We’re not the kind of family who can just kick back on the weekends. We try because everyone needs a little bit of time to relax but we all get so antsy. So it’s no surprise that we’ve already found our way to lots of beautiful hikes all around our area of Tennessee. It’s getting cold out there now though and the holiday season is upon us, so I’m incredibly grateful that we found Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville.
Elf the Musical
Elf is one of everybody’s favorite Christmas movies, right? Well, Elf the Musical is based on that movie so the kids were thrilled to hear that we were seeing the Cumberland County Playhouse‘s rendition of it! I have to tell you that we all agreed that we enjoyed this musical even more than the movie. Chris Hallowes headlines as Buddy and we all love Will Ferrell but I’m telling you, Chris Hallowes is obviously a real human elf masquerading as a human actor playing a human elf. This actor’s smile goes ear to ear and he radiates this joy so much that even just the faces he makes made us all laugh. He sang beautifully and you could feel the entire audience fall in love with this Buddy.
While Elf the Musical is a lot like the movie, it is a bit different. Still with many of the same jokes and lots of great new ones, I felt that the moral of this show was much clearer than that of the movie. Angry, workaholic dad, Walter Hobbs (Britt Hancock) needs to focus on his family not just on Christmas but every day of the year. An important moral that I think we could all use to be reminded about from time to time! I constantly looked over to the kids to make sure they were enjoying it and my toddler was enthralled and my nine year old kept saying “AMAZING” out loud to herself.
Britt Hancock made for such an awesome Walter Hobbs too. His voice was so deep and he absolutely came off as that mad dad. Jovie (Jess Griffin) was gorgeous and I wish she sang more because she had such a pretty voice! Even the smaller roles left me wanting to see more from everyone. I bet the Macy’s Manager, Michael Ruff, is hilarious. And all of those adorable elf children, aw!
My personal favorite scene was when all of the mall Santas are sitting around a Chinese restaurant and they sing together. Their voices came together so beautifully, plus they dance but I don’t want to elaborate on that and spoil the surprise! You’ll love it! The kids adored just about every song and I know because I could hear them whispering it during the show and then singing a bunch of selections afterward. It really put them in the mood for Christmas!
The Holiday Season
I loved the spirit of Elf the Musical! The entire audience was laughing and singing along, feeling like such a happy little community. It was such a fun way to kick off the season for my family and I’d love for it to become a tradition to go see a holiday show together!
Cumberland County Playhouse has another holiday show coming up soon also: Winter Wonderettes. I feel like a ticket to one of these or any of the upcoming shows in 2020 would be such the perfect holiday gift for any loved one, whether for a family affair or date night. Hubs and I were already talking about how we absolutely have to return to see Clue and with the kids, Flat Stanley!
Family-Friendly Facility
It’s not just the cast that make a theatre, though my kids absolutely adored meeting all of the little elves. I noticed all kinds of little things that I appreciated. The entire staff was so sweet and friendly with the kids but something that set them apart from other shows I’ve been to, they offered booster seats. All of my kids ended up using the booster seats so that they could see better and it made me so happy that this was even an option.
There were concession sales in the lobby and you were allowed to bring them in so that you could snack while you watch. A lot of theatres don’t allow something like this but as a parent trying to keep little ones in their seats, I found it extremely helpful. Worried about bringing little ones to see a play or musical? Will they sit still? Can they handle it? I think your chances are a LOT better here than anywhere else!
Cumberland County Playhouse
The cast at Cumberland County Playhouse is spectacular and I really can’t wait to see more from them! People are clearly dedicating themselves to their roles and other jobs around the theatre. The stage crew is so fast and efficient, I was actually surprised at how quickly they were able to change scenes. The lobby has some vendor sales, nice decorations, and the walls are adorned with posters from many of the shows CC Playhouse has performed in the past. Some of them made me jealous. I missed Shrek?! I bet they were awesome with Shrek. It’s alright though, I’ll catch so many future shows that I’ll lose track. We’re so excited to have discovered Cumberland County Playhouse and you should check it out too!
You can buy tickets for Elf HERE.
Want to follow CC Playhouse to see upcoming titles and events?
CONNECT with Cumberland County Playhouse:
*The Quirky Mom Next Door received the above item(s) in exchange for our honest review. All opinions and experiences are our own only.
I bet the kids loved it!
Hopefully, the parents liked it as much as the kids!