RESOURCE GUIDE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

2 Dear Teachers, CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS The following resource guide is designed for you and your students to facilitate the integration of the Pennsylvania State Learning Standards: Elf the Musical, performing arts into core curriculum areas. The Jr. Resource Guide covers the following areas: activities in this guide support the PA State Educational Standards in several areas, develop criti- Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and cal and creative thinking and enrich the live theatre Listening: experience for your students. 1.1 Learning to Read Independently 1.2 Reading Critically in All Content Areas Pennsylvania Youth Theatre is proud to present Elf, 1.3 Reading, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature the Musical Jr. performed at the Ice House on 1.4 Types of Writing Bethlehem’s Sand Island. 1.5 Quality of Writing 1.6 Speaking and Listening Thank you and enjoy the show! 1.7 Characteristics and Function of the English Language 1.8 Research Dedrea Becker

Marketing/Outreach Coordinator Academic Standards for Arts and Humanities 9.1 Production, Performance and Exhibition of Dance, TABLE OF CONTENTS Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts 9.2 Historical and Cultural Contexts Contacting Us…………………………………………….Cover 9.3 Critical Response Dear Teachers………………………………………..…..…...2 9.4 Aesthetic Response

PA State Learning Standard……………………….…..….…2 Academic Standards for History PYT……………………………………………………..……….2 8.1 Historical Analysis and Skills Development 8.2 Pennsylvania History BEFORE THE SHOW………………………………………...3 8.3 United States History Adaptations of Elf…………………….………………...……..4 8.4 World History

Elf the Musical………………………………………………… 5 Academic Standards for Civics and Government Cast of Characters…..………………………………………...6 5.1 Principles and Documents of Government 5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship Crossword Puzzle……………………………………………..8 5.3 How Government Works Language Arts………………………………………………….9 5.4 How International Relationships Function Creative Writing………………………………………………..7 Character Acrostic……………………………………………..8 Venn Diagram………………………………………………….9 ABOUT PYT

Group Activity: Instructions………………………………….10 Pennsylvania Youth Theatre (PYT) is a professional, non- Group Activity: Handout……………………………………..11 profit performing arts organization whose mission is to Creative Thinking…………………………………………….12 educate, entertain, and enrich the lives of young people through the art of theatre. By bringing literature to life with PYT Quicktivities……………………………………………..13 theatre, PYT enhances the Language Arts curriculum for Write a Review……………………………………………….14 12,000 community school students annually. Founded with the belief that children deserve the very best, PYT’s Coloring Page………………………………………………..15 Mainstage literature-based plays are professionally produced. Professional directors, choreographers, actors, dancers and musicians as well as lighting costume and set designers are Pre-Show and Post-Show hired to achieve the best possible presentation of children’s In-School Workshops plays. To keep our Mainstage productions available to all, we continue to offer these professionally staged shows to school If you would like to schedule a PRE or POST groups for approximately $.50 a ticket which is 57% below our show workshop for your class for this particular break-even cost. PYT is happy to offer plays of this quality to the school children of our community for this reduced cost. production, please contact We hope you and your class enjoy this performance! Dedrea Becker [email protected] (610) 332-1403 2 123pyt.org

2 3 BEFORE THE SHOW: Synopsis of Elf the Musical, Jr.

Based on the beloved holiday film, this hilarious fish-out-of-water comedy follows Buddy the Elf in his quest to find his true identity.

The story begins at the North Pole as Santa Claus and his Elves sing a Christmas Carol in his shop ("Happy All the Time"). Their song is interrupted by the arrival of Buddy the Elf, who, despite an abundance of enthusiasm, falls short in his toy-making abilities. Charlie, the boss, expresses disappointment, but the elves quickly chime in to make Buddy feel better. Charlie tells Buddy to take a break and asks Shawanda to pick up the extra slack. Unaware that Buddy is listening, they reveal that Buddy is, in fact, a human and not an elf. Buddy approaches Santa for confirmation and Santa reveals that Buddy, as an orphaned baby, had crawled into his toy sack and was accidentally taken back to the North Pole, where he was raised by the Elves. Handing Buddy a New York City snow globe, Santa explains that Buddy's father works in the Empire State Building, doesn't know about Buddy's existence and is on the "Naughty List" for his lack of Christmas spirit. Buddy sets off from the North Pole to New York City ("World's Greatest Dad").

Upon arriving in Manhattan, Buddy is surrounded by the sights and sounds of the city: a Business Woman yells for a taxi, a Jogger in a red suit, two Flyer Guys, and lots of New Yorkers rush by. Asking a passing Teenager where to find the Empire State Building, Buddy sets off to meet his father. Meanwhile, Walter Hobbs and Sam are discussing the unfortunate situation with their latest title, "Jingles, The Jolly Christmas Puppy," from which the last two pages are missing. Secretary Deb shows in Walter's wife, Emily, and his twelve-year-old son, Michael, who want to go Christmas shopping. Suddenly, Buddy bursts in, excited to meet his father for the first time. Stunned with Buddy's declaration that he is Walter's son, Walter demands that the Security Guards escort Buddy out, dropping him at Macy's Christmas department.

At Macy's, a Saleswoman greets Buddy, and the Manager mistakes Buddy for a corporate employee who has been sent to check on the store. Buddy falls in love at first sight with Macy's elf, Jovie, and inspires other Macy's Employees to decorate with some Christmas Spirit ("Sparklejollytwinklejingley"). Jovie agrees to go on a date with Buddy just as Santa's Helper announces the arrival of Fake Santa. Children and Parents line up, but just as a Mother leads her Child to see Santa, Buddy announces to everyone that it is not the real Santa. The two fight, and Buddy is escorted away by Policemen, who take him to the Hobbs' apartment, where Michael is trying to build a science project. Buddy agrees to help if Michael and Emily will write letters to Santa Claus ("I'll Believe in You"). When Walter arrives home, Emily reveals that Buddy is, in fact, Walter's son, as the results of a DNA test have proven.

The next day, Walter takes Buddy with him to work. Office Staff, including Sarah, are bustling around as Mr. Greenway demands a Christmas book to replace "Jingles, The Jolly Christmas Puppy." Deb entertains Buddy, telling him the shred- der makes snow. Later, Buddy takes Jovie to a souvlaki stand for their dinner date, where she confesses she's always wanted to see snow. Buddy promises to take her to Christmas Eve dinner at Tavern on the Green ("A Christmas Song"). Back at the office, Walter and Chadwick desperately try to come up with ideas for a new children's Christmas story. Matthews claims to have found a lost manuscript that could save their jobs. Buddy bursts in to tell Walter he's in love and, while Walter talks with colleagues, Buddy decides to make "snow" by putting the manuscript through the shredder. The manuscript destroyed, Walter explodes with anger and tells Buddy to get out of his life ("World's Greatest Dad – Reprise"). A group of Carolers passes as Buddy leaves a goodbye note for Hobbs.

Buddy realizes he forgot all about Jovie. She's been waiting for hours at Tavern on the Green ("Never Fall In Love – With an Elf"). He arrives and apologizes, giving her the snow globe Santa gave him when he left the North Pole. Still upset, Jovie leaves.

Meanwhile, Michael and Emily see Santa out the window while reading Buddy's note ("There Is a Santa Claus"). They go to Walter's office to tell him, but he's preoccupied with trying to think up a story for Mr. Greenway. Suddenly, Buddy returns and suggests his own story ("The Story of Buddy"). Mr. Greenway loves the idea, but is rude to Michael and Buddy, demanding Walter work on Christmas Day. In response, Walter quits his job in order to finally spend time with his family.

When Michael tells Buddy about seeing Santa, everyone rushes to Central Park to help Santa gather the Christmas spirit he needs to make his now-broken sleigh fly. A large crowd gathers around Santa's broken sleigh, including New York One reporter, Charlotte Dennon. To prove to the crowd that it's actually Santa Claus, Buddy reveals what Darlene Lambert and Emma Van Brocklin received as gifts on past Christmases.3 Buddy urges everyone to get into the Christmas spirit, and Jovie arrives to help him ("A Christmas Song – Reprise"). The New Yorkers sing, and Santa's sleigh rises into the air, Christmas spirit restored and everyone gets what they want for Christmas!

3 ADAPTATIONS4 OF ELF

ELF IN FLIM After 10 years of development and pre-production, the film of Elf was finally released in November of 2003, with a script by David Berenbaum and direction by Jon Favreau (iron Man, Iron Man 2, Chef). It starred Will Ferrell in his first post-Saturday Night Live role as Buddy, James Caan (The Godfather) as Walter, Zooey Deschanel (New Girl) as Jovie, Arkansas native Mary Steenburgen (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape ) as Emily, Ed Asner (The Mary Tyler Moore Show) as Santa, and Bob Newhart (The Bob Newhart Show) as Papa Elf.

The film opened at No. 2 at the United States Box Office and went on to gross more than $220 million world-wide.

It received relatively favorable reviews from critics and audiences for its good-natured humor and positive message. Ferrell’s childlike performance catapulted it to an audience favorite, and Buddy is now a regular fixture in Christmas decorations and holiday television offerings.

ELF IN TELEVISION On December 16, 2014, NBC aired a new stop-motion animated special entitled “elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas.” This was based on the original Broadway musical, featuring songs from the stage production. Buddy was voiced by Jim Parsons, who is best known as Sheldon from the hit TV show: The Big Bang Theory .

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4 5 ELF THE MUSICAL Seven years after the original movie’s premiere, in November 2010, Elf: The Musical opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. It starred Cheers’s George Wendt as Santa Claus, Stephen Arcelus as buddy, Amy Spanger as Jovie, Mark Jacoby as Harry, and Beth Leavel as Emily. It was directed by Casey Nicholaw, with a book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, music by Matthew Skylar, and lyrics by Chad Beguelin.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MOVIE AND THE MUSICAL :

• Papa Elf’s role as the film’s narrator is replaced by Santa Claus onstage. • Buddy does get a job in the mailroom at the publishing house. The snow- ball fight that endears Michael to Buddy is replaced by a science project onstage. • The musical does not reference the apocalyptic Central Park Rangers, who chase Santa’s sleigh in the movie.

Elf was nominated for a Drama Desk Award in 2011 and received generally positive reviews from New York theatre critics. The Broadway cast recording was released in November of 2011.

In 2012, a Broadway revival of the musical was mounted, which included a new opening number (“Happy All The Time” which replaced “Christmastown”) and other changes to the original script. 5

5 6 BEFORE THE SHOW: CAST OF CHARACTERS

BUDDY Born a human but raised at the North Pole as a Christmas Elf, Buddy is eager to find his place in the world. He is a child at heart and that childlike curiosity makes him both endearing and gets him into trouble.

JOVIE Buddy’s girlfriend. She works at Macy’s and has a bit of a cynical outlook on life and love because of the men she has dated. She is caught off guard by Buddy’s genuinely big heart .

WALTER Buddy's workaholic father. He is a children's book publisher, but lacks the childlike spirit that Buddy has. He is selfish, tense, and generally angry at life.

EMILY Walter's wife. Though she is sweet and willing to take him in, she thinks Buddy is crazy at first. She wishes Walter would spend more time with their family.

MICHAEL Buddy's stepbrother who is excited to have a new friend and brother. Unlike his parents, he doesn't take much convincing to have Christmas spirit. He wishes his father would spend more time with him.

DEB Walter's secretary. Takes an instant liking to Buddy simply for the novelty of it. Though she aims to please and is a bit of a suck-up, she feels under appreciated. Manager A manager at Macy's. A good, friendly person just trying to do the job and get by.

MR. GREENWAY Walter's boss. He is what Walter will become if he continues down the path he is on. A tyrannical, workaholic who cares nothing about the people around him or who work for him.

SANTA Just another workingman. Loves his job and Christmas, but also likes to relax and watch the game when a rare opportunity arises.

CHARLIE An elf who is charge of monitoring the other Elves, making sure every present is wrapped and every bow is tied.

SHAWANDA A dependable and caring elf. She will do whatever she can to help out others.

ELVES Santa’s special helpers who love their job making toys to meet their Christmas Eve deadline.

CHADWICK One of Walter's right-hand men. He is desperate to keep his job, and is the more simpleminded of the two.

MATTHEWS One of Walter's right-hand men. He is desperate to keep his job and is the schemer of the two. Ensemble They play elves, New Yorkers, office workers, etc.

CHARLOTTE DENNON 6 A TV reporter with a big personality. She doesn’t like being shown up.

6 CREATIVE WRITING7 (CHOOSE ONE)

1. If I were Buddy & living in the North Pole with Santa and the Elves, how would I feel? Would I be happy when I realized I was human? Would I be nervous about going to New York City to find my father?

2. If you were a Macy’s employee, would you believe that Buddy knew the real Santa and lived in the North Pole?

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CHARACTER8 ACROSTIC

An acrostic is a type of poem that describes something (in this case characters from the show: Elf the Musical, Jr.) by using each of the letters in the word as the beginning of a line of poetry.

B U D D Y I

J O V I E

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8 9 VENN DIAGRAM

Using the Venn diagram below, compare Buddy’s character traits with your own. How are you alike? How are you different?

ME: BUDDY:

BOTH:

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9 10 GROUP ACTIVITY: INSTRUCTIONS • Divide your students into groups and have them brainstorm ways to increase the Christmas Spirit in your community to power Santa’s sleigh by at least 50%.

• Talk to the students about creating plans that they could actually do. Make sure that their solutions are practical and can be actualized in the real world.

• How would the children deal with social opposition to their plans?

• Each member of the groups should create his/her own plan, then they should share ideas, discussing the pros and cons of each.

• After students have completed their own plans, ask them to share within their groups and work together to create a larger group plan incorporating every group member’s ideas.

• Have the groups delegate responsibility for different aspects or actions among group members.

• Have students share their personal ideas with the class, as well as their group plans, making sure that each member of the group presents his/her delegated tasks.

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GROUP11 ACTIVITY

Brainstorm ways to increase the Christmas Spirit in your community to power Santa’s sleigh by at least 50%.

1. Make sure that your solutions are practical and can be actualized in the real world. 2. How would you deal with social opposition to your plan? 3. Below, create your own plan. 4. Once you have created your own plan, share with your group. 5. Now, create a group plan involving each group member’s ideas. 6. Share your ideas with the class!

My Plan:

My Group’s Plan:

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CREATIVE12 THINKING

Objective: Students will develop an understanding of the social and emotional themes in ELF The Musical and its impact on the characters, the story, and how it relates to their own lives, as well.

• Students will be introduced to a recurring theme in ELF The Musical. • Students will consider the impact of their own experience of expectations. • Students will explore how to adapt their experience into a sharable story. • Students will develop a short scene based on their personal and shared writings. • Students will present their short scenes to the class.

Materials Needed: Journal and pen or pencil; enough space in the room for students to stand in two parallel lines facing each other at least 3 feet apart

1. Assess students’ familiarity with and understanding of the word “expectation.” Can they provide a definition and examples from their own lives? Model if needed. 2. Have students stand up and form two lines that face each other. Students should stand shoulder-to-shoulder and paired with someone in the opposite line. 3. Have one line turn their backs to the other by simply turning around where they are. 4. Explain the challenge: Students with their backs turned to you have had a big disappointment; they have either not met the expectations placed on them or their own expectations have been defeated. Your job is to cheer up your partner. Find a way to convince your partner to turn around and smile. No touching or leaving the line is allowed unless you, the teacher, are comfortable permitting these options. 5. If you have your back to the other line, please think about one specific incident that comes to mind. Examples: • Maybe you did not receive the grade you were hoping for in class. • Maybe you didn’t receive the birthday gift you hoped for • Maybe you neglected your responsibilities at home and disappointed your parents. Your job is to make it as difficult for your partner as fits the circumstance before you turn around and smile. 6. Encourage your students to try a number of different tactics for turning their partner around: • Will it take a soft voice? • An expression of compassion? • Will being funny or telling a joke help? • Will singing turn your partners head? Remind the students facing away to not turn around just to be nice, but rather because they were genuinely moved to do so.

7. Switch roles. The front facing line turns their backs and the line with their backs turned now face front. Repeat steps 3 through 5. 8. If your students need to work harder to get the desired result, consider encouraging them to make bigger, bolder choices. If they are familiar with Buddy, have them try again asking, “How would Buddy handle it?” 9. Reflect on the experience. Invite the students to share: • What did it feel like to have someone try to cheer you up?

• Was it hard to cheer up your partner? 12 • What worked? What didn’t? How did it change your efforts that your partner’s back was to you?

12 PYT QUICKTIVITIES13 This activity can be done BOTH before and after the show. If you are able to, find a copy of the book or film to show your students before PYT’s production. Compare and contrast those to each other, then to the play you will see at the Ice House!

The ROLE ON THE WALL outline is drawn on a piece of chart paper around an important character. Information and feelings about the character are written into the shape. It can also be enriched by being written from different perspectives, for example, the space outside the outline can contain comments about the character as they are seen from an observer’s viewpoint and the interior space can contain the characters own thoughts and point of view. This is useful for building a deeper understanding of a character and the play. Use this outline below to record information about each character. This can be done with both older and younger students. With older students, you can assign a different character to groups and they can collaborate and share their work with the class.

BUDDY, JOVIE, WALTER, SANTA, ETC: How does he/she see him/herself? (Record these traits on the inside of the Role on the Wall.) How do other people view him/her? (Record these descriptions on the outside of the character.

You may do this activity before the show, based on your students prior knowledge, then compare and add to after the show. Hand out the outline below and have your students begin the process.

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13 WRITE A14 REVIEW After the show, write a review and send it to PYT!

I liked Elf The Musical, Jr. because: ______My favorite part was: ______

The scene I remember most was: ______

The character I liked best was because: ______

The character I did not like was because: ______

Overall, I think Elf The Musical, Jr. was: ______

DRAW A REVIEW! We love seeing your creations!

Teachers, you can mail these reviews to:14 PYT 25 W 3rd St, Bethlehem, PA 18015

14 15 In the spirit of kindness, color this picture and give it to someone as a gift and tell them about your experience seeing Elf, The Musical Jr.!

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THEATRE ETIQUETTE ATTENTION TEACHERS

When you check in at the Ice House on Sand The audience is a very important part of any live Island, you will be given a packet with a theatre performance. Without the audience, there Performance Evaluation Form. Your feedback is would be no one to laugh when the show is very important to us, and we hope that you will funny, to gasp when it is scary or to applaud in take a few minutes to complete the form and the end. return it to the PYT office. Thank you for bringing

your students to this PYT production ! • Enter the theatre quietly. Listen to the directions from the ushers and sit where they direct you.

• There is no intermission, so you may want to use the bathroom before the show begins.

• You will help others enjoy the show when you keep your feet on the floor and your hands to yourself.

• Save your comments or questions for later in class. Do no talk during the show.

• Food and drinks are NOT allowed in the theatre. Enjoy your snacks, gum or candy after the show.

• A live play is different than a movie or a football game. Talking to the actors is not appropriate and can be distracting.

• Please turn off your cell phones, and no texting during the show.

• No photographs or video taping, please. This Thank you for bringing your is for the actor’s safety. students to this • Show your appreciation by applauding at the PYT production! end of the show.

• When the show is over, our ushers will give you directions to leave the theatre in an orderly manner. Check out what’s happening for the rest of the current season! • Enjoy the show! We’re glad you came to a production by Pennsylvania Youth Theatre!

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16 Coming in March! 17 Coming this May!

Tuesday, March 14th at 9:45 am Tuesday, May 16th at 9:45 am

Wednesday, March 15th at 9:45 am Wednesday, May 17th at 9:45 am and 12:15 pm Thursday, March 16th at 9:45 am Thursday, May 18th at Tuesday, March 21st at 9:45 am 9:45 am and 12:15 pm

Wednesday, March 22nd at 9:45 am Friday, May 19 at 9:45 am

Thursday, March 23rd at 9:45 am

Bethlehem’s Ice House Diamond Theatre at on Sand Island Zoellner Arts Center

RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES K – 12 RECOMMENDED FOR GRADES K – 12

APPROXIMATE LENGTH : 90 MINUTES APPROXIMATE LENGTH : 90 MINUTES

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