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Elf comes off the shelf for run at LCCT

Community Theatre’s ‘Elf the Musical’ opens Dec. 2; reservations recommended

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If you think of Buddy, the central character in the movie “Elf” and Broadway’s “Elf the Musical,” it is hard to imagine a more perfect part for one of Las Cruces’ best and best-loved actors, Brandon Brown.

Fortunately for all us play and musical lovers, Las Cruces Community Theatre (LCCT) Board of Directors President Janet Beatty-Payne thinks the same way.

She cast Brown as “Buddy” in “Elf the Musical,” which Beaty-Payne is directing for LCCT.

It opens Dec. 2 for a three-weekend run that includes a cast of 17 and a crew of 10 that includes two more members of the Brown family: Lennie Marie, who is the props master and Hyde, the light and soundboard operator.

If you want to see the show, recommendations are strongly recommended; one of the 10 performances is already sold out.

"I've been working on ‘Elf the Musical” since the summer, so I've been singing Christmas songs and been in the Christmas spirit for several months already,” Beatty-Payne said. “I'm excited to see this lovely holiday story come to life on our LCCT stage, so we can share the joy of Buddy the Elf with Las Cruces.

“It took a while for the rights to be available and for directing big-cast musicals to feel safe again after Covid, but here we are finally putting up ‘Elf, the Musical,’ she said. “Rehearsals are coming right along! I couldn't be happier to have such a great cast and crew working together to make ‘Elf’ a wonderful holiday experience for our amazing Las Cruces community!”

In addition to Brown as Buddy, the cast includes Sage Drake as Jovie, Eric DuMond as Walter Hobbs, Shari DuMond as Emily Hobbs, Waylon Yerxa as Michael Hobbs, Teddy Aspen Sanchez as Santa Claus and the manager of Macy’s Department Store, Joshua Taulbee as Fake Santa, Mr. Greenway and David Lambert, Eleanor Cain as Deb/and a member of the ensemble, Peggy Flores  as Mrs. Claus, a salesperson, Peggy and en ensemble member, Piper Gandy as Charlie the Elf and a member of the youth ensemble, Braden Gonzalez as an elf, a policeman and an ensemble member, Elijah Guerra as an elf and an ensemble member, Astrid Johnson as an elf, a policeman, Matthews and an ensemble member, Kaitlyn Nelson as an elf, Charlotte Dennon and an ensemble member, Emma Roberts as Tiara the Elf and a member of the youth ensemble, Muriel Alyse Cain as an elf and an ensemble member and Astoria Carson as an elf, a New Yorker and a caroler. (

In addition to Beatty-Payne and the Browns, the crew includes Maryel Arias-Anderson, musical directorl; Dan Robillard, light and sound design; Audra Yerxa, microphone tech and operation; Marley Yerxa, spotlight operator; Vanessa Dabovich, pster and projection design; Debbie Kocab, stage manager; and Crystal Milvo, assistant stage manager.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 2-3, 9-10 and 16-17, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, 11 and 18.

Tickets are $17 for adults, $14 for seniors, students and military and $10 for children.

LCCT is located at 313 N. Main St. downtown.

For tickets and more information, visit www.lcctnm.org.

Call 575-523-1200.


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