Northridge Middle School will present the musical Elf Jr. at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the North Montgomery Hight School auditorium. Part of the cast includes, from left, Olivia Anglin (Jovie), Coy Deno (Buddy), Sam Douma (Michael Hobbs), Cora De La Cruz (Emily Hobbs) and Harmon Hann (Marshall Hobbs).
Northridge Middle School students are ringing in the Christmas season with the tale of a misfit elf who ventures from the North Pole to find his real family.
“Elf Jr.” opens Friday at the North Montgomery High School auditorium.
The musical is based on the film starring Will Ferrell, a favorite of eighth grader Coy Deno.
Ferrell’s trademark zany portrayal of main character Buddy inspired Coy to audition for the role.
“When I saw [the film], I wanted to be ... funny like him,” Coy said during a break in dress rehearsals this week.
In the musical, Buddy is an orphan who ended up at the North Pole after climbing into Santa’s bag.
Buddy eventually realizes he isn’t cut out for making toys. Santa tells him the truth about where he came from.
Buddy’s parents, Walter and Emily Hobbs, are back in New York City.
Walter is a workaholic toiling away at a children’s book publisher. Emily loves her husband, but wants him to spend more time at home.
“You also seem to kind of want to divorce me,” seventh grader Sam Douma, who plays Walter, tells eighth grader Cora DeLaCruz, who portrays Emily.
A cast of about 90 students have parts for the musical, the largest production Cora has played in.
As a sixth grader, Cora had minor parts in the “Wizard of Oz.” Last year, she was cast as Tiger Lily in “Peter Pan.”
“I love the thrill of being on stage and everything coming from the ground on up,” she said.
The cast and crew of “Elf Jr.” have relied on support from parents and school administrators.
“We have the most amazing team of costumers I think any school could ever have,” director Megan Birk said.
Birk, Northridge’s choir teacher, shares directing duties with Daniel Martin and Mike Melvin.
Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
From 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, there will be a meet-and-greet with Santa, including photo opportunities.
Families can also make crafts and leave wish lists for St. Nick.
There is no admission charge for that event.
