ACE Presents Glimpse of First 'Elf Jr.' Musical

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 18, 2013) — The University of Kentucky Academy for Creative Excellence (ACE) is proud to present the pilot performance of "Elf Jr." for iTheatrics and Music Theatre International (MTI). The musical, based on the popular holiday movie, will take the stage for six performances Dec. 19-21, at Lexington Christian Academy.

In "Elf Jr.," audiences follow Buddy the Elf on his journey from the North Pole to New York City to find his human father, Walter Hobbs. Buddy discovers that a family is the best Christmas gift he could ever receive, and he spreads plenty of cheer along the way.

Based on the Warner Brothers movie starring Will Ferrell and the original Broadway musical "Elf," ACE will present the first-ever glimpse of the junior script and score for live audiences in the Bluegrass. A preparatory department of UK Opera Theatre, ACE was selected for the first-ever pilot of a workshop of "Elf Jr." by iTheatrics, an educational theater company based in New York City which produces junior versions of Broadway musicals for MTI, one of the world's major dramatic licensing agencies. 

"Elf Jr." will enchant audiences beginning at 2 and 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19-21. Tickets for this show are $12 for children, and $15 for general admission. All students are eligible for discounted tickets of $10 at the Thursday and Friday "Schools' Out" matinee performances. To purchase tickets in advance, call 859-257-TICS (8427). Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

UK Opera Theatre is part of the UK School of Music at the UK College of Fine Arts. The School of Music has garnered national recognition for high-caliber education in opera, choral and instrumental music performance, as well as music education, composition, and theory and music history.