Sean Astin To Make Broadway Debut As Santa In ‘Elf The Musical’ Revival

Actor Sean Astin will make his Broadway debut this holiday season as Santa in the revival of Elf The Musical, producers announced today.

Astin, best known for his roles in the original Lord of the Rings films and more recently Stranger Things and The Conners, will costar opposite Grey Henson (Mean Girls, Shucked) who will play Buddy the Elf.

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Elf The Musical, returning to Broadway for the first time in more than a decade, begins previews at the Marquis Theatre on Saturday, November 9, with an official opening on Sunday, November 17. The limited engagement runs through Saturday, January 4, 2025.

“It has been a lifelong dream to be on Broadway and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the season than by spreading Christmas Cheer as Santa Claus,” Astin said in a statement. “I’ve been in deep preparation for this role since I was five years old. Now my kids can say ‘Santa, I know him!’”

The Broadway return follows two record-breaking holiday seasons in London’s West End in 2022 and 2023. Elf, based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, features a book by Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone, Smash, Boop! The Musical), with songs by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Prom, The Wedding Singer).

Philip Wm. McKinley directs the revival.

Following its 2010-2011 original Broadway run, Elf returned for a 2012-2013 holiday run with a revised book. Casey Nicholaw directed both of those engagements.

Astin rose to fame as Mikey Walsh in 1985’s The Goonies, and starred as the title character in 1993’s Rudy. He played Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Doug Whitmore in 50 First Dates, and Bob Newby in Stranger Things. He currently plays Tyler, Becky’s boyfriend on ABC’s The Conners.

Elf The Musical is produced on Broadway by Temple Live Entertainment North America and Crossroads Live North America. Mark Kaufman serves as Creative Consultant for Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.

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