From the North Pole to Durham, Elf
the Musical Delivers Holiday Joy

DPAC will present Elf the Musical, directed by Philip William McKinley, on Nov. 26-30 (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

If your heart needed a little extra "sparklejollytwinklejingley" this year, Elf the Musical at the Durham Performing Arts Center delivers exactly that: two-and-a-half hours of pure, candy-cane delight, wrapped around a surprisingly sincere reminder to believe in something bigger than our cynicism. Playing Nov. 26-30 as part of the WRAL Greatest Hits of Broadway at DPAC series, this brand-new national tour -- produced by Temple Live Entertainment North America and Crossroads Live North America and directed by Philip Wm. McKinley -- turns the beloved 2003 film into a holiday snow-globe experience for the whole family.

Based on the movie starring Will Ferrell, the musical follows Buddy, a human who was accidentally raised at the North Pole and only belatedly discovers that he's not actually an elf. With Santa's blessing, he heads to New York City to find his real father, Walter Hobbs, and in the process ends up saving Christmas by infecting the jaded city with his relentless cheer.

Jack Ducat stars as Buddy and Andrew Hendrick stars as Santa in Elf the Musical (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

The stage version of Elf keeps the film's basic plot, but adds a bouncy, Broadway-style score by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin and a witty book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, the team behind shows such as The Prom, The Producers, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Elf does not feel like a formulaic rehash but something both familiar and fresh.

On this tour, Buddy is played by Jack Ducat, whose wide-eyed exuberance and rubber-limbed physical comedy anchor the show. He never tries to imitate Will Ferrell; instead, he plays Buddy with an innocent sincerity, making the character feel like an overgrown boy in green tights. It's a genuinely charming performance that centers the show in pure joy.

Elf the Musical at DPAC stars Felicia Martis as Jovie and Jack Ducat as Buddy (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

As Jovie, Buddy's wary love interest, Felicia Martis gives the show some welcome edge. Her big number, "Never Fall in Love (with an Elf)," lands as both a comedy bit and a real emotional turning point; and her chemistry with Ducat helps sell the romance beneath all the tinsel.

On the Hobbs family side, Jeff Brooks' workaholic Walter and Yara Martin's patient Emily offer a believable picture of a modern New York family too busy and too tired to notice the season passing them by. Their scenes with Buddy, especially around the dinner table, strike a nice balance of exasperation and slowly thawing affection.

Elf the Musical stars Ryan Duck (left) as Michael Hobbs/Little Boy and Jack Ducat as Buddy i (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

The role of Michael Hobbs, Buddy's younger brother (shared on tour by Ryan Duck and Camden Kwok) was a real standout as played on opening night by Camden Kwok, who brought a clear, strong voice and a natural ease onstage. His duet work with Martin in "I'll Believe in You" and "There Is a Santa Claus" gave the show some of its most genuinely touching moments.

Darius J. Manuel makes a sharp impression in the ensemble as the harried Macy's Manager and ever-present Hot Dog Vendor. Manuel squeezes maximum laughs out of every entrance.

Elf at the Durham Performing Arts Center stars (from left) Jeff Brooks as Walter Hobbs, Camden Kwok as
Michael Hobbs/Little Boy, and Yara Martin as Emily Hobbs (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

The ensemble is used cleverly: one minute they're tap-dancing elves at the North Pole, the next they're harried New Yorkers, office workers, or fake Santas at Macy's. They keep the stage aswirl in sparkling motion, which fits this exciting, high-energy material.

One especially funny highlight (among many) was Buddy and the disgruntled department store Santas singing and dancing to "Nobody Cares About Santa" as their not-so-magical reality sets in in Act II.

Elf the Musical stars Jack Ducat as Buddy (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

The production uses Liam Steel's precision choreography, sliding set pieces, and fantastic projected backdrops to immerse the audience into the story and whisk the action from Santa's workshop to the Hobbs' apartment, Macy's, and a snowy New York skyline in seconds.

Both the set and costumes are designed by Tim Goodchild. The costumes are a parade of dazzling colors and patterns: Buddy's iconic green suit and yellow tights pop against the colder grays and blues of New York. Santa's workshop looks like it was dipped in sugar crystals. And without ruining the holiday surprises, this show delivers. There are several jaw-dropping moments involving flying sleighs and snow that will delight every member of your family.

DPAC will present Elf the Musical, directed by Philip William McKinley, on Nov. 26-30 (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

What ultimately makes Elf the Musical work is that beneath the marshmallow fluff, it treats its message seriously. Buddy's optimism is never mocked; it's the grown-ups' cynicism that gets gently skewered. The show has a simple thesis: belief -- whether in Santa, in each other, or in the possibility that people can change -- creates the conditions for miracles.

In a season when it's easy to feel overwhelmed by consumerism and bad news, that idea lands more deeply than you might expect. There's something genuinely moving about watching a huge theater full of people literally singing along to raise a fictional "Clausometer." True to Buddy's mantra that "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear," the DPAC audience was more than ready to sing, clap along, and soak up the music.

DPAC will present Elf the Musical, directed by Philip William McKinley, on Nov. 26-30 (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

Matthew Sklar, Chad Beguelin, Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin ELF THE MUSICAL (2 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28-30), produced by Temple Live Entertainment North America and Crossroads Live North America; directed by Philip William McKinley; choreographed by Liam Steel; starring Jack Ducat as Buddy, Felicia Martis as Jovie, Jeff Brooks as Walter Hobbs, Yara Martin as Emily Hobbs, Ryan Duck or Camden Kwok as Michael Hobbs/Little Boy, Andrew Hendrick as Santa Claus/Mr. Greenway, Katelyn Lauria as Deb, and Darius J. Manuel as Macy's Manager/Hot Dog Vendor, plus an Ensemble and/or Swings that include Connor Barton, Calista Case, Derick Donato, Adam Furgal, Kabir Gandhi, Tanner Gleeson, Patrick Johnson, Vanessa Mitchell, assistant dance captain Clark Anton Rulon, Emma Sucato, Mikayla Thrasher, Alysia Varstardis, dance captain Annie Wogisch, and Keila Sue Wong; and presented locally as part of WRAL Greatest Hits of Broadway at DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham). DIGITAL PROGRAM: https://issuu.com/dpac0/docs/elf_the_musical. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqcjwkmaKqM. THE PRESENTER/VENUE: https://www.dpacnc.com/, https://www.facebook.com/DPACNC, https://www.instagram.com/DPACNC/, https://www.tiktok.com/@dpacnc, https://x.com/DPAC, and https://www.youtube.com/@DPACLive. 2025-26 WRAL GREATEST HITS OF BROADWAY AT DPAC: https://www.dpacnc.com/news/detail/five-great-broadway-shows-return-to-dpac-including-hamilton. DIRECTIONS: https://www.dpacnc.com/plan-your-visit/directions. PARKING: https://www.dpacnc.com/plan-your-visit/parking. THE TOUR (Nov. 1, 2025-Present): https://elfmusicaltour.com/, https://www.temple-live.com/work/elfthemusical, https://www.facebook.com/elfonbroadway/, https://www.instagram.com/elfonbroadway/, https://www.tiktok.com/@elfonbroadway, and https://x.com/elfonbroadway. TOUR CAST: https://elfmusicaltour.com/cast. CREATIVE TEAM: https://elfmusicaltour.com/creatives. ELF (2003 film): https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/elf, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319343/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(film). ELF THE MUSICAL (2010 Broadway and 2015 West End musical): https://www.mtishows.com/elf-the-musical, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/elf-488283, https://www.matthewsklar.com/elf-the-musical, https://www.chadbeguelin.com/elf, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(musical). THE SCRIPT: https://www.allmusicals.com/lyrics/elf/script.htm. STUDY GUIDE (New Stage Theatre): https://newstagetheatre.com/manage/wp-content/uploads/NST-Elf-Study-Guide_FINAL.pdf. MATTHEW SKLAR (Westfield, NJ-born composer): https://www.matthewsklar.com/, https://www.mtishows.com/people/matthew-sklar, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/matthew-sklar-82828, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0804455/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Sklar. CHAD BEGUELIN (Centralia, IL-born lyricist and playwright): https://www.chadbeguelin.com/, https://www.mtishows.com/people/chad-beguelin, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/chad-beguelin-402892, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066818/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Beguelin. THOMAS MEEHAN (Ossining, NY-born playwright and screenwriter, nee Thomas Edward Meehan, 1929-2017): https://www.mtishows.com/people/thomas-meehan, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/thomas-meehan-8874, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0576070/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Meehan_(writer). BOB MARTIN (London, England-born playwright and screenwriter): https://www.mtishows.com/people/bob-martin, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/bob-martin-99415, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0551991/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Martin_(comedian). TICKETS: $30 and up, plus taxes. Click here to buy tickets. (Note: DPAC has $30 plus tax Student Rush tickets for students with ID. Click here for details.) GROUPS (10+ tickets): 919-680-2787, Groups@DPACnc.com, and https://www.dpacnc.com/events/groups-services. INFORMATION: 919-680-2787 or CustomerService@DPACnc.com. Susie Potter's Triangle Arts Review Review.

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