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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Behind the Scenes With Libby Servais and Pioneer Theatre Company's Elf
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Behind the Scenes With Libby Servais and Pioneer Theatre Company's Elf
New York-based actress Libby Servais (Wicked, Lysistrata Jones ) stars as Jovie in the Pioneer Theatre Company's December staging of the holiday favorite Elf , based on the Hollywood hit.
64 PHOTOS
Before we start our two-show day journey together, let's figure out what your Elf name would be! Mine is Tinker Angel-Pants! What's yours?
Libby Servais
In the morning I run to the gym (Merry Fitness and a Happy New Rear)!!! Then I go back to my apartment to shower, eat and head over to the magnificent Pioneer Theatre.
Libby Servais
Ooh la la! Laura Lee is the first cast member to sign in! Pretty and punctual.
Libby Servais
I head down to my dressing room which smells like a botanical garden thanks to my family and boyfriend!
Libby Servais
Putting on our lashes and blush with dressing room pal, Tanesha (she plays Emily Hobbs).
Libby Servais
Peek-a-boo! My homegirls Laura-Lee and Allyson are pumped up for the matinee!
Libby Servais
I have my mini-tree, my tea and a polar bear sweater. Ready to go visit some of the cast!
Libby Servais
First I bump into our amazing PSM Mary and ASM Katie! Girl power!!!
Libby Servais
Hi Jaeden! To the right, Bryan and crew are setting up and testing the toys for the opening number.
Libby Servais
Look!!!! Buddy the Elf wrote my name on an Etch-A-Sketch. #blessed
Libby Servais
Also, Quinn and I LOVE our kiddies in the cast! They're magical, perfect angels.
Libby Servais
Whoop, whoop! Shout out to our director, Dan Knechtges!
Libby Servais
Hi Quinn… or as I like to call him… "Quinnifred… Quinnie the Pooh… Quinndolyn." So many nicknames. Eating his pre-show Elf food!
Libby Servais
Mirror, mirror on the wall; Who's the fairest of them all? MARTY VIDNOVIC- of course!!!!
Libby Servais
Hi Santa! Santa? Ugh… he's FaceTiming with Mrs. Claus again!
Libby Servais
Now let's spy on Lance Roberts! Shhh I might have "Elfed" his station. It's a secret though. Oops…I just ruined the secret.
Libby Servais
I LOVE LANCE!!!!! His Cheetah print shirt compliments my Polar bear sweater. We should work at a zoo!
Libby Servais
Broadway's Robbie Roby studying his Rosetta Stone… I mean going over dance captain notes.
Libby Servais
Eek! Social time is over. Time to put on my Jovie clothes! First costume: Macy's uniform.
Libby Servais
Backstage, I run into the huggable Buddy and I contemplate punching him in the throat. JK Love ya, Quinnifred.
Libby Servais
A Christmassy pic from the wings (that's my favorite mini-tree on the right).
Libby Servais
I watch Marty (Walter Hobbs) talk to God on stage before I go on.
Libby Servais
I grab my "greasy Souvlaki" props and am ready to go on my first date with Buddy!
Libby Servais
Oh look! It's the World's greatest Souvlaki vendor, Paul Aguirre.
Libby Servais
After the Rockefeller scene, I always follow Angie backstage and compliment her terrific 1990's mom jeans! No one rocks high butt pockets better than Ang.
Libby Servais
Hi Tom (our music director). "Have a great Act 2," I say.
Libby Servais
Then I pass Jaedin (Michael Hobbs) who is studying and reading Playbill.com of course!
Libby Servais
My amazing dresser, Do, zips up my Act 2 dress. Check out my pretty pit pads! Don't worry I wear a coat over the dress on stage. ;)
Libby Servais
The cast celebrates Lance's birthday in the Green Room.
Libby Servais
The pit pads get more attention from Marty and Daniel!
Libby Servais
Hark! Laundry's ready…
Libby Servais
Time to put on my Jovie hat and go sing "Never Fall in Love… with an Elf."
Libby Servais
Lady love! (Joanna Johnson, Tanesha Gary, Libby Servais, Laura Lee Anderson, Latoya Rhodes, Leah Hassett)
Libby Servais
Before I head up to the stage, Quinn serenades us.
Libby Servais
We're basically like Sonny and Cher… only not at all. :)
Libby Servais
Backstage I run into a bunch of creepy fake Santas.
Libby Servais
HOORAY! I found the real Santa!
Libby Servais
Joke: What's Santa's favorite snack? Answer: Hoho's. Get it? Shhhhh It's not that funny, I know.
Libby Servais
Marty watching the "Nobody Cares" number.
Libby Servais
I watch the fake Santas and Buddy sing "Nobody Cares" about Santa Claus every night. It makes my stomach ache from laughter.
Libby Servais
I watch from my bench that gets pushed on stage immediately after the Santa number. Then I sing my song!
Libby Servais
After the Tavern on the Green scene, I run into Broadway's Robbie Roby changing costumes! Go Robbie!
Libby Servais
Real men wear yellow tights!
Libby Servais
… and real women wear pit pads.
Libby Servais
There are just never enough pictures of Marty!
Libby Servais
Last scene with my magical snow globe prop. Sometimes I get a little teary eyed when I watch it snow onstage. It's so beautiful.
Libby Servais
That's it! The End! Bye bye!
Libby Servais
Oh wait… we have another show tonight? Cheers! Have to stay hydrated here in Salt Lake City. We drink water by the gallons.
Libby Servais
… and apparently I've grown to like Kombucha.
Libby Servais
We stop in the lobby to take a picture in the life size photo board. I want to play Buddy! Let's switch roles, Quinn!
Libby Servais
Walking back to our apartments after the first show! I get to go see my family!
Libby Servais
AND my dog child, Pearl Servais. I love my canine daughter more than I can say!!!
Libby Servais
Now, back to the theatre for the evening show. As you can see, it snowed a lot more over the break… and I wear my scarf up to my eyeballs. I don't mess around in the cold.
Libby Servais
Broadway's Robbie Roby signing in at the call board.
Libby Servais
It was an exciting day in the female dressing room because Laura Lee's MOON BOOTS arrived, Joanna got "Elfed" and little Susie started researching colleges for musical theatre.
Libby Servais
After the show, Tanesha looking elegant as usual.
Libby Servais
Sparkle, Jolly, Twinkly, Jingly.
Libby Servais
Mrs. Claus and two talented brother elves, Wally and Brigham Inkley.
Libby Servais
Our cast was blessed to share the stage with beautiful Kera from the Make-A-Wish foundation. It was a very special night.
Libby Servais
The elves helped deliver presents to Kera.
Libby Servais
Kera is the cutest elf of all! My heart exploded when she put on this hat.
Libby Servais
Here's our cast with Kera. A lot of love all around tonight.
Libby Servais
My beautiful mom, dad, sister (Emily) and myself with some of the amazing Elf cast in the lobby after the show.
Libby Servais
Thanks for taking the 2ishow day Elf tour with me. Time to walk home in the snow. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!!! Love, Libby
Libby Servais
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Based on the Hollywood hit, and directed by Dan Knechtges , the extended production runs through Dec. 28.
The show is "the charming tale of Buddy, a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. Buddy is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, he embarks on a journey to New York City with dreams to find his birth father and discover his true identity. What's an adopted elf to do when he realizes his father is on Santa's 'naughty' list and his half-brother doesn't believe that there is a Santa Claus? It's up to Buddy to save Christmas!"
Quinn VanAntwerp stars as Buddy the Elf. He is joined by Daniel Marcus as Santa Claus, Libby Servais as Jovie, Tanesha Gary as Emily, Jaedin Clark as Michael, Allyson Kaye Daniel as Deb, Martin Vidnovic as Walter Hobbs, Lance Roberts as Mr. Greenway and Paul Aguirre as Macy’s Manager.
The ensemble includes Laura Lee Anderson, Eric Lee Brotherson, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Mary Fanning Driggs, Rhett Guter, Robbie Roby , Angela Avila, Jaron Barney, Leah Hassett, William Cooper Howell, Joanna Johnson, Joel Pellini and Latoya Rhodes.
In addition, ten local youth actors comprise the ensemble of elves in Santa’s Workshop. Anson Bagley, Susie Carroll, Zoe Heiden, Abigail Howard, Brigham Inkley, Wally Inkley, Chase Preston, Abigail Scott, Maggie Scott and Olivia Smith-Driggs play those roles.
p> For more information, please visit PioneerTheatre.org .