T-R PHOTOS BY JAKE RYDER - Buddy the Elf (Izaiah Wilder) performs “Sparklejollytwinklejingley” with an ensemble cast during a Sunday dress rehearsal of “Elf Jr. The Musical” at the Miller Middle School Auditorium.

The Marshalltown Community Theatre is bringing a musical rendition of a modern Christmas classic to the Miller Middle School auditorium this month.

“Elf Jr., the Musical” presents the characters from the 2003 Will Ferrell movie on the musical stage as the MCT will perform the approximately 70-minute play at the Miller Auditorium.

In the musical, Buddy, a young orphan, smuggles his way into Santa’s bag of gifts and mistakenly finds himself in the North Pole, raised as a would-be elf until his size and toy-making abilities give his human nature away. From there, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City only to find a father on the naughty list and a half-brother that doesn’t believe in Santa. Buddy is nonetheless determined to win over his family and help bring the true meaning of Christmas back to NYC.

Emily Hobbs (Amber Sorenson) and Michael Hobbs (Naysa Rottink) perform “I’ll Believe In You” as Buddy The Elf (Izaiah Wilder) keeps himself entertained during a Sunday dress rehearsal of “Elf Jr. The Musical” at the Miller Middle School Auditorium.

The featured cast includes Izaiah Wilder as Buddy the Elf, Elias Carter as Santa Claus, Ella Reynolds as Jovie, Nevaeh Clover as Walter Hobbs, Amber Sorenson as Emily Hobbs and Naysa Rottink as Michael Hobbs. Elves, security guards, New Yorkers and “fake Santas” comprise the rest of the ensemble cast that sings and dances through “The Big Apple.”

Songs include “Happy All The Time,” “World’s Greatest Dad,” “Never Fall in Love (With an Elf),” and “Sparklejollytwinklejingley.”

Lenihan students will get a sneak peek of the performance on Dec. 5 with performances at 9 a.m. for the fifth graders and 1 p.m. for the sixth graders.

“This will be a great opportunity to show students the magic of theatre, as well as to see how the Miller Auditorium can be utilized as the beautiful space it is and see that it needs much tender loving care,” said Vanessa Engel, MCT Director.

Official performances are scheduled for the weekends of Dec. 6-8 and Dec. 13-15; with Friday and Saturday performances at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Those who wish to support summer programming and children’s shows like this are encouraged to donate to the Kids’ Acting Academy. Donations can be mailed to Kids’ Acting Academy – Marshalltown Community Theatre, PO Box 923, Marshalltown, Iowa, 50158.

The Kids’ Acting Academy next workshop is for “Finding Nemo Jr.” the week of Aug. 4-9 at the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center. Questions can be referred to Vanessa Engel at vengel@marshalltown.k12.ia.us.

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Contact Jake Ryder at 641-753-6611 ext. 227 or jryder@timesrepublican.com.