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ABT reprises ‘Elf the Musical’ this holiday season

BY LAURA LATZKO Peoria Times Contributing Writer

Tyler Pirrung had a lucky break in 2019.

After the previou actor playing Buddy, the human elf, stepped down from the Arizona Broadway Theatre production of “Elf,” Pirrung stepped right in.

Now two years later, he is reprising the role during the holiday season.

ABT’s 2021 production will feature a handful of returning thespians, including Madison Cichon as Buddy’s love interest Jovie. This time around, “Elf” will be directed by ABT’s associate artistic director Kurtis Overby.

The musical version — developed by Matthew Sklar, Chad Beguelin, Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin — has a premise that’s similar to the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell. An orphan raised by Santa and elves goes to New York to find his father. There, he meets not only his father Walter Hobbs, his brother Michael and Walter’s wife Emily but a woman named Jovie, who captures his heart. Papa Elf in the stage version is replaced by Santa in the narrator/fatherly role.

Pirrung said the musical version features key moments from the film, many of which are turned to splashy musical theater numbers. Hailing from New York, Pirrung heads a cast that includes local and out-ofstate actors. Since 2016, Pirrung has appeared in ABT productions including “Show Boat,” “Titanic,” “Funny Girl,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Guys and Dolls” and “Oliver!” Before he landed the role of Buddy, Pirrung longed to play him.

“Elf has been a dream role of mine since college, when I first heard music from the show,” Pirrung said. “It’s just such fun music to sing and such a fun role to perform.”

Jovie (Madison Cichon) and Buddy (Tyler Pirrung) meet in the Arizona Broadway Theatre production of “Elf the Mu-

sical.” (Photos by Scott Samplin/Arizona Broadway Theatre)

Buddy (Tyler Pirrung) and his brother Michael (Tristan Klaphake) share breakfast in the Arizona Broadway Theatre production of “Elf the Musical.” SEE ELF PAGE 16

The Mazda CX-30 Turbo SUV has its positives, negatives

BY C.A. HAIRE Peoria Times Contributing Writer

One of the advantages of Mazda vehicles is their reasonable base price, with this CX-30 starting at only $22,000. However, our example here is loaded up with all the goodies, so it reaches a tidy $34,000. This includes $495 for the dark metallic paint job. But charging extra for floor mats seems rather greedy.

The base engine is a 2.5-liter putting out 186 horsepower rated at 25/33 mpg. This has the optional upgraded turbo, rated at 227 hp using regular fuel, or 250 with premium blend, hooked to an all-wheel drive system. Gas mileage is claimed to be 22/30. This motor provides brisk acceleration. Real-world fuel economy in a week of driving was 22/28.

The cabin is nothing fancy but has good features. The glove box is roomy, and the info screen is large with excellent clarity. The climate controls are simple to use. There are paddle shifters on the steering wheel for manual gear selection.

On the negative side, the sun visors poorly block sun from side windows,

The Mazda CX-30 Turbo SUV is pleasant to drive on the street. (Photos by C.A. Haire) and there is too much glare reflecting into the gauge cluster. The CX-30 is pleasant to drive on the street. The ride quality is firm but comfortable. We saw a brisk 0-60 mph time of less than 6 seconds. With higher ground clearance than a typical car, and all-wheel traction, the ability to traverse on back dirt trails is very good. Most vehicles in the Mazda line are made in Japan, which has always been a good selling point. Some potential buyers are not happy to hear the CX-30 models are now made in Mexico. As other brands have set up factories there, this situation is likely to be more common.

ELF FROM PAGE 15

Pirrung wants to explore the character even further.

“I’m two years older, two years wiser,” he said.

“It definitely will be an expanded performance of what I did two years ago.”

With his version of Buddy, he tries to lean into the character’s sense of wonderment and childlike naivete.

Pirrung’s resume includes many comedic characters like Buddy and Igor in a Bigfork Summer Playhouse production of “Young Frankenstein.”

“Comedy is not easy,” Pirrung said. “It also changes, depending on the night with the audience. Do I have to adjust how I say this for it to land with them? It really does take a lot of workshopping and figuring out, ‘What if I say it this way? Or is it funnier if I say it this way?’ It’s definitely a lot of trial and error and workshopping the approach to find out what is going to be the best way to get the humor to land.”

Pirrung finds many moments in “Elf” are organically funny, such as when Buddy pours syrup on spaghetti.

“All I have to do is pour the maple syrup on to the spaghetti, and people giggle because it’s so absurd,” Pirrung said.

Pirrung said playing Buddy is challenging because of the character’s high-energy level.

“‘Elf’ is a beast of a show,” Pirrung said.

“Buddy is constantly living at a 12 out of 10 energy-wise. He is onstage for the majority of the show,” Pirrung said.

Many of Buddy’s vulnerable moments are with Jovie and Walter.

For the 2019 show, Pirrung learned how to inline skate for the Rockefeller Center ice-skating scene with Jovie.

“Before the first time I did ‘Elf,’ I have never stepped foot in a rollerblade,” he said. “That was quite interesting. I would take the rollerblades home with me outside of rehearsal. At nighttime, when everyone was in bed, I would go out into the parking lot of our company housing. I would bring two chairs out with me, and I would slowly roll from chair to chair.”

The show takes viewers to the North Pole and New York City. The color schemes change as Buddy moves from one setting to another.

In the North Pole scenes, adult ensemble actors play the elves on their knees. The group then switches to portray characters like an Upper Eastside woman with her coffee, a businessman in a hurried rush to get to work or a woman out for a jog in the New York City scenes.

One of Pirrung’s favorite moments in the show is the production number called “Sparklejollytwinklejingley,” in which Buddy spreads his Christmas cheer to others. The number features a distinctive set transformation and ends with a huge kick-line moment with candy canes.

The film and stage show stress being true to oneself and embracing the Christmas spirit.

Pirrung said during these tough times following the height of the pandemic, audiences want lighthearted shows with a positive message, such as “Elf.”

“I think it’s just the perfect show, not only for Christmastime but especially for this Christmas season, coming out of this pandemic and trying to get life back to normal,” he said.

“It’s the perfect show for that, because it does have such a strong message of community and coming together.”

Arizona Broadway Theatre’s “Elf the Musical”

WHEN: Friday, Nov. 26, to Wednesday, Dec. 29 WHERE: Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria COST: Tickets start at $52.99 for adults; $43.79 for youth; $30.20 for children (see website for details) INFO: 623-776-840, ext. 0, azbroadway.org

Old Town Holiday FESTIVAL A

SATURDAY, DEC. 11 5 - 9 p.m.

Join us for some Join us for some holiday magic holiday magic at Peoria’s annual at Peoria’s annual Old Town Holiday Festival Old Town Holiday Festival with live music, with live music, festive holiday lights, festive holiday lights, and activities for and activities for the whole family. the whole family.

ACROSS

1 Up to 4 Platter 8 Scoop holder 12 Olympics chant 13 Sicilian resort 14 Dryer fuzz 15 Sandal type 17 Pub potables 18 Computer whiz 19 Dog tags, e.g. 21 PC key 22 Excellent 26 Expire 29 Present location? 30 Med. plan option 31 Perry’s creator 32 -- Aviv 33 Hotel worker 34 From -- Z 35 “Science Guy” Bill 36 Segments 37 Kanye West’s music 39 Moonshine vessel 40 Japanese sash 41 Narcotic 45 Volition 48 Sound of hoofbeats 50 Tom Joad, for one 51 First-rate 52 Onassis nickname 53 Marries 54 A deadly sin 55 Moment

DOWN

1 Clump of grass 2 Capri, e.g. 3 Secular 4 Sully 5 Cove 6 -- -Cat 7 Domed building in Washington D.C. 8 Purse fastener 9 Tin Man’s need 10 SSW opposite 11 UFO crew 16 Stage 20 Ten, in Dijon 23 “-- she blows!” 24 Skip 25 Spacecraft compartments 26 Wife of Jacob 27 Intro studio class 28 Fall into a soft chair 29 Spelldown 32 Not out of the ordinary 33 Wizardry 35 San Francisco’s -- Hill 36 Thing on a string 38 Bagel features 39 Unites 42 Regrettably 43 Rent 44 Grand tale 45 Dazzle 46 White House nickname 47 Cover 49 Baseball’s Gehrig

ANSWERS PAGE 19

EVEN EXCHANGE

by Donna Pettman

Each numbered row contains two clues and two answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MASTER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

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