production aired on Channel 5, after being recorded live at The Lowry. An arena tour in December 2018 stopped at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Resorts World Arena in Birmingham and Motorpoint Arena Nottingham. The tour returned in December 2019 to M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Wembley Arena and Dublin's 3 Arena. This production had three stages. The audience decorated a giant 30 foot-tall Christmas tree and took part in a giant snowball fight. The production included a flying sleigh among other stunts and effects. Enormous TV screens relayed the action and added CGI scenery. In both productions, Tam Ryan played Buddy the Elf, Kym Marsh played Jovie, and Shaun Williamson played Walter Hobbs. The cast included over 100 performers. The musical is planned to be presented in UK arenas again in December 2022 by World's Biggest Panto at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, P&J Live Arena in Aberdeen, OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff and Motorpoint Arena Nottingham. The show will also have a stint in the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, at the Opera House. Planned West End revival Elf is planned to be revived at the Dominion Theatre, with previews beginning November 14, 2022, and an official opening on November 24; it is scheduled to close on January 7, 2023. The cast includes Simon Lipkin as Buddy and Georgina Castle as Jovie. TV adaptation On December 16, 2014, NBC broadcast a stop-motion animated adaptation of the musical entitled Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas. It featured the voices of Jim Parsons as Buddy, Mark Hamill as Walter, Ed Asner reprising his film role as Santa, Garfunkel and Oates' Kate Micucci as Jovie, Rachael MacFarlane as Emily, Max Charles as Michael, Gilbert Gottfried as Mr. Greenway, and Jay Leno as the leader of the fake Santas. The screenplay was written by Andrew Horvath and Michael Jelenic, with Martin and Meehan. It contained the songs from the musical and also featured a new song titled "Freezy the Snowman". Response Critical reception Mark Kennedy of ABC News called the production "a tight, polished, expensive-looking affair that has enough jokes for adults and enough special effects for kids." In 2013, The Washington Post said the musical made the movie look "nuanced." The show in 2015 received mixed reviews from professional critics at publications such as The Guardian. The Guardian didn't much like the 2015 performance, but