Elf the Musical

In This Program

• Welcome & Guest Information
• About the Show
• Cast
• Musical Numbers
• Who’s Who
• There’s Room for Every Christmas Movie on the Nice List
• Print Edition
• More about The 5th

Welcome

November 28 – December 28, 2025

THE 5TH AVENUE THEATRE COMPANY
Executive Director
BILL BERRY

Managing Director
ARIEL GOMEZ BRADLER

presents

Book by

THOMAS MEEHAN
and BOB MARTIN

Music by

MATTHEW SKLAR

Lyrics by

CHAD BEGUELIN

Based upon the New Line Cinema film written by David Berenbaum

Originally produced by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures
in association with Unique Features

Featuring

ERIC ANKRIM  
KRYSTLE ARMSTRONG  
ANNALISA BRINCHMANN  
KEONI DILAY  
BEN DOW 
KENJI FINKELSTEIN  
SAPPHIRE GOETZ  
TORI GRESHAM  
NIK HAGEN  
NALICA HENNINGS
NEHEMIAH HOOKS  
CAYMAN ILIKA  
DANNY KAM  
CHAD KELDERMAN  
NOA LOVE KIM 
JULIA KUZMICH  
TONY LAWSON  
NICK MCCARTHY  
MAYA MCQUEEN  
MACKENZIE NEUSIOK   
SHAUNYCE OMAR  
MATTHEW POSNER  
CONNOR RUSSELL  
HANNAH SCHUERMAN   
YUSEF SEEVERS  
PORSCHA SHAW  
JIMMY SHIELDS  
GREG SIM  
CONOR SULLIVAN   
CHRISTOPHER SWEET  
KARIN TERRY  
GAVIN WESTON  
RICHARD ZIMAN

Scenic Designer
MATTHEW SMUCKER

Costume Designer
DAVID C. WOOLARD

Lighting Designer
CONNIE YUN

Sound Designer
JUSTIN STASIW

Hair/Wig & Makeup Designer
JULIETTE LEWIS

Associate Director
CHARLIE JOHNSON

Associate Music Director
REBECCA SMITH

Associate Choreographer
PAMELA YASUTAKE

Costume Coordinator
HEIDI ZAMORA

Associate Lighting Designer
THORN MICHAELS

Associate Sound Designer
FABIAN ARENAS RODRIGUEZ

Costume Design Assistant
OLIVIA CURRY

Flying Effects provided by
ZFX

Director of Production
RYAN GASTELUM

Technical Director
BENJAMIN BAIRD

Costume, Wardrobe, & Hair Director
SHANNIN STROM

Senior Manager of Artistic Programming
DEDRA D. WOODS

Production Stage Manager
JR WELDEN

Music Director
MATTHEW SMEDAL

Director & Choreographer
DENIS JONES

Elf The Musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

THE 5TH AVENUE THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCING PARTNER
Marleen and Kenny Alhadeff

PRESENTING RESTAURANT PARTNER

CAST

(in order of appearance)

Santa … RICHARD ZIMAN
Buddy … ERIC ANKRIM
Walter Hobbs … TONY LAWSON
Deb … PORSCHA SHAW
Emily Hobbs … CAYMAN ILIKA
Michael Hobbs … CONOR SULLIVAN, GAVIN WESTON
Macy’s Manager … SHAUNYCE OMAR
Jovie … TORI GRESHAM
Mr. Greenway … YUSEF SEEVERS
Youth Ensemble … KENJI FINKELSTEIN, NOA LOVE KIM
Ensemble … KRYSTLE ARMSTRONG, KEONI DILAY, NIK HAGEN, NALICA HENNINGS, DANNY KAM, JULIA KUZMICH, NICK MCCARTHY, MAYA MCQUEEN, MACKENZIE NEUSIOK, CONNOR RUSSELL, HANNAH SCHUERMAN, JIMMY SHIELDS, GREG SIM

UNDERSTUDIES

Understudies never substitute for listed players unless a specific announcement
for the appearance is made at the time of the performance.

Buddy … BEN DOW
Jovie … KARIN TERRY
Emily Hobbs … KRYSTLE ARMSTRONG
Walter Hobbs … CHAD KELDERMAN;
Macy’s Manager … JIMMY SHIELDS
Deb … NALICA HENNINGS
Santa/Mr. Greenway … MATTHEW POSNER

SWINGS

ANNALISA BRINCHMANN, SAPPHIRE GOETZ, NEHEMIAH HOOKS, CHRISTOPHER SWEET

Michael Hobbs
GAVIN WESTON
NOV 28 EVE, NOV 30 MAT, DEC 3 E,
DEC 5 E, DEC 7 M, DEC 10 E, DEC 11 E,
DEC 13 M, DEC 14 M & E, DEC 19 E,
DEC 20 M & E, DEC 23 E, DEC 24 M, DEC 27 E

CONOR SULLIVAN
NOV 29 EVE, NOV 30 E, DEC 4 E,
DEC 6 MAT & E, DEC 9 E, DEC 12 E, DEC 13 E,
DEC 17 E, DEC 18 M & E, DEC 21 M & E,
DEC 23 M, DEC 26 E, DEC 27 M, DEC 28 M

DANCE CAPTAIN

NEHEMIAH HOOKS   

STAGE MANAGEMENT

Production Stage Manager
JR WELDEN

Assistant Stage Manager
ERIN B. ZATLOKA

Assistant Stage Manager
SHAINA PIERCE

Swing Stage Manager
JAMIE J. KRANZ

The actors and stage managers are members of Actors Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Act I 

Overture
“Christmastown” … Santa, Buddy, and Company
“World’s Greatest Dad” … Buddy
“In The Way” … Deb, Walter, Emily, Michael, and Company
“Sparklejollytwinklejingley” … Buddy, Macy’s Manager, and Company
“I’ll Believe In You” … Michael and Emily
“In The Way” … (Reprise) Emily and Walter
“Just Like Him” … Buddy, Deb, Walter, and Company
“A Christmas Song” … Buddy, Jovie, and Company
“World’s Greatest Dad” … (Reprise) Buddy and Company

There will be one 20 minute intermission.

Act 2 

Entr’acte 
“Nobody Cares About Santa” … Fake Santas and Buddy
“Never Fall In Love (With An Elf)” … Jovie
“There Is a Santa Claus” … Michael and Emily
“The Story of Buddy” … Buddy, Michael, Walter, Mr. Greenway, Emily, Deb, and Company
“Nobody Cares…” … (Santa’s Reprise) Santa
“A Christmas Song” … (Reprise) Jovie, Buddy, Emily, Michael, Walter, and Company
Finale … Buddy, Jovie, Walter, Emily, Michael, Santa, and Company

ORCHESTRA

Conductor/Keys 3 … MATTHEW SMEDAL
Associate Music Director/Keys 2 … REBECCA SMITH
Keys 1 … DWIGHT BECKMEYER
Percussion … JESSE WHITFORD
Bass … OLIVIA HAMILTON
Reed 1 … DANIEL SELF
Reed 2 … KORYN ORCUTT
Reed 3 … JAY EASTON
Trumpet 1 … WILLIAM WARD
Trumpet 2 … ALEX DUGDALE
Trombone 1 … KEITH WINKLE
Trombone 2 … ANTONIO PORTELA
Violin 1 … JEREMY DANIEL LYNCH
Violin 2 … ALINA TO
Cello … GRANT OLSON

ADDITIONAL MUSIC STAFF

Music Assistant … EM WESTMAN
Drums/Rehearsal Drummer … TAI TAITANO
Rehearsal Pianist … DWIGHT BECKMEYER

ERIC ANKRIM he/him (Buddy) feels like it’s Christmas every day getting to bring this character to life at The 5th Avenue Theatre, his own personal Christmastown. Broadway: First Date. Credits at The 5th: Mary Poppins, Into the Woods, How to Succeed, Oklahoma, Holiday Inn, Carousel, RENT, First Date, and more. Endless admiration to Michele, love to EGFOMW. For Ernie, the world’s greatest dad.

KRYSTLE ARMSTRONG (Ensemble, u/s Emily Hobbs) is thrilled to return to The 5th for another holiday season, marking her sixth production with the company. She was last seen in Mary Poppins. Recent credits include Cynthia Weil in Beautiful… The Carole King Musical and Lorraine in Jersey Boys at Village Theatre.
krystlearmstrong.com

ANNALISA BRINCHMANN she/her (Swing) is a performer, choreographer, and teaching artist from Seattle. She is delighted to return to The 5th after performing last year in Mary Poppins. Other favorite credits: Brigadoon, Guys and Dolls (Village Theatre) and La Traviata (Seattle Opera).

KEONI DILAY he/him (Ensemble) is a Seattle-based performer, teacher, and choreographer. Keoni’s acting credits include Flounder in The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, and Bye Bye Birdie (The 5th). Love and thanks to Ari, Mom, Dad, Kekoa, and Kapono for all the support!
@keonidilay

BEN DOW he/him (u/s Buddy) is thrilled to be making his debut at The 5th! Seattle credits: Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde (Village Theatre). Other credits: ELF-THE MUSICAL, Grease (Drury Lane Theatre, Jeff Nomination). Ben is represented by Stewart Talent. Love to Maya and family. bennelsondow.com

KENJI FINKELSTEIN he/him (Youth Ensemble) is thrilled to make his debut at The 5th. He is a fifth grader who discovered his love of musical theater as Mowgli in The Jungle Book. Thanks to his family, teachers, Ms. Allenton, and everyone who has supported him to pursue the stage!

SAPPHIRE GOETZ (Swing) Credits at The 5th: ELF-THE MUSICAL; Mary Poppins; The Wiz; West Side Story; Kiss Me, Kate. Village Theatre: Dreamgirls. BDC NYC ProSemester. BFA Dance/Choreography; Cornish College of the Arts. She is a dance teacher and choreographer in Seattle. Love to mom. @sapphire.goetz

TORI GRESHAM (Jovie) has wanted to be in ELF since she saw it at this very theatre in 2012! She was most recently seen as Dawn in Waitress and Gloria Rasputin in Bye Bye Birdie (The 5th). She is also frequently seen as a company member of Seattle’s Can Can Culinary Cabaret. Shoutout to fiancée Jeannie for unwavering support, the Gresham Fam for always believing in her, and the Ruthfield Fam for being her rock. Happy Holidays! torigresham.com

NIK HAGEN (Ensemble) is a Whitman College graduate who has performed across the country. At The 5th: Waitress, Mary Poppins, Sweeney Todd, Rock of Ages, West Side Story, and more. Village Theatre: Camelot. Most recently, he was on the East Coast at Bucks County Playhouse. @nikhagen

NALICA HENNINGS (Ensemble, u/s Deb) is happy to return to The 5th. You may have seen her as Aquata/Ensemble in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Nurse Norma and Becky u/s in Waitress, and herself in After Midnight. Follow her Instagram @nalica.performs

NEHEMIAH HOOKS (Swing) is filled with holiday cheer being in Elf. Previous credits at The 5th: After Midnight, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, The Wiz, Beauty & The Beast. Other credits: An Enemy of the People; Jersey Boys; Beautiful…; Hello, Dolly!; Miss Step; Choir Boy; Shout Sister Shout! Happy holidays!!!

CAYMAN ILIKA (Emily Hobbs) Favorites at The 5th: White Christmas; Into the Woods; Kiss Me, Kate; Austen’s Pride. Other credits: Mamma Mia! at Flat Rock Playhouse and GLCFA, Oliver! and Into the Woods at Musical Theatre West, Beatsville at Asolo Rep, Mary Poppins and Million Dollar Quartet at Village Theatre, Jacques Brel... and Vanities at ACT Theatre, and Always… Patsy Cline at CenterREP, GLCFA, and Taproot Theatre Company. Dedicated to my precious son Teddy! caymanilika.com

DANNY KAM (Ensemble) is tickled to be part of this production and back at The 5th for the holidays. The 5th: Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, Afterwords, Wonder Boy, West Side Story, Jasper in Deadland, Cinderella, two educational tours and a handful of special events and galas. Danny is also a vocal coach and musical director whose work has been presented at Village Theatre, Seattle Rep, Taproot Theatre, The Evergreen School, Cornish College of the Arts, and the Can Can. @thedannykam

CHAD KELDERMAN (u/s Walter Hobbs) is a Seattle-based actor-singer making his debut at The 5th. Seattle: Intiman, Seattle Shakespeare, SCT, Village, Book-It, Bathhouse. Regional: Chicago Shakespeare, The Court, Lifeline. Favorite roles: Malvolio, Faustus, Pip, Cat in The Hat. Carnegie Mellon Drama School. Loving thanks to Mary, Sylvie, and Nate.

NOA LOVE KIM she/her (Youth Ensemble) is overjoyed to make her debut at The 5th! Favorite credits: Ensemble in A Wrinkle in Time (Village Theatre KIDSTAGE) and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (Broadway Bound). Grateful to Brandi Birdsong, family, and friends for their support. Hi, Juni! @noa.love.kim

JULIA KUZMICH (Ensemble) Regional: Utah Shakespeare Festival, Village Theatre, Milwaukee Rep, Seattle Rep, Seattle Public Theater, Harlequin Productions, Tantrum Theatre. Select roles: Rose in Titanish and Johanna in Sweeney Todd. Ohio University BFA Musical Theatre '23. Singer with The Memphis Belles. Love to Fambam and Micah! @julia.kuzmich 

TONY LAWSON (Walter Hobbs) has been seen at The 5th in Beauty and the Beast (Gaston), Lone Star Love (Colonel John Falstaff), and Annie (FDR). Locally he’s appeared at Village Theatre in She Loves Me (Headwaiter) and Hello, Dolly! (Judge). Tony was seen in the Broadway production of Les Misérables (Thenardier) and in National Tours of Damn Yankees (Joe Hardy) and White Christmas (Ralph Sheldrake)

NICK MCCARTHY he/him (Ensemble) is grateful to be back at The 5th for the holidays after last being seen in Bye Bye Birdie, Waitress, and Mary Poppins last season. Additional credits include: Danny (The Magic Show), Alceste (School for Lies), and Frederic (Pirates of Penzance). Love to Em, M&D, and family. @Nickcmccarthy

MAYA MCQUEEN (Ensemble) is so excited to be making her childhood dreams come true by making her debut at The 5th! Recent credits include work at Marriott Theatre, Peninsula Players, Mercury Theater Chicago, Northlight Theatre. Maya is proudly represented by Stewart Talent. Love to Mom, Dad, and Ben! @mayajmcqueen

MACKENZIE NEUSIOK (Ensemble) The 5th: Bye Bye Birdie understudying Rosie, Mary Poppins, and The Little Mermaid. Mackenzie works throughout the Salish Sea as a dance instructor and choreographer, and is the Program Manager for Red Eagle Soaring Native Youth Theatre. She is a member of the Coharie Tribe.

SHAUNYCE OMAR (Macy’s Manager) The 5th: The Little Mermaid, The Wiz, Into the Woods, The Pajama Game, Sister Act. Regional: Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Rep, Intiman, True Colors, Village, Ensemble, Alley, and TUTS. National Tour: Menopause the Musical. TV/ Film: The Librarians, Last Seen In Idaho and Portal Runner. Voice Over: State of Decay- LIFELINE video game. Omar is a teaching artist and Master Sensei of Gospel Music in Japan. TikTok @shaunyceo

MATTHEW POSNER (u/s Santa/Mr. Greenway) is back at The 5th after a few years away. Last seen with The 5th in the co-pro of Urinetown with ACT, fresh from Jersey Boys as Nick Massi with Village Theatre. Matthew is puppeteer and the ‘Singing Tour Guide’ with “Show Me Seattle”. See his work on Instagram @handtomouthcreative. Love to Alyssa.

CONNOR RUSSELL (Ensemble) returns for his eighth production with The 5th, including Aladdin, A Chorus Line, and Ride the Cyclone. Broadway: Book of Mormon. Tours: Book of Mormon, Little Mermaid. Regional: The Old Globe, Asolo Rep, Pittsburgh CLO, Village Theatre. TV/Film: I Think I’m Sick, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Étoile, Younger. @connorrussellny

HANNAH SCHUERMAN (Ensemble) is jazzed to be back at The 5th after appearing in Romy and Michele the Musical, The Sound of Music, and The Pajama Game. Other credits include The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, The Homefront (Village Theatre), and Sister Act (Taproot). Enjoy the show! 

YUSEF SEEVERS he/they (Mr. Greenway) holds an MFA in Acting from SMU. Select credits: Waitress, After Midnight, Something’s Afoot, and Sweeney Todd (The 5th); Blues for an Alabama Sky (Seattle Rep); Black Nativity (Intiman Theatre); Last Drive to Dodge (Taproot Theatre). @Blackbassclef, Yusefseevers.com. 

PORSCHA SHAW she/they (Deb) is an MFA Graduate of the University of Washington. As a legally blind artist, Shaw is always honored to collaborate and cultivate community wherever she is invited to create! Shaw’s Seattle credits include: Something’s Afoot; Sweeney Todd;
Into the Woods; Disney’s Beauty and the Beast; Shout, Sister, Shout!; Nina Simone: Four Women; Richard III; The Last World Octopus Wrestling Champion; and Marisol.

JIMMY SHIELDS (Ensemble, u/s Macy's Manager) is a local performing artist and theater maker. He is excited to be back on stage at The 5th working on this amazing piece of work with such a stellar cast and creative team! Previous theater credits: Tacoma Arts Live, Harlequin Productions, Showtunes theatre, Village Theatre, and The 5th. “I love the holidays and wouldn’t want to spend it any other way!”

GREG SIM (Ensemble) is a Singapore-born, NYC-based performer jazzed to be back in the PNW! Favorite credits include SuperYou, Chicago, Mamma Mia!, and Love & Information. Aspiring farmer—accepting land donations. Eternal thanks to Denis, love to Bham friends and his long-suffering family.

CONOR SULLIVAN (Michael Hobbs) is thrilled to be making his debut at The 5th! Recent credits include Bruce Bogtrotter in Matilda Jr. (Applause Players), Flounder in The Little Mermaid Jr. (Edmonds Heights Performing Arts,) and the 2025 Lynnwood Idol Winner. When he’s not on stage, Conor loves singing, pickleball, and spending time with friends. He is grateful to his family and teachers for their encouragement and support.

CHRISTOPHER SWEET (Swing) your super swing is here for any rescue that this show may require. You may have seen him jump into the scene in shows like Mary Poppins, White Christmas, and The Little Mermaid. Which character will he portray next?

KARIN TERRY they/she (u/s Jovie) Most recently seen at The 5th last season in Bye Bye Birdie. Other favorite credits include Sally Bowles in Cabaret with Harlequin Productions, Romeo and Juliet (Seattle Shakespeare Company), and Sunset Boulevard (Showtunes). Love to sweet Nick and family!!

GAVIN WESTON (Michael Hobbs) is thrilled to be making his debut at The 5th! His favorite roles include Michael Banks in Mary Poppins and Winthrop in The Music Man at Tacoma Musical Playhouse. Gavin would like to thank his family, Kayla Littleton, Harry Turpin, Thomas Morisada, Tacoma Musical Playhouse, and Tacoma Little Theatre for supporting him in his love for theater. Have a sparklejollytwinklejingley good time at the show! 

RICHARD ZIMAN (Santa) The 5th: Kiss Me, Kate; Damn Yankees. B’way: Not About Nightingales, Lost in Yonkers, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Epic Proportions, Henry IV. Seattle: ACT, Village, Intiman, Seattle Rep, Seattle Shakes. Seattle Symphony: 2 yrs playing Santa in Holiday Pops w/ Marvin Hamlisch. Also: Falstaff in Henry IV 1&2 and Merry Wives Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Others include: NYSF Public Theater, Delacorte, Manhattan Theatre Club and The Royal National Theater (w/ Trevor Nunn). TV/Film: The Sopranos, Law & Order, Hackers, Clockers, Private Parts. Co-creator (with wife, actor Leslie Law) of variety show/podcast Sandbox Radio (sandboxradio.org). Education: Juilliard.

BOB MARTIN (Book) has been working as an actor and writer in Canadian theatre, film and television for over 3 decades. He has had a long association with the Toronto Second City, where he co-wrote and performed in four Second City revues, directed three, and had a stint as Artistic Director. He is a co-creator of The Drowsy Chaperone, and has performed in many of its incarnations including Ahmanson Theatre (Los Angeles), Marquis Theatre (Broadway), Novello (London). Bob has won a number of awards for his work including an LA Drama Critics Circle Award, an LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award, a Drama Desk Award, a Theatre World Award, and a Tony Award. He is also co-creator of the critically acclaimed dramatic series Slings & Arrows. Recent TV projects include Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays I & II (CBC), Sensitive Skin I & II (HBO), and Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas (NBC). Recent theatre projects include Elf (Broadway), Minsky’s (Ahmanson LA), and in dev., Gotta Dance, The Sting, and Millions. Bob reunited with Elf collaborators Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin to create the new musical The Prom, which ran on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre and was nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

THOMAS MEEHAN (Book) received the Tony Award for co-writing the book for The Producers in 2001 and in 2003 for co-writing the book for Hairspray. He received his first Tony Award in 1977 for writing the book of Annie, which was his first Broadway show, and has written the books for the musicals Rocky, Elf the Musical, Cry-Baby, Young Frankenstein, Chaplin, Bombay Dreams, I Remember Mama, Ain’t Broadway Grand and Annie Warbucks. In addition, he was a long-time contributor of humor to The New Yorker, an Emmy-Award winning writer of television comedy, and a collaborator on a number of screenplays, including Mel Brooks’ Spaceballs and To Be Or Not To Be. Mr. Meehan was also a member of the Council of the Dramatists Guild. He and his wife, Carolyn, divided their time between a home in Nantucket and an apartment in Greenwich Village, near which, on Hudson Street, she owned and presided over the long-running and near-legendary children’s store Peanut Butter & Jane. 

MATTHEW SKLAR (Music) is a two-time Tony®, Emmy®, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award-nominated composer. He wrote the music for the Broadway musicals The Prom, nominated for seven Tony® Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score, winner of the 2019 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical; Elf the Musical, a favorite perennial show in theatres across the globe; and The Wedding Singer, nominated for five Tony® Awards including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Matthew received a Primetime Emmy® Award nomination for Outstanding Music Direction for the critically acclaimed NBC/Warner Bros stop-motion animated TV special Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas, starring Jim Parsons. The feature film adaptation of The Prom, starring Meryl Streep, received a Golden Globe® Award nomination for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. Matthew adapted and arranged the music of Marvin Hamlisch for the Emmy Award-winning documentary film Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love, seen on PBS/American Masters. He has contributed original songs to Sesame Street, Wonder Pets!, and the NBC Broadcast of The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. His songs have been performed by such luminaries as Julie Andrews, Ed Asner, Cookie Monster, James Corden, Ariana DeBose, Andre DeShields, Elmo, Georgia Engel, Michael Feinstein, Josh Groban, Mark Hamill, Jennifer Hudson, Keegan Michael Key, Nicole Kidman, Donna McKechnie, Jim Parsons, Mandy Patinkin, Andrew Rannells, Meryl Streep, and Kerry Washington. At 18 years old, Matthew began playing keyboards for the Broadway production of Les Miserables, eventually conducting the show at 21. He has also worked as a keyboardist, conductor, and/or arranger for many Broadway productions including Shrek the Musical, Caroline, or Change, Nine, Oklahoma, Putting It Together, Annie Get Your Gun, On the Town, Titanic, Guys and Dolls, Sunset Boulevard, and Miss Saigon. Matthew also appeared onstage as “Oscar” in the Broadway revival of 42nd Street. Matthew is the recipient of some of the highest honors in the industry, including the Dramatists Guild Frederick Loewe Award for Dramatic Composition, the ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award, the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award and the Gilman/Gonzalez-Falla Theatre Award. Matthew is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild and ASCAP. His music is published by Warner/Chappell Music. He was educated at The Juilliard School of Music (Pre-College Division), the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and New York University.

CHAD BEGUELIN (Lyrics) is a four-time Tony Award ® Nominee whose works include Disney’s Aladdin (Tony Award Nomination for Best Book and Best Original Score, Drama Desk Award Nomination for Outstanding Lyrics and Best Book) and The Wedding Singer (Tony Award Nomination for Best Book and Best Original Score, Drama Desk Award Nomination for Outstanding Lyrics). He also wrote the lyrics for the Broadway musical Elf, which broke several box office records at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. His play HARBOR premiered off-Broadway at Primary Stages. Chad also wrote the book and lyrics for Judas & Me (NYMF Award for Excellence in Lyric Writing), The Rhythm Club (Signature Theater) and Wicked City (American Stage Company). Chad reunited with Elf collaborators Matthew Sklar and Bob Martin to create the new musical The Prom, which ran on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre and was nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical. He is the recipient of the Edward Kleban Award for Outstanding Lyric Writing, the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award, the Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Musical Theater Award and the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award. Chad is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Dramatic Writing Program.

DENIS JONES (Director, Choreographer) ​​is thrilled to return to The 5th after last season’s Mary Poppins. A two-time Tony Award® nominee whose work on Broadway has been seen in Tootsie, Holiday Inn and Honeymoon in Vegas. His recent credits include Crazy For You (Asolo Rep), Bye Bye Birdie and Guys and Dolls (Kennedy Center), Misery, Oliver! (Maltz Jupiter), She Loves Me (Bucks County Playhouse), Bring It On!; Chicago (The Muny, St Louis Theater Circle Awards: Best Director/Choreographer), Eurydice (NY Metropolitan Opera), Hello Dolly! (Marriott Theatre), A Chorus Line and Crazy For You (Signature Theatre, Helen Hayes Award: Best Choreographer), The Tempest (NY Shakespeare Festival), The Sound of Music (Chicago Lyric Opera), Paint Your Wagon, Call Me Madam (NY City Center ENCORES!), The Music Man (Goodman Theatre) and The Flamingo Kid (Hartford Stage, Connecticut Critics Circle Award: Best Choreographer). Upcoming projects include Chasing Rainbows: The Road To Oz, Stage Mother, Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story, and The Goose Girl.

MATTHEW SMEDAL (Music Director) Broadway MD: Mrs. Doubtfire (and Doubtfire’s Original Broadway Cast Recording). Matthew is the music supervisor of Annie at Madison Square Garden starring Whoopi Goldberg. Off-Broadway MD: Clueless The Musical starring Dove Cameron. National Tours MD: The Bodyguard starring Deborah Cox, Matilda First National, Ghost The Musical, and Catch Me If You Can. Elsewhere else: Anne Of Green Gables (Goodspeed Opera House), Matilda Toronto (Royal Shakespeare Company) Oliver (Maltz Jupiter), Singin’ In The Rain (Ogunquit Playhouse), An American In Paris (Cape Playhouse), Damn Yankees (Musical Theatre West), Jesus Christ Superstar (North Shore Music Theatre). Matthew is the composer & lyricist of The Goose Girl (currently in development). As a pianist: Cole Porter’s La Revue des Ambassadeurs (Opéra de Rennes), and for Deborah Cox at the US Open Women’s Singles Final between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. matthewsmedal.com

MATTHEW SMUCKER (Scenic Designer) is pleased to have his work return to The 5th, where previous designs include Spring Awakening, Rock of Ages, Man of La Mancha, Oklahoma!, and Candide, and the ACT/5th Co-Productions of Grey Gardens, First Date, and Vanities. Smucker’s designs have appeared at Seattle Rep (Blues for an Alabama Sky, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Circle Mirror Transformation, Three Tall Women, among others), ACT/Union Arts Center (An Enemy of the People, Dracula, The Crucible, Mr. Burns, Eurydice, among others), Intiman, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Village Theatre, Taproot, Denver Center, Playmakers, Arizona Theatre Company, Portland Center Stage, Artist’s Rep, San Jose Rep, Kansas City Rep, Theatre Under the Stars, Paper Mill Playhouse, and Minneapolis’s Children’s Theatre Company. Smucker is a professor at Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University, received his MFA from UW School of Drama, and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists.

DAVID C. WOOLARD (Costume Designer) Select Broadway Credits: Dames at Sea, First Date, Lysistrata Jones, West Side Story, 33 Variations (Jane Fonda’s clothing), Dividing the Estate, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Who’s Tommy, Bells Are Ringing, Wait Until Dark, The Young Man From Atlanta, Damn Yankees, A Few Good Men. Other: The Old Friends, Orphans’ Home Cycle (Signature Theatre). Regional: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (La Jolla Playhouse), The Donkey Show (A.R.T.). Opera: Death and the Powers (Opera Monte Carlo); Cold Mountain (Santa Fe Opera premiere). Awards: Drama Desk Award, Henry Hewes Design Award (Orphans’ Home Cycle), 2001 Tony Nomination (The Rocky Horror Picture Show), 1993 Tony and Olivier Award nomination (The Who’s Tommy). davidcwoolard.com

CONNIE YUN (Lighting Designer) At The 5th: Beauty and the Beast. Recent local credits: An Enemy of The People (Union Arts Center), The Play That Goes Wrong and Blithe Spirit (Seattle Rep), Tosca (Seattle Opera), Dial M for Murder (Village Theatre), P.O.T.U.S, STEW, and The Case for the Existence of God (ACT). Recent national credits: La Boheme (Madison Opera), Don Giovanni (The Florentine Opera), The Rake’s Progress (Des Moines Metro Opera), The Elixir of Love (New Orleans Opera), The Barber of Seville (Madison Opera). Connie is a member of USA-829 and mentor for ETC Fred Foster Student Mentorship Program. connieyun.com

JUSTIN STASIW he/him (Sound Designer): The 5th: Spring Awakening; West Side Story; Kiss Me, Kate; The Secret Garden; How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Paint Your Wagon; Jasper In Deadland; A Christmas Story, and The 5th/ACT coproduction of Little Shop of Horrors. Broadway: Lempicka. Broadway (as associate): Moulin Rouge, Beetlejuice, Frozen, Once On This Island, Anastasia, Something Rotten!, Side Show, and It’s Only a Play. Off-Broadway: The Big Gay Jamboree, We Live in Cairo, The Jonathan Larson Project, The View Upstairs, Songbird. Proud member of IATSE and USA/829.

JULIETTE LEWIS (Hair, Wig, & Makeup Designer) Originally from Arizona, Juliette is a Seattle-based wigmaker, cosmetologist, and makeup artist. She has created wigs for theaters across the city, including Village Theatre, Seattle Opera, ACT, and The 5th. Recent design credits include Something’s Afoot (The 5th) and associate designs for Thais (Utah Opera), White Christmas, The Little Mermaid (The 5th), Die Schweigsame Frau (Bard Summerscape), and a smattering of film and commercial work. Love to Kooper and the kitties! @juliette.hmua

CHARLIE JOHNSON (Associate Director) Regional credits: ACT, Arrow Rock Lyceum, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Barnstormer’s Theatre, Bay Street Theater, Flat Rock Playhouse, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, North Carolina Theater, Paper Mill Playhouse, Seattle Shakespeare, Seattle Rep, Taproot Theatre, and Village Theatre. He has developed new musicals with The Rev Theater Co, New York Theater Barn, The Dramatists’ Guild, and Musical Theater Factory, and has assisted Tony-winner Michael Arden, Glenn Casale, and Connor Gallagher among others. BFA: Elon University.

REBECCA SMITH they/them (Associate Music Director) is a Seattle-based musician who is thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to contribute to the making of live theatre and art right here at home. They hope you will hear all the heart, soul, and joy that everyone has poured into this production! 

PAMELA YASUTAKE (Associate Choreographer) is a Seattle native artist and creative. Trained at NW Tap Connection before moving to NYC to attend Parsons School of Design. A founding member of The Syncopated Ladies, Pamela has toured the world and performed in viral videos accumulating over 50 million views. Broadway debut: Shuffle Along (2016). TV credits: The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS), The 70th Annual Tony Awards (CBS), Maya & Marty (NBC), So You Think You Can Dance (FOX), CBS Sunday Morning (CBS) and Good Morning America (ABC). Performed in 8 seasons in the Black Nativity Play of Seattle at Intiman. Film credits: Spirited starring Ryan Reynolds, Will Ferrell, and Octavia Spencer (Apple TV+), Unfrosted (Netflix). ELF is Pamela’s fourth production at The 5th, including choreographing After Midnight this past summer.

HEIDI ZAMORA she/her (Costume Design Coordinator) is a costume designer whose work has been seen at Seattle Opera (Orphee et Eurydice), Florida Grand Opera, Seattle Rep (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf), ACT, Seattle Children’s, Seattle Shakespeare Company, and Intiman where she received a Gregory Award nomination for her work on CRAVE. Co-founder and co-artistic director of Washington Ensemble Theatre, designing costumes for most of the company’s early productions. Heidi received an MFA in Costume Design from University of Washington, and is an instructor at Cornish College of the Arts, teaching costume design and costume history.

THORN MICHAELS (Associate Lighting Designer) has designed and assisted for The 5th, Seattle Opera, Village Theatre, Seattle Rep, Seattle Children’s, ACT, Santa Fe Playhouse, Kentucky Opera, Lincoln Center, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, San Francisco Opera, New York City Ballet, and others. She holds an MFA in lighting design from UW and is the Lighting Design Faculty Member at Cornish College of the Arts. For more about her work, please visit thornmichaels.com.

FABIAN ARENAS RODRIGUEZ (Associate Sound Designer) is a versatile sound engineer, sound designer, and technical manager specializing in immersive audio for large-scale entertainment. He has delivered sound design, programming, and technical installations for Virgin Voyages, Norwegian Creative Studios, and Seabourn, contributing to Broadway-style productions on cruise ships and land-based theatre projects. Known for creative precision and strong technical leadership, Fabian is excited to bring his experience to ELF at The 5th!

OLIVIA CURRY she/her (Costume Design Assistant) is excited to work on her first show at The 5th! Originally from Wichita, Kansas and a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, she has previously worked at American Players Theatre and The REV Theatre. Much love to her family!

JR WELDEN (Production Stage Manager) At The 5th: Waitress, After Midnight, Mary Poppins, White Christmas, Spring Awakening, Sweeney Todd, Into The Woods, The Wiz, Choir Boy, Afterwords, West Side Story, Austen’s Pride, Rock of Ages, Hunchback, Kiss Me Kate, The Pajama Game. At ACT: Mary Stuart, Eurydice, The Underpants, Miss Witherspoon and 16 years of A Christmas Carol. He also stage managed many productions at Seattle Rep, Intiman and Mark Taper Forum. He adopted his beautiful son, Travis, after becoming a licensed foster parent.

ERIN B. ZATLOKA she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is always grateful to be back at The 5th where she was last the production stage manager on Bye Bye Birdie. Some previous favorites: Mary Poppins, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, and Waitress. All the love to Greg and Zoey.

SHAINA PIERCE (Assistant Stage Manager) is so thrilled to return to The 5th this season. Recently moved to Seattle and is slowly figuring out what it means to be a Seattlelite. Previous Seattle credits: Laughs in Spanish, Fat Ham (Seattle Rep), & The Wiz (The 5th). Other credits include Dracula (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Toni Stone (Milwaukee Rep), Hot Wing King & Trading Places Musical (The Alliance Theatre), & The Little Mermaid & Beauty and the Beast (Alabama Shakespeare Festival). Shaina thanks her friends and family for all of their love.

JAMIE J. KRANZ she/her (Swing Stage Manager) is excited to be back at The 5th! Past credits include After Midnight, Bye Bye Birdie, Waitress, Spring Awakening, Something’s Afoot, and White Christmas. Other Seattle credits include: Seattle Rep, Seattle Opera, Village Theatre, Union Arts Center, & Seattle Children’s Theater. Regional work: Guthrie Theater, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Everyman Theater, Children’s Theater Company, Park Square Theater, Mixed Blood Theater.

ADDITIONAL STAFF

Interim Production
Carpenter Norbert Herriges

Production Assistants
Bayla Jaffe, Larcyn Burnett

Child Actor Guardian
Amy Jurkiewicz

Ensemble Cover
Ashley Lanyon

Production Runner
Ty

Scenic Builder
Joe Leporati

Head Electrics Builder
Timothy Wratten

Lead Scenic Artist
Morgan Poirier

Automation Technician
Emily Kettler

Moving Light Programmer
Molly Brindley

Elf was a box office success when it was first released in movie theatres in 2003 and garnered enthusiastic and favorable reviews. Besides the Broadway musical, it also inspired an animated special and video game, and the original movie consistently makes appearances on lists of the greatest Christmas movies of all time. Why do people love Elf so much – and why do people delight in Christmas movies in general? To find an answer, we need to examine a different popular secular Christmas story.

Imagine this beloved Christmas tale: a grumpy older man, frustrated with what he sees as the misplaced priorities of the people around him during Christmas, changes his tune after encountering mystifying beings who help him realize the power of investing in his community. It’s A Christmas Carol, right? Well, yes – but it’s also roughly the outline of Walter Hobbs’ journey in Elf, as well as the general plotline for characters found in many other classic Christmas stories.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is synonymous with the Christmas season; the original novella has never been out of print and was such an immediate sensation that it was reprinted 11 times within the first year of its publication in 1843. When Dickens wrote his now-immortal tale, many of the Christmas traditions we might take for granted didn’t exist; for context, 1843 was the same year that the Christmas card was invented. The phrase “Merry Christmas” even comes from Dickens’ own writing! In many ways, Dickens formed some of the secular expectations that surround celebrations of Christmas today through his work and these expectations lead to the nostalgia many feel during the Christmas holiday.

To learn more about holiday nostalgia, read our full Inside the Musical Guide! Scan the QR code or visit our website at 5thavenue.org/education/classes-resources/inside-the-musical/

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