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Get Ready to Hear Sean Astin say, ‘Ho Ho Ho’ in Elf the Musical

Photo from Sean Astin’s Instagram

Get Ready to Hear Sean Astin say, ‘Ho Ho Ho’ in Elf the Musical

Movieguide® Contributor

THE LORD OF THE RINGS actor Sean Astin is making his Broadway debut as Santa this November in an “Elf the Musical” revival directed by Philip Wm. McKinley.

“Astin, best known for his roles in the original LORD OF THE RING films and more recently STRANGER THINGS and THE CONNERS, will costar opposite Grey Henson (MEAN GIRLS, SHUCKED) who will play Buddy the Elf,” Deadline reported Oct. 3.

It’s the first time the musical will hit theaters in over a decade. It previews at the Marquis Theatre on Nov. 9 and officially opens on Nov. 17, wrapping up on Jan. 4.

“The Broadway return follows two record-breaking holiday seasons in London’s West End in 2022 and 2023. Elf, based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, features a book by Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone, Smash, Boop! The Musical), with songs by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Prom, The Wedding Singer),” Deadline added.

“Following its 2010-2011 original Broadway run, Elf returned for a 2012-2013 holiday run with a revised book. Casey Nicholaw directed both of those engagements,” the outlet reported.

Astin got his start in entertainment in THE GOONIES before taking more major roles in RUDY, LORD OF THE RINGS and recently, STRANGER THINGS.

“Elf The Musical is produced on Broadway by Temple Live Entertainment North America and Crossroads Live North America. Mark Kaufman serves as Creative Consultant for Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures,” Deadline said.

Tim Goodchild will oversee set and costume design, Patrick Woodroffe will be on lighting design, Gareth Owen will oversee sound and Ian William Galloway will be on video design.

Astin said, “It has been a lifelong dream to be on Broadway and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the season than by spreading Christmas Cheer as Santa Claus. I’ve been in deep preparation for this role since I was five years old. Now my kids can say ‘Santa, I know him!’”

Astin also jumped into the Christmas spirit last year when he performed in SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL PODCAST. Movieguide® reported:

SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL PODCAST‘ stars Sean Astin as Ebenezer Scrooge, along with John Rhys Davies and many other high-caliber actors. Collaborators Mark and Joe hope to invite new and old audiences into their immersive podcast version of the classic story first penned by Charles Dickens.

“I have been doing podcasts for a few years now and I’ve been doing scripted ones lately—t occurred to me with all the versions of ‘A Christmas Carol’ that we’ve seen, the ones we’ve heard haven’t nearly been so rich,” he said of ‘SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL PODCAST.’ “They’ve either been audio books, or they’ve been straight dramatic reads of the novella. I thought, ‘Well, where is the full cast, Fully immersive sound quality, wonderful sound design, names you know in the cast version of a Christmas Carol in audio?”