride and Prejudice, Jeanie in Hair, Violet in SideShow and Susan in Company. This is her PTC debut.

Martin Vidnovic plays Walter Hobbs, Buddy's father. Vidnovic's Broadway credits include Brigadoon, for which he received a Best Actor Tony Nomination, Baby, for which he received a Drama Desk Award, Oklahoma! (L.A. Drama Critics' Award) and A Grand Night For Singing (Backstage Bistro Award). He also appeared in The King and I and Home Sweet Homer, both starring Yul Brynner. Vidnovic played Bellomy in the off-Broadway revival of The Fantasticks and the King in the national tour of The King and I starring Sandy Duncan. He returns to PTC after appearing in The Light in the Piazza and Sunset Boulevard.

Tanesha Gary plays Walter's wife Emily Hobbs. Gary, a proud member of AEA and the Grammy-nominated choir The Broadway Inspirational Voices, appeared on Broadway in Caroline, or Change. Her off-Broadway and regional credits include Sheila's Day at Lincoln Center, The Piano Lesson, Clybourne Park, Hereafter, This One Girl's Story, Walmartopia, Intimate Apparel, Dreamgirls, Smokey Joe's Café and Once on This Island. Film and television work includes Bamboozled, Mr. Wonderful, One Life to Live and the short film The Cycle (Mundolocofilms.com). This is her PTC debut.

Local actor JAEDIN CLARK plays Michael Hobbs, Buddy's little brother. Clark has performed for Chicago's Christian Youth Theater and Hale Centre Theatre. Along with a love for theatre, the twelve-year-old also enjoys swimming competitively, piano, tap, and time with friends.

Daniel Marcus plays the role of Santa Claus. Marcus's Broadway credits include 1776, Woman in White, A Christmas Carol and Urinetown, in which he created the role of Officer Barrel. He has appeared in The Adding Machine and Our Town, both directed by MacArthur Genius Grant recipient David Cromer in New York. His TV and film credits include Law and Order: SVU and You Don't Know Jack for HBO. Marcus returns to PTC after appearing as Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha, L. Salem Strauss in Paint Your Wagon and as Nicely-Nicely in Guys and Dolls.

The Equity ensemble includes Paul Aguirre, Laura Lee ANDERSON, Eric Lee Brotherson, ALLYSON KAYE DANIEL, MARY FANNING DRIGGS, Rhett Guter, Lance Roberts and Robbie Roby. Local actors ANGELA AVILA, Jaron Barney, LEAH HASSETT, William Cooper HOWELL, JOAnna Johnson, Joel Pellini and LATOYA RHODES round out the ensemble.

In addition, ten local youth actors comprise the ensemble of elves in Santa's Workshop. ANSON BAGLEY, SUSIE CARROLL, Zoe Heiden, ABIGAIL HOWARD, Brigham Inkley, WALLY INKLEY, CHASE PRESTON, Abigail Scott, Maggie Scott and OLIVIA SMITH-DRIGGS play those roles.

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