Notice something different about our upcoming winter
musical?! ASPI is proud to present Elf The Musical, Jr. That Jr.
part is very important because it means that all the cast and production crew are
between the ages of 6 and 15. This production is 100% youth driven!
While ASPI makes it a priority to have multi-generational musicals with children’s roles, this will be the very first musical with an entire youth cast. This also includes youth in the production staff, where they will be mentored by their adult counterpart. You can see the entire lineup of cast and crew here.
Elf The Musical Jr. is being directed by Liz Jolly
along with her junior director Sydney Surber. An instant Christmas classic,
this musical production of the hit film is an opportunity for our young cast
and crew to shine!
In their working relationship as director and junior
director, Liz includes Sydney in all her duties and decisions. Sydney’s role as
junior director involves various roles such as blocking part of a scene,
casting parts in a song, and attending production meetings. Just to name a few!
It may be a junior production, but Liz is demanding the
highest professional-level quality from the cast and production staff. She
believes they are all more than up to the challenge! Since the “adult”
characters in the production are also played by children, casting requires
looking at each child is capable of, which gives youth the opportunity to play
roles they normally wouldn’t.
The great opportunity a junior production brings to the
theater, Liz explains, is that it allows junior members to become more involved
in different aspects of theater, such as production. Production roles, while generally
not considered as popular as acting on the stage, are just as essential for a
show’s success. Liz cannot wait to see
how her young cast and crew grow in their roles both on and off stage.
Liz also believes that directing
a junior production breathes new life into all parts of the job. The adults involved
in the production are mentoring their junior counterparts, which involves
explaining what they are doing and why. Which Liz thinks is great because sometimes
why things are done can be forgotten and this mentorship encourages
communication.
Both Liz and Sydney believe everyone should make attending Elf
The Musical, Jr. part of their Christmas festivities this winter season.
This show is sure to get you in the holiday spirit with its huge song and dance
numbers and its way of tugging at one’s heart strings. This hilarious show with
it’s positive uplifting message will take you from Bah Humbug to
Sparklejollytwinklejinglely!
Want to be on Santa’s nice list? Order your tickets for Elf
The Musical, Jr. NOW. They make the perfect gift! Showtimes are December
6-8 and December 13-15. It’s sure to be a Santa approved evening ?
Meet the Directors
Liz has been involved with ASPI since 2010. Her many roles
have included director of Meet Me in St. Louis, Miss Hannigan in Annie,
Kathy Selden in Singing in the Rain, and The Chaperone in The Drowsy
Chaperone, where she also lended her talents as costume designer. Liz’s
theater experience also includes work with Theatre Z, PlayByPlay Theatre,
Evergreen, Green Bay Community Theatre, SNC Summer Music Theatre, and appearances
in Drunken Shakespeare at The Green Room Lounge in De Pere.
Liz is more than qualified to mentor this young cast and
crew as she holds a BA in Theatre Studies and Classical Studies from St.
Norbert college and an additional degree in acting from The American Academy of
Dramatic Arts in New York City.
Miss Sydney Surber has been involved in theatre since the
age of 4 years old! Elf will be her eighth production with ASPI. She
also had the opportunity to shadow her mom as assistant director for ASPI’s
production of Barefoot in the Park. A 6th grader at Bay City
Christian School, Sydney is on the volleyball team. When not acting or playing
volleyball, she enjoys taking piano and voice lessons.
