Sean Astin to Make Broadway Debut in ‘Elf the Musical’
Sean Astin will make his Broadway debut this season in Elf the Musical.
Astin will play Santa, with Tony Award nominee Grey Henson (Mean Girls, Shucked) playing Buddy the Elf. The musical will play The Marquis Theatre starting Nov. 9, with an opening night Nov. 17.
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Astin is well-known for his onscreen roles as Mikey Walsh in The Goonies, the title character of Rudy, Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Doug Whitmore in 50 First Dates and Bob Newby in Stranger Things.
“It has been a lifelong dream to be on Broadway and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the season than by spreading Christmas cheer as Santa Claus. I’ve been in deep preparation for this role since I was 5 years old. Now my kids can say, “Santa, I know him!” Astin said.
The show, based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel and James Caan, is scheduled for a limited engagement through Jan. 4. The show follows Buddy, a human raised by Santa’s elves, as he goes to New York to find his real rather.
The musical, which was first staged at the Dominion Theatre in London’s West End, has appeared on Broadway twice before. The show features a book by Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone, Smash, Boop! The Musical), with songs by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Prom, The Wedding Singer).
The Broadway production is directed by Philip Wm. McKinley (The Boy From Oz, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark) and choreographed by Liam Steel (Company).
Temple Live Entertainment North America and Crossroads Live North America are producing the Broadway run.
The Broadway production will feature set and costume design by Tim Goodchild, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen and video design by Ian William Galloway.
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