Break out the celebratory spaghetti and syrup, the Broadway return of Elf has finally found its Buddy! Jordan Gelber will star as the lovable Christmas aficionado, with Leslie Kritzer playing his love interest Jovie. Mitchell Sink will also make his Broadway debut in the production as Michael.
Elf is the hilarious tale of Buddy (Gelber), a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Buddy is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity.
As previously announced the musical will also feature Seinfeld star Wayne Knight (Santa), Tony Award winner Beth Leavel (Emily), Tony Award nominee Mark Jacoby (Walter), Valerie Wright (Deb), Adam Heller (Mr. Greenway) and Michael Mandell (Store Manager). Leavel, Jacoby, Wright and Mandell are reprising the roles they originated in the 2010 production of Elf.
Gelber originated the role of Brian in Avenue Q. He has also appeared on Broadway in All My Sons and off-Broadway in Two Thousand Years, Elvis People and Birth After Birth. Kritzer's Broadway credits include Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair, Legally Blonde and Hairspray. She has appeared off-Broadway in NEWSical, Godspell, The Great American Trailer Park Musical and Bat Boy.
Elf returns to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on November 9. The production will play a limited engagement through January 6, 2013.