The Happy Elf

The Happy Elf is a 2005 animated Christmas television special based on Harry Connick Jr.'s song of the same name. The special is narrated by Connick and stars the voices of Rob Paulsen, Carol Kane, Lewis Black, Kevin Michael Richardson and Mickey Rooney. The animation was provided by Film Roman, an IDT Entertainment company, known for animating The Simpsons. The Happy Elf originally aired on NBC on December 2, 2005.

The Happy Elf
DVD cover
Written by	Andrew Fishman Scott Landis
Directed by	John Rice
Starring	Rob Paulsen Harry Connick, Jr. Carol Kane Mickey Rooney Kevin Michael Richardson Mae Whitman Lewis Black
Narrated by	Harry Connick, Jr.
Theme music composer	Harry Connick, Jr.
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Scott D. Greenberg Sidney Clifton Natasha Abrahams Karen Bailey Ted Rogers William L. Arance Harry Connick Jr.
Editor	Yoel Frohlich
Running time	45 minutes
Production companies	HC Productions Film Roman DKP Studios IDT Entertainment
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	December 2, 2005 (2005-12-02)

Plot

Eubie is a cheerful elf who works in Santa's workshop at the North Pole. While reviewing the Naughty and Nice Lists, Eubie discovers that every child in the town of Bluesville is naughty and decides to investigate. Bluesville is a gloomy town surrounded by cliffs, where sunlight is scarce and the people are generally unhappy. Eubie converses with the mayor, who shares that Bluesville produces non-flammable coal and agrees to put up a Christmas tree in the town square if Eubie can find a new purpose for the coal.

Eubie meets a girl named Molly, who takes him to a Smile League Of Bluesville (SLOB) meeting. Molly dismisses Eubie's ideas, leading him to think of a new plan, but he suddenly finds himself transported back to the North Pole. As punishment for breaking the rules, Santa takes away Eubie's hat, leaving him without his magic. With encouragement from his friend Gilda, Eubie returns to Bluesville wearing her hat and polishes the cliffs surrounding the town. Unfortunately, their efforts are discovered when their mutual friend Derek becomes suspicious and informs a higher authority.

After finishing their punishment of cleaning the workshop, Eubie and Gilda receive a sincere apology from Derek, who is wracked with guilt. To make amends, Derek helps Eubie fulfill his goal of making Bluesville a happier place. When the sun next shines on the town, the polish makes the cliffs sparkle, and joy abounds. Molly presents a shining piece of coal to the mayor, leading to a celebration and the establishment of a tree in the town square. In recognition of their good deeds, Santa chooses Eubie, Gilda, and Derek to be his sleigh crew, and Bluesville is renamed Joyville.

Cast

• Rob Paulsen as Eubie
• Harry Connick Jr. as Lil' Farley
• Carol Kane as Gilda
• Mickey Rooney as Santa Claus
• Kevin Michael Richardson as Derek, Tucker, Mayor, Toady
• Mae Whitman as Molly
• Lewis Black as Norbert
• Candi Milo as Curtis
• Rory Thost and Liliana Mumy as Brother and Sister

Soundtrack

Some DVDs come with a free soundtrack:

1. "The Happy Elf" - 03:43 - vocal track, sung by Harry Connick, Jr.
2. "Smile on Christmas Day" - 01:00 - vocal track, sung by Rob Paulsen
3. "Bluesville" - 01:34 - vocal track, sung by Kevin Michael Richardson
4. "Lil' Farley's 'Happy Elf'" - 00:22
5. "Old Santa Claus" - 02:25
6. "Eubie and Friends Pole Adventure" - 00:43
7. "Gingerbread House Test" - 00:46
8. "Eubie's Toy Car Test" - 00:36
9. "Coffee Shop Theme" - 00:56
10. "Department of Naughty and Nice" - 01:18
11. "Norbert's Orders" - 00:33
12. "Eubie's Naughty & Nice Tally" - 02:15
13. "Eubie Lands in Bluesville" - 00:59
14. "Bluesville Street Theme" - 01:31
15. "Molly and Friends Coal Toss" - 02:09
16. "Down Town Theme" - 01:05
17. "S.L.O.B. Meeting" - 01:27
18. "'Try'" - 01:33
19. "Molly and Gang's Christmas Mission" - 02:40
20. "Santa's Elves Wrap Party" - 00:38
21. "Santa Getting Ready for Xmas" - 00:26
22. "Mayor Gives the Town a Tree" - 01:03
23. "'Bluesville' Reprise" - 01:21
24. "Lil' Farley's 'Happy Elf' Reprise" - 01:05
25. "'Happy Elf' Wrap" - 00:19

The official reference recording for the live theatrical show was recorded in Scranton, PA in partnership with the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple in 2013.

Stage adaptation

The holiday special has been adapted into a full-length stage musical. Andrew Fishman has reworked the book, with music and lyrics by Connick who has added five new songs for the musical, for example "That Magic Hat". The show premiered at Coterie Theatre at Crown Center in Kansas City, Missouri on November 13, 2007 to generally positive reviews. It received a fully produced workshop at the Adventure Theatre, at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College, Rockville, Maryland, from November 12–28, 2010, with a cast that features Michael Rupert. In 2012 The Happy Elf was reworked by Connick and on December 1 premiered in a version prepared for publication in Bethlehem, PA at the Charles Brown Ice House under the direction of Michael Melcher, Executive Director.

The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple, in Scranton, Pennsylvania produced and premiered the final illustrative staging of the musical on December 19, 2014 for a two-week run prior to its publication.

References

http://articles.mcall.com/2012-11-30/entertainment/mc-harry-connick-pennsylvania-youth-theater-bethle-20121129_1_happy-elf-harry-connick-cool-idea

External links

• Official website at the Wayback Machine (archived July 17, 2011)
• The Happy Elf at IMDb
• The Morning Call
• http://www.scrantonculturalcenter.org/happyelf/ Archived 2014-12-13 at the Wayback Machine