‘Elf’ leading the merry way to Christmas

The same, only different.

That's the essence of any holiday tradition.

And "Elf the Musical" — which opens a nine-performance run Tuesday at The Smith Center's Reynolds Hall — is no exception.

It's based on the 2003 movie hit, which stars Will Ferrell as the endlessly goofy Buddy the Elf, who 1) discovers that he's not really an elf and 2) leaves the North Pole to search for his real father in New York City.

The touring version of "Elf the Musical" also is based on the 2010 Broadway adaptation, but a few changes have been made.

Oh, you'll still see such quintessentially elf-conscious moments as Buddy running (and running and running) through a big-city revolving door. Or Buddy topping his spaghetti with runny maple syrup.

Or Buddy reminding one and all that "the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear."

Audiences often recite the latter part of that line along with Buddy, according to "Elf the Musical" director Sam Scalamoni.

To be sure, "we're providing the audience with the things they love from the movie," Scalamoni says during a telephone interview.

But not everything they'll love about the show comes from the movie, he adds.

For example, "there's a new opening number that we started last year," notes the director, who's overseen all the "Elf" tours since they began in 2012. (The two current "Elf" tours are the sixth and seventh editions.)

That opening number, "Happy All the Time," finds Santa Claus confessing that "he needs a little break from how happy" the North Pole's denizens are, Scalamoni explains.

And if the real Santa Claus seems a bit grouchy, that's nothing compared to the eight unemployed department-store Santas Buddy encounters when he stumbles into a Chinese restaurant during his New York sojourn.

Those out-of-work Santas sing and dance that "Nobody Cares About Santa Claus" — especially the electronically preoccupied kids who visit them.

But never fear. There's another new musical number, "There Is a Santa Claus," in which Buddy's new New York family gets caught up in the holiday spirit, Scalamoni says.

"Elf the Musical's" cast and crew "start Christmas in October" every year when rehearsals begin, the director notes.

The "Elf" tours generally continue through New Year's, "and then we pack it all up" until the following holiday season, Scalamoni explains.

When "Elf the Musical" first hit the road, the show's creators "all were very on board with the tour," the director reports.

Among those creators: Tony-winning writers Thomas Meehan ("Annie," "The Producers") and Bob Martin ("The Drowsy Chaperone") and Tony-nominated "Wedding Singer" composers Matthew Skar and Chad Beguelin.

One key to "Elf the Musical's" success, in Scalamoni's view: new sets (designed by Christine Peters) that meant "we could package it in four trucks."

Those scenic designs, inspired by the show's storyteller Santa Claus, resemble pages from a pop-up book, providing "a whole 'nother perspective on a way to tell the story," Scalamoni notes.

After all, Buddy checks out a lot of places once he departs the North Pole and reaches New York City, from Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building to Radio City Music Hall and Central Park. (The latter serves as the launching pad for Santa and his sleigh.)

"I love that we get to bring the magic of the holidays in New York across the country," Scalamoni says.

And, through a combination of the aforementioned sets and Connor Gallagher's choreography, "we get from place to place seamlessly," the director adds, citing "some beautiful transitions."

As for the actors making those transitions, Buddy already knows the territory.

That's because Daniel Patrick Smith, who played "Elf's" title role last year, is back for this year's tour.

Smith's return "definitely made my life a lot easier," Scalamoni acknowledges.

"Casting Buddy" is such a challenge, he says, because "people have Will Ferrell in their heads. But every year we find great people."

And, chances are, every year they'll need them, because "Elf the Musical" is "definitely in demand this time of year," Scalamoni notes.

In part, that's because "it's clearly a family musical," he says, describing grandparents, parents and children seeing it together.

It's also "a good first musical" for kids, "especially with those who are familiar with the film" — and, he suggests, "because of what the story has to say," a message that lasts a lot longer than the holiday season.

"At the end," Scalamoni notes, "even Buddy realizes that Christmas is more than Santa. It's about being with people you care about."

For more stories from Carol Cling go to reviewjournal.com. Contact her at ccling@reviewjournal.com and follow @CarolSCling on Twitter.