Dublin Community Theatre’s ‘Elf Jr.’ to kick off Christmas season

The weather outside was slightly frightful as the outer bands of Hurricane Isaias made its way through middle Georgia. But that did not come close to slowing down rehearsal of Dublin Community Theatre’s early Christmas present.

A cast featuring a talented cast of those aged 18 and below will take the stage for “Elf Jr. The Musical,” which will be held at 7 p.m. on Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 21 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 22 at Theatre Dublin. Tickets can be purchased on Purplepass or by calling Theatre Dublin at (478) 277-5074.

“This show is so full of joy,” said Director Misty Mullis. “It is a joy to work with these actors and a joy to listen to the songs. This show is light-hearted and I think it will be fun for the audience. We want to have fun putting this on, but our goal is for the audience to have fun watching the show.”

Mullis, who led last year’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” has enjoyed working with assistant director Elaine Avery on the musical version of “Elf,” a Christmas classic that starred Will Ferrell as the title character. 

“I really do love this show,” Mullis said. “For those who do not necessarily love the movie “Elf,” it is different enough.” 

Swayer Morton, freshman at WLHS, returns to the stage as Buddy the Elf, after he was a part of the ensemble in DCT’s production of “Grease” last summer. 

“Buddy is a great way to be as a person,” Morton said. “He is clueless, but so loveable and kind and he is always a caring guy. It is such an honor to play someone like that.” 

Morton learned a lot from his experience in “Grease.” He enjoyed being on stage and likes being someone different than himself. 

“These experiences have allowed me to grow so much as a person,” Morton said. “I got so many great tips (in “Grease”) and I hope to be the one others feel comfortable asking tips from.”

Mullis has enjoyed directing a young cast, many of whom have participated in three if not more DCT shows in the last couple of years.

“The kids have been awesome,” Mullis said. “We have a good mix of new and returning. It is so much fun to see them come back and see how much they have grown from year-to-year.”

And there are some who will be making their DCT debut. Which is the case for Lydia Garnto, a senior at Johnson County, who will be playing Jovie, the love interest for Buddy the Elf. 

“I had been into the stuff happening at the theater for so long, but I was too scared to do anything until my mom told me to go start out in Dublin,” Garnto said. “I did it and I’m enjoying it.” 

  Garnto remembered being on the stage at Theatre Dublin as a mouse in “The Nutcracker.”

“I was six years old,” she said. “This will be the first time that I have been in any play. I thought it would be something good for me to do, because that is what I’m interested in.” 

Jovie is sarcastic, Garnto said.

“I like her character development,” she added. “She goes from being rude to being happy about Christmas time.” 

  A difference between last year’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and this year’s production is that “Elf Jr.” is a musical. Mullis took dance and was a cheerleader in high school, which has come back to help her direct the cast for the show.

“This has definitely been a stretch for me to create the choreography and teach the choreography,” Mullis said. “Of course we have some actors who are great dancers and we have some who can’t dance at all. There is a big difference between stage movement and choreography. I would say what we are doing is more like stage movements versus choreography. I’m hoping the audience will love seeing the ensemble numbers on stage.” 

Both Morton and Garnto have enjoyed Mullis’ honesty as a director.

“That is what’s going to help me get better,” Morton said. “She is nice to me and she honestly makes me feel good about myself when I do something right.”

Garnto has enjoyed working with the younger actors.

“They are like little siblings,” she said. “They are super sweet.” 

Morton is sharing the stage with his sister, Lily, who plays Elf No. 5. Other siblings include Coy Lausch, who plays Michael, and his sister Callyn, who is playing Elf No. 3. 

Lausch, a fifth-grader from Northwest Laurens Elementary School, likes the fact that he is playing a character his age.

“He is a very sweet kid,” Lausch said about Michael. “He is very up and about. This is the character I ask for and I got it. I feel very good about being in this show.” 

Michael’s father, Walter Hobbs, will be played by Leo Herrera, a junior from WLHS. Herrera likes the fact that he is playing “a grumpy-old dad.” 

“It’s funny because you get to see how serious he is the whole time, especially when he is right next to Buddy,” Herrera said. “It’s a really good contrast and I really like how his character evolves.”

Mullis’ daughter, Lorelei, convinced Herrera to be in the show.

“She thought I would be a good mall Santa,” Herrera said. “Then I got Walter, which is a big role.” 

Lorelei, who is a freshman from WLHS, plays Hobb’s wife, Emily. She accepts Buddy when he comes into her family. 

“She thinks (Buddy) is cool,” Lorelei said. 

Lorelei believed it was going to be weird to be directed by her mother, something that had never happened before.

“It has been really fun. I’m glad I did it,” Lorelei said. “Plus, I pulled some of my friends from high school in. It’s really fun to have people my age. And most of us have done stuff before. It’s a really good experience. This cast is very good. A lot of them were in “The Best Christmas Pageant” and other shows. It has been so great to see them become great actors. And the more they act, the better they will get and it will get easier.” 

It is an experience that her mother has also enjoyed. 

“I just try to treat her like everybody else,” Mullis said. “She is another actor while we’re here. At least I try to do that. But a lot of these actors have worked together for years so there is a lot of chemistry on stage. I think that has helped this show.” 

About a month away from the curtain rising, the director and cast are excited about kicking off the entertainment portion of the Christmas season. 

“I really hope people will come see this show as a kickoff to the holiday season,” Mullis said. “It will be a fantastic show to get people into the Christmas spirit. I have to thank everyone for always supporting the Dublin Community Theatre and thanks to Glenda Berry for always steering the ship in such a great way and having us on a clear trajectory that is always moving us forward. And thanks to everyone in the community who supports us because we couldn’t do this without their support.” 

Buddy the Elf and the other characters are looking forward to the community receiving an early Christmas present.

“I love Christmas,” Morton said. “It’s my favorite time of the year. It’s a time of giving. I’m a Christian and I love going to church during Christmas. Opening Christmas for our town and city is a big honor.”