If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. Their fee is free unless they win. For more information go to ForThePeople.com/waitinthewings
I only watch "It's A wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" during the Christmas holidays. Sad to see so much hard work go down the drain. Not a fan of Elf the movie.
So if Patrick Page had a nickel for every time he played an antagonist in a musical with green skin, he’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.
Broadway isn't an industry well designed for holiday shows maybe, but community theater is another story. Execs get too fixated on Broadway runs, ignoring how theaters all over the country (and world) are looking to put on a holiday show every December. You always do a good job pointing out that Broadway =\= all musical theater. I just saw Elf at my local community theater, and it was a pretty good production and sold out night after night.
I really appreciated you standing up for movie adaptations. If done right they van be amazing (Groundhog Day is genuinely my favorite musical) and while i think critics serve an important role, theater critics seem to be unnecessarily nasty, especially towards lighter and family oriented musicals.
The SpongeBob musical was brilliant as well. It deserves more credit for how well the collaborative songwriting came out, and how accurate the costume design was.
I thought Bob Martin had terrific taste and an excellent sense of humor before, but the framed picture of Tina Belcher behind him showed me he has *impeccable* taste and a *supreme* sense of humor.
My local community theater latched onto A Christmas Story The Musical (my beloved), so I wasn't even aware that this musical existed! Going to have to track down the cast recording
My sister is a major Elf fan and we saw the original production on Christmas Day that year… it was crazy to see the city so empty. This is the only musical I’ve seen twice- I saw it again a few years later! Great show!
I got to see a community theatre production this December! It was so great! I happened to sit next to some friends of the actor who played Buddy and they were so happy to see him up there!
I have a real soft spot for Elf the Musical, and this is (once again) a really interesting and comprehensive look into the history of its production that was fascinating to listen to. That said I'm surprised Buddy's Musical Christmas, the stop motion animated special made by NBC a few years back, didn't get a shout out, or has any footage used for examples. As it uses shortened versions of some of the hits from this soundtrack for it's musical numbers. And I can't think of many other times that's happened. Either way, great vid! As always! You also couldn't have picked a better line to end on. Too perfect! Merry Christmas lowercase buddy 🎄🎶
I'm going to be honest, when I saw a local production of Elf the musical, I loathed it. Elf the movie isn't perfect, but over the years, I've found it resonates with me as a neurodivergent individual. The production I saw made me deeply uncomfortable, because in a very subtle way, the blame for Walter's job loss was shifted from his own flaws catching up to him, to buddy shredding an important document because he was a giant man child. In the movie, Buddy is different and naive, but this production really leaned into treating him like he was different and thus incompetent. Maybe other shows are better, but that was my experience, and I left the theater feeling really gross. I think what they missed in the production I saw was that Buddy requires balance. He's different and yes, those differences can have drawbacks, but he has his own skills and personality. What they did instead was just water him down to just the slapstick, which came across as pretty uncomfortable at points
Elf was the first musical I did and the reason I discovered my love of musicals. I also did drowsy chaperone last year which I had never heard of before that. The guy that played buddy in our show was the best man in drowsy chaperone and he was great in both roles (and our man in the chair was hilarious but unfortunately he graduated last year)
i saw elf the musical, but not on broadway. a college? did an awesome and hilarious production of it. some of the actors would be in the section between the audience seats
Lol I was in a production of Elf the musical in high school. I was the perfume seller. It was so weird but I kinda loved being in it. The music was surprisingly catchy too. And I'm not a fan of the Elf movie so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed being in the musical lol
I saw it during it's first of the two runs and had no idea they rewrote some of it for the second run and beyond. Not I'm VERY interested to revisit because yeah... it was okay for a holiday show but I could understand the writer wanting to work out some of the kinks in it after the fact. More writers should not be afraid to keep working on something even after it closes for future runs.
Wow I just LOVE these videos. I never knew about this musical and even though it doesn’t come back to broadway every year, it’s still a success after hearing this story.
You officially covered both of the show my colleges theatres did last semester, elf and American psycho, and I loved watching both cause for a while I thought they were both cash grab shows that rode off the success of their names
They televised a UK production of this a few years ago over here. It just proved how crucial the casting is. Buddy came across terribly in it. It just shows the skill of Will Ferrell.
It might not sound like the type of musical I would like, but I am glad the interviews you were able to set up showed there was a lot of thought and heart put behind what some people would immediately disregard as only a cash grab. Glad it still has legs in community/ regional theatre though casting Buddy must be so crucial to not be absolutely annoying for those not already in peak Christmas spirit.
Can you do one about how Madison Square Garden had a timing where they had residential seasonal shows each year...... A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL (1993-2003) and THE WIZARD OF OZ (1997-1999)?!!
I was introduced to this musical from a filmed production on TV and they had this amazing scene where Santa's sleigh flew into the air! I loved it so much that I booked tickets to see it in Glasgow but they did not get Santa's sleigh to fly - instead, it just drove along the inner circle of the audience. I felt very let down - it was the first time where I felt the televised version was better than we went to see with my own eyes!
Honorable mention, Meredith Wilson's 1963 musical "Here's Love," which is based on "Miracle on 34th Street." A local community theater group did it when I was a kid, but I never hear anyone talk about it. Even the cast album cover wouldn't make you assume it was a Christmas show.
"One of the greatest Christmas movies of all time & occupies countless television screens every winter" excuse me sir! also in summer because of us down here in the southern hemisphere 😜😂
I discovered this show when I was cast as buddy the elf. This show is SEVERELY underrated. One of the absolute best if not the best holiday musical around.
i actually did this show during the summer of 2019. that’s right. the summer. we wore coats on a stage with very hot lights and no air conditioning and 100 degree heat. it was really hot but i loved every second of it. also, i saw the papermill playhouse version a very long time ago, but i don’t really remember it all that much so i can’t really say anything about it.
This made me feel like I watched a movie but I got recommended this after tons of research because I was playing Walter in my drama club today as we have been planning the musical for about a month now and we did the jr version but it still was absolutely amazing I loved performing it and it will have a place in my heart now
Morgan & morgan saying their there to help the common man is just so hilarious xD Your better off having the gecko from geicko defend you, at least they wont claim your new born son and your soul after services rendered xD
I saw a preview of 'The Grinch' and boy it was a mess. There was a part where they had a sing-along for the audience and the actor messed-up the sing-along cards and then got visibly and vocally mad at the audience for singing the song anyways. It was the worst thing I saw on stage honestly but I didn't have the heart to tell my grandma because she treated us and she liked it lol
I tend to have a soft spot for non-musical movie-based musicals that I've heard quite a few people dismiss as cash grabs. Shrek the Musical and this are two examples. In fact, for the last few years, I've been wanting to direct my own stage show and given my love of Christmas (particularly the decorations) I have decided that I'd like to make things sparklejollytwinklejingly!
I really remember there being a stop motion style musical elf that I watched on TV I'm like 2015. Buddy was played by the guy that plays Sheldon on Big bang theory. Anyone remember that or was it just a fever dream I had?
Ironically, my community theater would have been performing Elf right now, except for the fact that they couldn't find a vacant set to use... quite a familiar moment for me.
Hi Brendon! Fellow creative named Harper here. Specifically a composer. I love how much research and detail you put in every single video you release. Do you have a business email I can reach out to you from to discuss working on a potential project(s)
I just saw it on the tenth. I saw the current north American tour. I thought it was great for what it is; the movie with the musical numbers. The act two opener of a my personal favorite song
No it doesn’t distract from the holiday spirit Christmas is part singing carols is part of the Christmas spirit. In the movie Buddy gets his brother raise the Christmas spirit his brother gets his father to sing with the crowd, His coworker becomes part of the family at the end of the movie. The clips you picked to show depict Christmas spirit so you just made your point moot.
If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. Their fee is free unless they win. For more information go to ForThePeople.com/waitinthewings
Ho
Edit I meant to say hi
I only watch "It's A wonderful Life" and "Miracle on 34th Street" during the Christmas holidays. Sad to see so much hard work go down the drain. Not a fan of Elf the movie.
RIP James Cann.
What a strange ad
So if Patrick Page had a nickel for every time he played an antagonist in a musical with green skin, he’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice.
An S-tier Phineas and Ferb reference.
He really needs to do a concert where he can do antiheroes Elphaba and Shrek.
you win the comments frfr
Broadway isn't an industry well designed for holiday shows maybe, but community theater is another story. Execs get too fixated on Broadway runs, ignoring how theaters all over the country (and world) are looking to put on a holiday show every December.
You always do a good job pointing out that Broadway =\= all musical theater.
I just saw Elf at my local community theater, and it was a pretty good production and sold out night after night.
When I saw Percy Jackson on Broadway, my first thought was "this would work really well as a community theater or school production."
When did you see it?
I CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE INTERVIEWS YOU GOT FOT THIS!!! great work as per usual!
Running around Broadway dressed as an elf just for an ad for a law firm is dedication I can get behind.
It really shows, that Musicals dont have to "Win" on broadway to get recognition and be loved in other theaters around the world
I really appreciated you standing up for movie adaptations. If done right they van be amazing (Groundhog Day is genuinely my favorite musical) and while i think critics serve an important role, theater critics seem to be unnecessarily nasty, especially towards lighter and family oriented musicals.
God groundhogs day is so underrated I love that show too
The SpongeBob musical was brilliant as well. It deserves more credit for how well the collaborative songwriting came out, and how accurate the costume design was.
I thought Bob Martin had terrific taste and an excellent sense of humor before, but the framed picture of Tina Belcher behind him showed me he has *impeccable* taste and a *supreme* sense of humor.
Loved it! I can’t believe who you’re getting to interview on this show - you’re making it big on Broadway!
"Beth might not be right for the role..." *cuts to Beth, who has a ridiculously similar vibe to Mary Steenburgen*
I saw this show on tour in 2017 with my mom and we both loved it! My theater company is doing Elf next year and I can’t wait to do it!
Somehow each of your videos step up the interviewees every time! Every time a new interview pops up my mouth drops
I love these videos! I can tell you truly care about your topics! You deserve more subscribers man! Keep up the great work
My local community theater latched onto A Christmas Story The Musical (my beloved), so I wasn't even aware that this musical existed! Going to have to track down the cast recording
This is a great video! I love all the interviews with the creative team.
My sister is a major Elf fan and we saw the original production on Christmas Day that year… it was crazy to see the city so empty. This is the only musical I’ve seen twice- I saw it again a few years later! Great show!
I got to see a community theatre production this December! It was so great! I happened to sit next to some friends of the actor who played Buddy and they were so happy to see him up there!
I have a real soft spot for Elf the Musical, and this is (once again) a really interesting and comprehensive look into the history of its production that was fascinating to listen to.
That said I'm surprised Buddy's Musical Christmas, the stop motion animated special made by NBC a few years back, didn't get a shout out, or has any footage used for examples. As it uses shortened versions of some of the hits from this soundtrack for it's musical numbers. And I can't think of many other times that's happened.
Either way, great vid! As always! You also couldn't have picked a better line to end on. Too perfect! Merry Christmas lowercase buddy
🎄🎶
This show is a personal guilty pleasure! It’s just such a feel good sweet show
....is that a portrait of Tina from Bob's Burgers?
I'm going to be honest, when I saw a local production of Elf the musical, I loathed it. Elf the movie isn't perfect, but over the years, I've found it resonates with me as a neurodivergent individual. The production I saw made me deeply uncomfortable, because in a very subtle way, the blame for Walter's job loss was shifted from his own flaws catching up to him, to buddy shredding an important document because he was a giant man child. In the movie, Buddy is different and naive, but this production really leaned into treating him like he was different and thus incompetent. Maybe other shows are better, but that was my experience, and I left the theater feeling really gross.
I think what they missed in the production I saw was that Buddy requires balance. He's different and yes, those differences can have drawbacks, but he has his own skills and personality. What they did instead was just water him down to just the slapstick, which came across as pretty uncomfortable at points
The sponsor of the video might be the most unintentionally funny thing Ive ever seen.
Elf was the first musical I did and the reason I discovered my love of musicals. I also did drowsy chaperone last year which I had never heard of before that. The guy that played buddy in our show was the best man in drowsy chaperone and he was great in both roles (and our man in the chair was hilarious but unfortunately he graduated last year)
i saw elf the musical, but not on broadway. a college? did an awesome and hilarious production of it. some of the actors would be in the section between the audience seats
Saw a small local production of this last year and it was super fun! It was my first musical
Lol I was in a production of Elf the musical in high school. I was the perfume seller. It was so weird but I kinda loved being in it. The music was surprisingly catchy too. And I'm not a fan of the Elf movie so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed being in the musical lol
The plate detail was so touching
I saw it during it's first of the two runs and had no idea they rewrote some of it for the second run and beyond. Not I'm VERY interested to revisit because yeah... it was okay for a holiday show but I could understand the writer wanting to work out some of the kinks in it after the fact. More writers should not be afraid to keep working on something even after it closes for future runs.
Wow I just LOVE these videos. I never knew about this musical and even though it doesn’t come back to broadway every year, it’s still a success after hearing this story.
I listened to Elf the musical soundtrack and I still love this soundtrack so much
There’s also a pro-shot of the UK Tour that was made for British TV, I think it’s available on RUclips as well.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Great video as always.
The gift given to the candy was classy and thoughtful
It didn't flop, it's not sustainable for Broadway but obviously it's gonna outlive bigger budget shows around the world.
You officially covered both of the show my colleges theatres did last semester, elf and American psycho, and I loved watching both cause for a while I thought they were both cash grab shows that rode off the success of their names
They televised a UK production of this a few years ago over here. It just proved how crucial the casting is. Buddy came across terribly in it. It just shows the skill of Will Ferrell.
Last weekend I finished a production of elf and seeing this has made my day
It might not sound like the type of musical I would like, but I am glad the interviews you were able to set up showed there was a lot of thought and heart put behind what some people would immediately disregard as only a cash grab.
Glad it still has legs in community/ regional theatre though casting Buddy must be so crucial to not be absolutely annoying for those not already in peak Christmas spirit.
Can you do one about how Madison Square Garden had a timing where they had residential seasonal shows each year...... A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL (1993-2003) and THE WIZARD OF OZ (1997-1999)?!!
Morgan & Morgan was a jump scare I'll be honest
I was introduced to this musical from a filmed production on TV and they had this amazing scene where Santa's sleigh flew into the air! I loved it so much that I booked tickets to see it in Glasgow but they did not get Santa's sleigh to fly - instead, it just drove along the inner circle of the audience. I felt very let down - it was the first time where I felt the televised version was better than we went to see with my own eyes!
Honorable mention, Meredith Wilson's 1963 musical "Here's Love," which is based on "Miracle on 34th Street." A local community theater group did it when I was a kid, but I never hear anyone talk about it. Even the cast album cover wouldn't make you assume it was a Christmas show.
I was hoping someone would bring this up! I would love to see a production of Here’s Love to see if the book is better than the somewhat weak score.
9:15 YOU ACTUALLY SPOKE TO CASEY NICHOLAW christ
Great video! I’ve known about the musical adaptation but never looked into it or watched it! I had no idea how star studded the cast was!
Elf is those Hoilday Movies that makes you feel good. That what makes it work. As a Broadway Show, it looks cool.
me over here waiting in the wings for waiting in the wings videos to pop up in my recommended more often
Seeing Gary beach at 8:52 made me scream because he’s my favorite
Hey does anyone know why coffee was changed to souvlaki???
whenever i see a witw video i go "wait?! that HAPPENED?!"
You should do a documentary on Deaf West Spring Awakening!
"One of the greatest Christmas movies of all time & occupies countless television screens every winter" excuse me sir! also in summer because of us down here in the southern hemisphere 😜😂
I discovered this show when I was cast as buddy the elf. This show is SEVERELY underrated. One of the absolute best if not the best holiday musical around.
i actually did this show during the summer of 2019. that’s right. the summer. we wore coats on a stage with very hot lights and no air conditioning and 100 degree heat. it was really hot but i loved every second of it. also, i saw the papermill playhouse version a very long time ago, but i don’t really remember it all that much so i can’t really say anything about it.
Omg this reminds me, I'd love for you to cover Lestat!!!!
NEVER KNEW ABOUT THIS MUSICAL. I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS SO MUCH CUZ I LEARN SO MUCH
Completely off topic but in the Hairspray clip I was like is that Shuester lol so looked it up and yep
I'm sorry I haven't even watched the full video yet but the fact that Morgan & Morgan is sponsoring RUclips videos now is just truly crazy omg 1:55
I’ve seen a few productions this musical. One production my Cousin played Buddy and my sister played Charolette Dennon the news reporter
This made me feel like I watched a movie but I got recommended this after tons of research because I was playing Walter in my drama club today as we have been planning the musical for about a month now and we did the jr version but it still was absolutely amazing I loved performing it and it will have a place in my heart now
this literally choked me up a little why lol, witw videos are so well made
Morgan & morgan saying their there to help the common man is just so hilarious xD
Your better off having the gecko from geicko defend you, at least they wont claim your new born son and your soul after services rendered xD
26:08 this person didn't like it because it wasn't a movie and buddy didn't look like he wanted him too.
Me, who only watches your videos for mentions of Lestat and its cast: "May I have some more, sir?" (Or maybe "I Want More!" is more on brand)
Can you make an avenue a video? I always wanted to know how it was made!
I saw a preview of 'The Grinch' and boy it was a mess. There was a part where they had a sing-along for the audience and the actor messed-up the sing-along cards and then got visibly and vocally mad at the audience for singing the song anyways. It was the worst thing I saw on stage honestly but I didn't have the heart to tell my grandma because she treated us and she liked it lol
I tend to have a soft spot for non-musical movie-based musicals that I've heard quite a few people dismiss as cash grabs. Shrek the Musical and this are two examples. In fact, for the last few years, I've been wanting to direct my own stage show and given my love of Christmas (particularly the decorations) I have decided that I'd like to make things sparklejollytwinklejingly!
Elf was the first musical I was ever in (I was the Macy’s Manager) so it definitely has a special place in my heart
I hope they make a live telecast of Elf by NBC or Fox
The puns, they cause physical pain. xD
❤️🥺 exactly what I needed to see
i remember going to see the grinch musical in 2006/2007 . I got to go to for free when i was kid. Perks of growing up in NYC tehe .
I really remember there being a stop motion style musical elf that I watched on TV I'm like 2015. Buddy was played by the guy that plays Sheldon on Big bang theory. Anyone remember that or was it just a fever dream I had?
I love Elf the musical
i found out there was an Almost Famous musical from this video! i love the film and i would love you to do a video on the musical:)
What a ride! I've been a big fan of Elf the movie since I was about 6, but I've never seen the musical! Might like to now though
opening this show this weekend 🙈
I WISH BUDDY HAD BEEN CHRISTIAN BORLE LMAOOO 💔💔💔 WE LOST
Wait theres a broadway version of the grinch?
Yo id love to watch a video on that. Didnt even know that existed xD
Merry Chrysler
Ironically, my community theater would have been performing Elf right now, except for the fact that they couldn't find a vacant set to use... quite a familiar moment for me.
remember when plays were like high end bougie stuff? Now we make musicals about fuckin anything even when it only vaguely had one song in it
Hi Brendon! Fellow creative named Harper here. Specifically a composer. I love how much research and detail you put in every single video you release. Do you have a business email I can reach out to you from to discuss working on a potential project(s)
You mean it's a bigger Christmas classic than home alone?
I just saw it on the tenth. I saw the current north American tour. I thought it was great for what it is; the movie with the musical numbers. The act two opener of a my personal favorite song
Now elf is back on broadway this year WOOP
My good sir you can't just mention the Lestat musical offhand like it's nothing
Should've saw that pun coming...😜
I remember the first summer ELF was on Broadway and I didn't think much of it. Now she's here to stay. Also, Elf is a flop but it's FLOPULOUS!
omg HOW did you get to interview so many broadway legends???? Who are you???
I love the drowsy chaperone so this was a lovely overlap for me
Can’t wait
❤️❤️🎄
YOU GOT MOGAN AND MORGAN TO SPONSOR?!
8:11: TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️
13:31 "two comedians" *shows jimmy kimmel*
Got me there, I guess.
Are you gonna do a review of the Matilda: The Musical movie? I really loved it and think it’s one of the best movie musicals I’ve seen in a while.
No it doesn’t distract from the holiday spirit Christmas is part singing carols is part of the Christmas spirit. In the movie Buddy gets his brother raise the Christmas spirit his brother gets his father to sing with the crowd, His coworker becomes part of the family at the end of the movie. The clips you picked to show depict Christmas spirit so you just made your point moot.
Welp it’s time for Elf 3.0 2024!
7:10 mentioning musicals with Christmas elements and not including RENT is a crime, sir
Elf was able to make it to a socttish mock exam in the same question with wicked so it made it