Partial Cast Announced for Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures’ Hit Musical “Elf”

Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures in association with Unique Features announced today that the hit musical “ELF” will star Tony Award winner Beth Leavel (Emily), Tony Award nominee Mark Jacoby (Walter), Valerie Wright (Deb), Adam Heller (Mr. Greenway) and Michael Mandell (Store Manager). Leavel, Jacoby, Wright and Mandell are reprising the roles they originated in the 2010 production of “ELF.” Additional casting will be announced soon. “ELF” returns to Broadway this holiday season at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). Performances will begin on Friday, November 9, 2012. The production will play a limited engagement of 9 weeks for the holiday season through Sunday, January 6, 2013. Tickets for “ELF” go on sale to the general public on Sunday, September 9th. Ticket prices range from $49 to $160 (including a $2 facility fee) and are available online at www.Telecharge.com and by phone at 212-239-6200. Tickets will be available in person at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre Box Office (302 West 45th Street) beginning Monday, October 15th at 10am. Tickets are available exclusively to American Express card members through 9/8. For more information and performance schedule, visit www.Telecharge.com. Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit which starred Will Ferrell in the title role, “ELF” features a score by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar (Music) and Chad Beguelin (Lyrics) with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (“The Producers,” “Hairspray”) and Bob Martin (“The Drowsy Chaperone”). “ELF” is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (“The Book of Mormon,” “Monty Python’s Spamalot”). Scenic design for “ELF” is by Tony nominee David Rockwell (“Hairspray,” “Catch Me if You Can”), costume design is by Tony Award winner Gregg Barnes (“Follies,” “The Drowsy Chaperone”), lighting design is by three-time Tony Award-winner Natasha Katz (“Once,” “The Coast of Utopia”) and sound design is by Tony nominee Peter Hylenski (“Rock of Ages,” “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever”). “ELF” features orchestrations by three-time Tony Award-winner Doug Besterman (“The Producers,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie”). Hair and Wig Design is by Josh Marquette (“The Book of Mormon,” “Gore Vidal’s The Best Man”) and Projection Design is by Zachary Borovay (“Evita,” “Rock of Ages”). “ELF” played a successful 9-week Broadway engagement in 2010, breaking the Al Hirschfeld Theatre’s box office record three times during its run. Previews began on November 2nd, and the production opened on November 14th and played through January 2nd. The New York Times called “ELF” “A splashy, peppy, sugar-sprinkled holiday entertainment.” USA Today thinks ELF is “Endearingly goofy,” and New Jersey News Room finds ELF to be “Jolly holiday entertainment, decked out with a bunch of crowd-rousing songs.” Variety declares “ELF is happy enough for families, savvy enough for city kids and plenty smart for adults!” ELF is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Buddy is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list and his step-brother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF. www.ElfMusical.com BIOS: BETH LEAVEL (Emily) received Tony, Drama Desk, NY Outer Critics Circle and L.A. Drama Critics Awards for her performance as the title character in “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Beth also received a Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nomination for her role as Florence Greenberg in “Baby It’s You.” She recently performed the roles of Sally Adams in “Call Me Madam” at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, M’Lynn in “Steel Magnolias” at the North Carolina Theatre and the much put upon maid, Berthe, in “Boeing-Boeing” at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Other Broadway roles Emily in “Elf,” Donna in “Mamma Mia!”, Frau Blucher in “Young Frankenstein,” Dorothy Brock in the revival of “42nd Street,” Tess in the original company of “Crazy For You,” Mrs. Bixby in “The Civil War,” Ellie in Hal Prince's “Showboat, “and Anytime Annie (her Broadway debut) in 42nd Street.” Ms. Leavel was also seen in New York City Center Encores! production of “No, No, Nanette” as Lucille. Numerous Off-Broadway, regional theatre, commercials, and TV, including the final episode of ER. MFA from UNC-G. Proud mom to T.J. and Sam. Grateful to my boys @ BRS. MARK JACOBY (Walter) Most recently: Dean Warfield, “The Nutty Professor” (World Premiere); The Wizard of Oz, “Wicked” (1st National Tour). Broadway: original Father, “Ragtime”; Gaylord Ravenal, “Showboat” (Tony and Outer Critics' nominations); The Phantom, “The Phantom of the Opera”; Baron von Gaigern, “Grand Hotel”; Vittorio Vidal, “Sweet Charity” (Theatre World Award); The Padre, “Man of La Mancha”; Judge Turpin, “Sweeney Todd. “Off-Broadway: The Playwright, “Enter the Guardsman” (Drama Desk nomination). Regional: Peter Dummermut, “The Visit” (Signature Theatre, Helen Hayes nomination); Tevye, “Fiddler on the Roof” (Walnut Street Theatre, Barrymore Award); Guido Contini, “Nine” (Joseph Jefferson Award). VALERIE WRIGHT (Deb) Valerie has originated the Broadway companies of “Elf,” “Song And Dance,” “ Steel Pier” and “Annie Get Your Gun.” Other Broadway credits include “Cats,” “Sally Marr And Her Escorts” and “Damn Yankees.” Off Broadway includes “Showing Off,” “The World Goes 'Round” and “Wanda's World.” Some favorite regional credits are “Noises Off” at Dorset Theater Festival “On The Town” at Arena Stage, “Pajama Game “and “Redhead,” both at Goodspeed Opera House, “Three” at the Ahmanson Theater, “Peter Pan” at The Muny and “Sweet Charity,” Barrington Stage Co. National Tours include “Hello Dolly,” “Song And Dance,” “The World Goes 'Round” (Jefferson award, Helen Hayes nomination) and “Damn Yankees” (Helen Hayes nomination). Films and TV includes “Sleepless In Seattle,” “Ordinary Heroes,” “You Look Just Like Him” and “All My Children.” Valerie has appeared in Concert with Marvin Hamlisch and wrote the music and lyrics to a children's album entitled “Green Beans On The Floor.” ADAM HELLER (Mr. Greenway) Broadway: “Baby It's You”; “Caroline,or Change”; “A Class Act”; “Victor/Victoria”; “Les Miserables.” Off Broadway: “Make Me a Song”; “The Immigrant”; “Endgame”; “Merrily We Roll Along”; “Normal.” National Tours: “Titanic”; “Falsettos.” Regional: “Call Me Madam” (Oklahoma Lyric); “Robin and the 7 Hoods” (Old Globe); “My Name is Asher Lev “(Arden, Round House, DTC); “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” (Goodspeed); “End Days” (Vineyard Playhouse); “Party Come Here” (Williamstown); “Ragtime” (Sacramento); “Merrily We Roll Along” (Kennedy Center); “Dancing in the Dark” (Old Globe); “No Way to Treat a Lady” (Barrington Stage); “March of the Falsettos” and “Falsettoland” (Hartford Stage); “Art “(Hartford Theaterworks); “Dinner With Friends” (Coconut Grove); “American Vaudeville” (Alley). Film: “Random Unrelated Projects”; “Shadayim”; “Isn't She Great”; “Off the Menu The Last Days of Chasen's.” TV: “Law & Order” (all); “The Sopranos;” “Oz;” “Submissions Only;” “Queens Supreme.” Graduate: NYU/Tisch. MICHAEL MANDELL (Store Manager) Broadway: “Big River,” “A Christmas Carol.” National tour: “It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues.” Off-Broadway: “Macinal,” “Blood Wedding,” and “Romance in Hard Times” (NYSF), “Hit the Lights”“(Vineyard Theatre), A New Brain (Lincoln Center Theatre), “Captains Courageous” (Ford Theatre), “Miss Ever's Boys” (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), “Triumph of Love” (Cleveland Playhouse), “The Fantastiks” (Portland Center Stage), “Amadeus” (Denver Theater Center) and “The Boys from Syracuse” (Alliance Theater). National Tour: “Big River.” TV includes “Person of Interest,” “NYC22,” “Glee,” “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” “Ed,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Ugly Betty” and “Guiding Light.” Film includes “New Year’s Eve,” “I Love You Philip Morris,” “Choose,” “Joe’s Apartment” and “Anger Management.” ###