This December, Lake Nona High School (LNHS) will be performing Elf the Musical Jr., a musical based on the classic Will Ferrell holiday movie. Rehearsals began on Oct. 10 with both high schoolers and middle schoolers on the cast list. This unique partnership is the brainchild of LNHS theatre director Gail Chase, who has wanted to partner with Lake Nona Middle School and Innovation Middle School since their opening. “Sharing the stage with the middle school students will provide the high school students with an opportunity to show leadership and will provide the middle school students the chance to see what the future in high school can hold for them,” said Chase. “It’s a win-win in my eyes!”
The musical follows William “Buddy” Hobbs, an orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa Claus’ bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. After discovering the baby, Santa and his elves decide to raise the child as an elf. The movie and corresponding musical follow Buddy’s journey through growing up, discovering his own self-identity, and bringing the magic of Christmas to families across New York City. Attendees of the LNHS show should expect plenty of beautiful light, color and costumes from the show, along with a spectacular set design. There are two casts of lead actors and one ensemble, featuring students from both Lake Nona and Innovation Middle Schools as well as many cast members from Lake Nona High School.
The audition process for the LNHS show boasted 112 students, with several others reaching out to the department after auditions had concluded. Chase credits the production process of formulating a musical to be a lot like a “grand juggling act” or “taking a 10,000-piece puzzle and putting it together methodically.” She explained, “You start by looking at the box, and you see what the puzzle can be. Then you start building the edges and it fits and you feel confident. Then, you work your way into the middle and wonder if you’ll ever reach the end of the puzzle. You have your doubts and you struggle, but when that last puzzle piece clicks into place, the overwhelming sense of accomplishment makes it all worthwhile!”
Not only is the musical itself expected to help ring in the holiday spirit for residents across Lake Nona, but the LNHS theatre department is also partnering with the local community for a charitable event called “Santa’s Workshop,” created and organized by Nona Ambassadors of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida with Ryan Thomas as the committee chairman. The event will be a three-day extravaganza for the community located in the courtyard of the high school. There will be featured events like a movie viewing, crafts, live music from local elementary, middle, and high school music groups, pictures with Santa, food trucks, breakfast with Buddy the Elf, and much more (refer to the schedule of events in this special magazine insert!). The proceeds for the Santa’s Workshop event will be donated to our local Ronald McDonald House to support the families in need. “We are proud to support such a worthy cause!” said Chase.
Elf the Musical Jr. will be performed four times:
Friday, Dec. 7, at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 8, at 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 9, at 3:00 p.m.
Tickets will be available through teachtix.com and at the Santa’s Workshop event.
Elf the Musical Jr. Cast List
Buddy: Thomas Dyer & Tristan Rujano
Jovie: Noemi Gonzalez & Dany Oliveira
Walter Hobbs: Marco Batista Rudolph & Gabriel Mamuyac
Emily Hobbs: Isis Bermudez & Hayley Chafin
Michael Hobbs: Eli Esther
Santa Claus: Chijioke Oparaji & Julio Vazquez
Deb: Dari Perez & Alondra Trinidad-Colon
Mr. Greenway: Corey Brewer & Conner Logan
Manager: Cassandra Cruz & Pia Hernandez
Fake Santa: Kieron McKitterick
Charlotte Dennon: Zoe Devaliant & Ainsley Siegel
High School Ensemble: Esteban Baez Sola, Amiel Bagay, Destiny Bernard, Emma Budsberg, Melodie Crissan, Ilsealysha Davila Torres, Raynard Dentey, Calistenes Fuguet, Mariana Garcia, Benjamin Gillan, Alexis Gilliam, Madison Gotham, Sabrina Henson-Matheny, Alan Jerez, Yizelle Jimenez, Alyssia Luna, Raegan Overton, Megan Parker, Sabrina Reece, Rebekah Rickman, Sophia Rodriguez, Hannah Yon, Micah Zervos.
Middle School Ensemble: Emily Ali, Paula Chung, Heaven Cintron, Alexandra Drauer, Alexa Fillalan, Emily Hernandez, Katarina Jenarine, Joie Kinard, Giana Mancuso, Naomi March, Jose Mendez, Shaylin Mitchell, Mia Muniz, Amelia Ruby, Nicholas Sacco, Dana Smith, Max Young.
