RESOURCE GUIDE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
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Dear Teachers,
CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
The following resource guide is designed for you and
your students to facilitate the integration of the
performing arts into core curriculum areas. The
activities in this guide support the PA State
Educational Standards in several areas, develop critical and creative thinking and enrich the live theatre
experience for your students.
Pennsylvania State Learning Standards: Elf the Musical,
Jr. Resource Guide covers the following areas:
Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and
Listening:
1.1 Learning to Read Independently
1.2 Reading Critically in All Content Areas
1.3 Reading, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
1.4 Types of Writing
1.5 Quality of Writing
1.6 Speaking and Listening
1.7 Characteristics and Function of the English Language
1.8 Research
Pennsylvania Youth Theatre is proud to present Elf,
the Musical Jr. performed at the Ice House on
Bethlehem’s Sand Island.
Thank you and enjoy the show!
Dedrea Becker
Marketing/Outreach Coordinator
Academic Standards for Arts and Humanities
9.1 Production, Performance and Exhibition of Dance,
Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts
9.2 Historical and Cultural Contexts
9.3 Critical Response
9.4 Aesthetic Response
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contacting Us…………………………………………….Cover
Dear Teachers………………………………………..…..…...2
PA State Learning Standard……………………….…..….…2
Academic Standards for History
8.1 Historical Analysis and Skills Development
8.2 Pennsylvania History
8.3 United States History
8.4 World History
PYT……………………………………………………..……….2
BEFORE THE SHOW………………………………………...3
Adaptations of Elf…………………….………………...……..4
Elf the Musical………………………………………………… 5
Academic Standards for Civics and Government
5.1 Principles and Documents of Government
5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
5.3 How Government Works
5.4 How International Relationships Function
Cast of Characters…..………………………………………...6
Crossword Puzzle……………………………………………..8
Language Arts………………………………………………….9
Creative Writing………………………………………………..7
Character Acrostic……………………………………………..8
ABOUT PYT
Venn Diagram………………………………………………….9
Group Activity: Instructions………………………………….10
Pennsylvania Youth Theatre (PYT) is a professional, nonprofit performing arts organization whose mission is to
educate, entertain, and enrich the lives of young people
through the art of theatre. By bringing literature to life with
theatre, PYT enhances the Language Arts curriculum for
12,000 community school students annually. Founded with
the belief that children deserve the very best, PYT’s
Mainstage literature-based plays are professionally produced.
Professional directors, choreographers, actors, dancers and
musicians as well as lighting costume and set designers are
hired to achieve the best possible presentation of children’s
plays. To keep our Mainstage productions available to all, we
continue to offer these professionally staged shows to school
groups for approximately $.50 a ticket which is 57% below our
break-even cost. PYT is happy to offer plays of this quality to
the school children of our community for this reduced cost.
We hope you and your class enjoy this performance!
Group Activity: Handout……………………………………..11
Creative Thinking…………………………………………….12
PYT Quicktivities……………………………………………..13
Write a Review……………………………………………….14
Coloring Page………………………………………………..15
Pre-Show and Post-Show
In-School Workshops
If you would like to schedule a PRE or POST
show workshop for your class for this particular
production, please contact
Dedrea Becker
[email protected]
(610) 332-1403
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123pyt.org
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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 shredder 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. Buddy urges everyone to get into the Christmas
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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!
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ADAPTATIONS
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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ELF THE5 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:
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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 snowball 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.
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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 She doesn’t like being shown up.
A TV reporter with a big personality.
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CREATIVE WRITING
(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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CHARACTER
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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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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GROUP ACTIVITY: INSTRUCTIONS
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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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GROUP11ACTIVITY
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?
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• What worked? What didn’t? How did it change your efforts that your partner’s back was to you?
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PYT QUICKTIVITIES
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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14 REVIEW
WRITE A
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!
14 PYT 25 W 3rd St, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Teachers, you can mail these reviews to:
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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
Island, you will be given a packet with a
Performance Evaluation Form. Your feedback is
very important to us, and we hope that you will
take a few minutes to complete the form and
return it to the PYT office. Thank you for bringing
your students to this PYT production!
The audience is a very important part of any live
theatre performance. Without the audience, there
would be no one to laugh when the show is
funny, to gasp when it is scary or to applaud in
the end.
•
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
is for the actor’s safety.
•
Show your appreciation by applauding at the
end of the show.
•
When the show is over, our ushers will give
you directions to leave the theatre in an
orderly manner.
•
Thank you for bringing your
students to this
PYT production!
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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Coming in March!
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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
Tuesday, March 21st at 9:45 am
Thursday, May 18th at
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
on Sand Island
Diamond Theatre at
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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