In time for the holidays, Little Theatre closes preview night of 'Elf' to standing ovation

Temperatures were well above freezing Thursday night but "snow" still glittered down on The Landers Theatre.

In time for the holidays, Springfield Little Theatre closed out its preview night of "Elf" to a standing ovation on Thursday. And to get audience members in the spirit, the theatre dispensed fake snow near its front doors. There were 424 people in attendance for the preview, which was open to sponsors, media and contest winners.

Filling the Landers' holiday slot, "Elf" opened Friday and runs through Sunday, Dec. 3, with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. and weekend matinees at 2 p.m. The show runtime is about two and a half hours with a 15-minute intermission. Tickets are available on the Springfield Little Theatre website at bit.ly/3G1hoiq.

Though the show opens about a month before Christmas, the 50-member cast has been rehearsing since mid-September. Director Josh Inmon said the cast ranges from nine years old to "well into adulthood," with several members making their Springfield Little Theatre mainstage debut.

Twenty-year-old Andrew Wilson, who plays the beloved Buddy the Elf, is no stranger to The Landers stage.

Wilson got his start in Springfield Little Theatre's Education Department in 2014. Over the past nine years, he's been in about 30 different shows. Recently, he played SpongeBob SquarePants in "The SpongeBob Musical" in 2022. Today, he works as the scenic designer at The Judy, Springfield Little Theatre's education facility.

Wilson said Buddy has been one of his "dream roles," since Springfield Little Theatre put on "Elf The Musical JR." in 2017.

"We did the junior version (of 'Elf') like six years ago ... and I also went out (auditioned) for Buddy, but I was too young then," Wilson said. "I always told myself that I would one day audition again but for the main stage, full version."

The story followed in "Elf" the musical is similar to that in the 2003 film, starring Will Ferrell. There are a few modern differences, such as Santa Claus using an iPad instead of a physical naughty and nice list and Buddy meeting Jovie in a Macy's, instead of the now defunct Gimbels department store.

Wilson said he watched "Elf" the movie as a kid, but wasn't as familiar with the story as some of his fellow cast members. While he's enjoyed taking on some of Ferrell's silly mannerisms, Wilson said he's trying to craft his own character.

"I actually tried to stay away from the movie during this process, just so I have my own version of Buddy," Wilson said.

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Including the roughly 50 cast members, Inmon said in total, about 100 people have worked on "Elf," whether it be acting on stage, sewing together costumes or assembling props. And each person who has helped ready the production did so on a volunteer basis.

Springfield Little Theatre runs entirely on volunteers, from actors and directors to crew members behind the scenes.

"There's something to be said about people wanting to be here," Inmon said. "It's not saying that in the professional world, they don't want to be there, but there's something about community. It's really fun to see the first rehearsal and people don't know each other. And now, they're lifelong friends. I can relate to that because most of my best friends I met right here in this room (in The Landers)."

Now the assistant director of Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, Inmon grew up at The Landers. He first auditioned for "Guys and Dolls JR." about 21 years ago when he was a freshman in high school and said he "just never left."

The final show of the year for Springfield Little Theatre is Jazz Hands and Jingle Bells on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. The holiday-themed variety show features the Springfield Little Theatre Youth Performances Troupes. Tickets are available on the Springfield Little Theatre website.

The remainder of the Springfield Little Theatre season includes "In the Heights," in collaboration with Mosaic Arts Collective, from Jan. 26 through Feb. 11, "The Play That Goes Wrong" from March 7-12, "Mary Poppins JR." from April 11-21 and "Guys and Dolls" from May 31 through June 16. Tickets for these shows are already available on the Springfield Little Theatre website.

Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield Little Theatre closes preview of 'Elf' to standing ovation