Elf the Musical is a Broadway musical based on the 2003 film Elf, starring Will Ferrell. The musical features songs by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, with a book by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan. Elf the Musical first premiered on Broadway in 2010 and ran through 2011. Since then, the musical has become a holiday favorite, with productions popping up at regional theaters and high schools across the country each Christmas season. But how long is a typical production of Elf the Musical? Let’s take a closer look at the length of this festive show.
What is the Average Run Time of Elf the Musical?
Most productions of Elf the Musical have a total run time of around 2 hours and 20 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission. This run time is fairly standard for a musical. While some big blockbuster shows like Hamilton clock in at nearly 3 hours, most musicals are right in that 2 – 2.5 hour range when performed with an intermission.
Elf in particular has a brisk pace, with plenty of energetic songs and dance numbers that keep the show moving along. So while the 2003 Elf film has a run time of 1 hour and 37 minutes, the stage musical adaptation is able to expand the story while still maintaining a runtime that won’t test the patience of energetic kiddos in the audience.
How Many Acts and Scenes are in Elf the Musical?
Elf the Musical has two acts, with about 8-9 scenes in Act 1 and another 8-9 scenes in Act 2. The scene count can vary slightly depending on how individual productions choose to divide the story.
Here is a general breakdown of the acts and scenes:
Act 1
– Scene 1: Christmastown
– Scene 2: Orphanage
– Scene 3: Manhattan Streets
– Scene 4: Macy’s
– Scene 5: Central Park
– Scene 6: Doctor’s Office
– Scene 7: Christmas Party
– Scene 8: Rockefeller Center
– Scene 9: Santa’s Sleigh (Transition into Act 2)
Act 2
– Scene 1: Christmas Eve Morning
– Scene 2: Walter’s Office
– Scene 3: Michael’s Apartment
– Scene 4: Michael’s Office
– Scene 5: Central Park
– Scene 6: Macy’s
– Scene 7: Rockefeller Center
– Scene 8: Christmas Party
– Scene 9: Christmas Morning
The scenes flow together without pauses or curtain closes between them. The sets, costumes, and lighting transitions help move the story between different New York City locations.
How Many Musical Numbers are in Elf the Musical?
Elf the Musical contains 18 original songs written by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin.
Some of the notable musical numbers include:
– “Christmastown”
– “World’s Greatest Dad”
– “Sparklejollytwinklejingley”
– “Spend This Christmas With You”
– “A Christmas Song”
– “Never Fall in Love”
– “There is a Santa Claus”
The original Broadway production also included a reprise of “A Christmas Song” in the finale. Other regional and amateur productions may opt to cut or rearrange a few songs, but generally the show contains around 18 songs.
The music ranges from upbeat, funny songs like “Nobody Cares About Santa” to sentimental ballads like “World’s Greatest Dad.” The variety of musical styles helps keep the soundtrack fresh and lively from start to finish.
How Much Dialogue is in Elf the Musical?
As a musical, Elf contains less dialogue than the original film. Much of the story is conveyed through songs or short comedic scenes rather than extended dialogue.
However, there are still significant chunks of spoken dialogue between and overlying the musical numbers. Key dialogue scenes include:
– Buddy meeting Jovie and trying to befriend her
– Walter confronting Buddy about Santa Claus
– Buddy and Emily talking in the doctor’s office
– Michael and Walter arguing at the family Christmas party
– Buddy and Santa’s conversation on the sleigh
– Buddy and Walter’s heart-to-heart talk
So while the songs move the story along, there is still enough dialogue to allow for character and plot development. The show strikes a good balance that makes it accessible for those unfamiliar with the film while also creating a new experience for fans of the movie.
How Does Elf the Musical Compare to the Film?
The musical sticks closely to the basic plot of the beloved 2003 Elf film:
– Buddy is a human who crawls into Santa’s bag as a baby and ends up being raised as an elf in the North Pole.
– After learning he is human, Buddy goes to New York City to find his birth father Walter Hobbs.
– Walter is focused on work and doesn’t have Christmas spirit, but Buddy is determined to bring holiday joy to his family.
– Buddy spreads cheer while trying to win over his dad and help him believe in Santa again.
The musical includes all the iconic scenes like Buddy decorating Gimbels department store, starting a snowball fight in Central Park, and accidentally sitting on a mall Santa. The storyline has been condensed slightly for the stage, but all the most memorable moments remain.
Some songs even directly reference famous lines from the film – like “Nobody Cares About Santa” recalling the “SANTA! OH MY GOD!” joke.
So fans of the Will Ferrell comedy will recognize and enjoy the faithful retelling in musical form. The spirit of the film is very much alive in Elf the Musical!
How Does the Set Design Impact the Length?
Elf the Musical requires quite a few different set locations to bring the story from Christmastown to New York City. The set must transition between the North Pole, Central Park, Macy’s, office buildings, apartments, and more.
Bigger budget productions may have elaborate scene changes, moving set pieces, and special effects to immerse the audience. But limitations of time, space, and resources at regional or amateur theaters can shorten scene transitions.
Simple transitions using basic set pieces, projections, and lighting effects help keep the show running smoothly without lengthy pauses between scenes. The music also helps cover “blackout” transition moments.
Creative transitions are key for productions without revolving multi-level set pieces. Thus, simpler set design choices directly enable a brisk pace and shorter overall runtime.
How Are Costume Changes Handled?
With a large ensemble cast playing multiple roles, Elf has quite a few quick costume changes!
For regional theaters, actors likely have dressers backstage assisting with fast changes. But for high school productions, student actors often have to change costumes themselves in the span of a song.
Planning ahead for these changes is crucial. Strategic use of costume pieces that can be added or removed quickly helps. For example, Buddy switching from his elf outfit to New York street clothes requires just taking off the hat, shoes, and jacket.
Limited costumes also lead to creative doubling – like using Christmas tree dresses for ensemble members in Christmastown and the office party scenes.
Well-organized costumes changes coordinated with the music and blocking allow for seamless transitions that maintain the show’s momentum.
How is the Length Affected by Intermission?
The intermission provides a nice midpoint break that splits Elf the Musical into two equal acts.
Most productions have an intermission around an hour to 75 minutes into the show. This gives audiences a chance to stretch and regroup before enjoying the second half.
The intermission also allows for significant scene, costume, and set transitions between the two acts. Any long changes or setup can happen seamlessly during intermission to avoid dragging down the pacing.
For theaters selling concessions like snacks and drinks, the intermission provides that opportunity for patrons. The revenue potential makes the intermission worthwhile beyond just breaking up the show’s length.
Overall the intermission structure helps maximize running time without things feeling too long. The two acts with an intermission is ideal for Elf the Musical’s length.
Does the Running Time Vary Across Performances?
While the book and score of Elf remains the same, small variations in runtime can occur from show to show. Things that can alter length include:
– Audience reactions – Bigger laughs and applause moments will slightly extend time.
– Technical issues – Problems with lighting, sound, or other tech elements could result in unexpected pauses.
– Actor errors – Mistakes like forgotten lines or blocking may require repeating a section.
– Kids in the cast – Young performers in shows like Elf may influence pacing in subtle ways show to show.
However, professional and most amateur productions try to keep runtime consistency across the run. Directors time out full runs during rehearsals and give actors pacing notes. Stage managers track timing each show.
Barring major unforeseen issues, productions aim for the same runtime every performance. But live theater always contains some small natural variabilities.
How Does Elf’s Run Time Compare to Other Holiday Musicals?
Here’s how Elf the Musical’s runtime stacks up against some other popular holiday musicals:
– A Christmas Carol (2 hours)
– White Christmas (2 hours 15 minutes)
– How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1 hour 45 minutes)
– A Charlie Brown Christmas (1 hour 10 minutes)
– Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1 hour 30 minutes)
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular comes in around 90 minutes.
So at 2 hours 20 minutes, Elf fits squarely within the typical range for holiday musicals. Its runtime is comparative to other shows that involve a similar amount of storytelling, characters, and musical numbers.
Given the built-in popularity of the film, Elf the Musical appeals to audiences looking for a full-length festive theater experience on par with the season’s other favorites. The brisk pace keeps energy and spirits high throughout the solid two-act structure.
Does Elf Have Audience Participation That Lengthens the Show?
Some holiday productions feature carols, contests, or other interactive elements that get audiences involved. But Elf the Musical does not usually incorporate much audience participation beyond the standard singing along during the finale.
However, some productions have added minor interactive moments – like having local kids join Buddy and Santa throwing fake snowballs into the crowd during “A Christmas Song.”
But overall, the show stays tightly within the world of the play. Audiences remain in a traditional viewer role outside the fourth wall.
The lack of audience interaction helps keep show lengths contained. Elf has a built-in fun, festive energy without needing participation gimmicks that could disrupt story flow and pacing.
Conclusion
While originally a film, Elf translated seamlessly into a full-length holiday musical thanks to its enthusiastic spirit, iconic comedy, and catchy songs. Even with limited time, sets, and budgets, theater companies can create a fast-paced production true to the story.
Creative transitions, an intermission, and crisp direction allow most versions of Elf the Musical to come in right around 2 hours and 20 minutes. This runtime captures all the joy and hilarity of Buddy the Elf’s journey while avoiding the bloated feeling some giant musicals can evoke.
Given the consistently strong ticket sales year after year, Elf’s length hits a sweet spot with audiences. The brisk pace keeps energy high but still allows moments of sentimentality and character development.
So next time you plan a theatrical trip to the North Pole, you can expect a solid evening of Yuletide entertainment clocking in around 140 minutes. Elf the Musical delivers all the festive fun expected – without overstaying its welcome!
