Special Reports

The Stars of Elf at Paper Mill Playhouse Channel Their Inner Buddy

The actors dish about Santa memories, food combos, and Christmas carols that rank at the top of their Christmas lists.

Will Ferrell enjoying his sweet spaghetti as Buddy the elf in the 2003 holiday film Elf. The stars of Elf the Musical at Paper Mill Playhouse have their own ideas of delicious food pairings.
Will Ferrell enjoying his sweet spaghetti as Buddy the Elf in the 2003 holiday film Elf. The stars of Elf the Musical at Paper Mill Playhouse suggest their own delicious food pairings.

Elf the Musical is now ringing in the holiday season at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse. Will Ferrell launched the holiday staple in 2003 as the film's original Buddy — an oversized elf with an indelible love of Christmas, Santa, and the hotly debated syrup-spaghetti combo. In honor of that Yuletide tradition, TheaterMania asked the Paper Mill cast a few questions about their own holiday memories, customs, and the food pairing they wouldn't dare serve to company.


James Moye
James Moye (Buddy the Elf)
(© David Gordon)

What is the best argument your parents gave you that Santa is real?
I never needed any persuading. I was always in bed by seven p.m. on Christmas Eve, because I was a true believer! I never wanted Santa to miss my house.

In the musical, Buddy loves to put maple syrup on his spaghetti. What is your favorite unconventional food combination?
I think the one that has gotten the most attention from others is when I put the crumbs at the bottom of the bag of corn chips into a bowl, pour salsa over it, and eat it with a spoon like cereal. The combo isn't unconventional, but the method has raised a few eyebrows.

What is the one Christmas song you're most likely to play in August?
"Let it Snow"! When you're in an un-air-conditioned subway, that one always runs through my mind.


Heidi Blickenstaff
Heidi Blickenstaff (Emily Hobbs)
(© David Gordon)

What is the best argument your parents gave you that Santa is real?
My parents did a fine job eating the Christmas cookies and drinking the milk my brother and I left out for Santa. I'm sure that was a huge sacrifice they made for their sleeping children…

In the musical, Buddy loves to put maple syrup on his spaghetti. What is your favorite unconventional food combination?
I'm pretty boring, but I will take this opportunity to throw my mother under the sleigh and tell everyone that she still, to this day, occasionally makes herself a peanut butter and MAYONNAISE sandwich.

What is the one Christmas song you're most likely to play in August?
Hmmmm…I'm gonna say it's a straight-up tie between "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "White Christmas." I'm getting so excited to watch those holiday movies! That's one of my favorite things about the holidays!


Robert Cuccioli
Robert Cuccioli (Walter Hobbs)
(© David Gordon)

What is the best argument your parents gave you that Santa is real?
Could we afford all this stuff?

In the musical, Buddy loves to put maple syrup on his spaghetti. What is your favorite unconventional food combination?
As a child I made potato-chip-and-mayonnaise sandwiches. My tastes have matured since then and I've added roast beef!

What is the one Christmas song you're most likely to play in August?
"Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer."


Kate Fahrner
Kate Fahrner (Jovie)
(© David Gordon)

What is the best argument your parents gave you that Santa is real?
I remember questioning Santa when I was younger because I noticed the wrapping paper was the same and the tags were written in my mom's handwriting. When I asked her about it she didn't flinch and told me Santa drops off the presents unwrapped, which is why she stays up so late so she can wrap and tag them when he drops them off. So smart!

In the musical, Buddy loves to put maple syrup on his spaghetti. What is your favorite unconventional food combination?
Favorite unconventional food combo would have to be peanut-butter-and-mayo sandwiches. Keeping them minimal is super yummy, but if you want added crunch you can put iceberg lettuce or Doritos in there!

What is the one Christmas song you're most likely to play in August?
There are no Christmas songs in August! I am one of those who doesn't want Christmas to appear until Thanksgiving is over.


Paul C. Vogt
Paul C. Vogt (Santa Claus)
(© David Gordon)

What is the best argument your parents gave you that Santa is real?
Well there were a lot of us in the family. Ten kids so we had to line up at the top of the stairs till our parents told us we could come down. When we did there was an amazing tree with tons of presents that were not there when we went to bed. My older brothers and sisters helped my parents by acting as surprised as we were…also there were muddy reindeer footprints on the card we left for Santa. Never bothered to look at the dog and notice he was always cleaning his muddy paws on Christmas morning.

In the musical, Buddy loves to put maple syrup on his spaghetti. What is your favorite unconventional food combination?
I do oddly enough love to take orange-colored cheese popcorn…not the white healthy stuff…the deeeelicious orange toxic-cheese popcorn and shove it in a vanilla-ice-cream sandwich…just wedge the popcorn into the sides so it is all mixed in. Mmmmmmmmmm. That is a good mix.

What is the one Christmas song you're most likely to play in August?
I do enjoy "Oh Holy Night." Probably my favorite, sung by anyone really. The song starts out sweet and reflective then builds to a passionate, emotion-filled ending. So good any time of the year.

James Moye as Buddy the Elf with the cast of the musical Elf at Paper Mill Playhouse.
James Moye as Buddy the Elf with the cast of the musical Elf at Paper Mill Playhouse.
(© Matthew Murphy)

Featured In This Story

Elf

Closed: January 4, 2015