Somehow along the way, I never saw the movie “Elf,” the 2003 “instant classic” starring Will Ferrell. Whenever I confess my dark secret, people have been known to gasp. Out loud. I don’t have anything against the movie, or even a reason I haven’t taken the 97 minutes IMDB tells me it runs, to watch it. I just…haven’t.

However, after talking with Nicole Capri, who is directing the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s production of “Elf,” I’ll be buying tickets for my family to see the musical production this month.

Capri can’t stifle her excitement about the “dream team” she’s assembled to produce the musical. “From the set designers to costume designers to lighting artists to the actors on stage, this is the perfect group of people,” the Resident Director and Director of Education for The Rep says.

The dream team also includes 13 young, local actors, who are alumni of The Rep’s theater training program. “Every one of them is a triple threat: They sing, act and dance,” she says.

Cast in the lead as Buddy the Elf is Ethan Paulini of New York. Regulars at The Rep will remember Paulini from previous productions, including “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.” He’s not only been onstage in Little Rock, he’s also been a great contact for central Arkansas students who relocate to the Big Apple to make their way in acting. Capri says Paulini has helped Arkansans with auditions, acting classes and finding places to live.

“I knew the person who played Buddy would set the entire tone for this show,” Capri says. “He had to be infectiously fun and positive. So I cast Ethan six months ago.”

Fans of the movie will not be disappointed by the live stage musical, she adds. The musical has the same plot and story line: Buddy leaves the North Pole for New York City, meets his dad, gets a job at Macy’s, and even ice skates in Central Park.

Capri gets almost giddy when she talks about the man cast as Santa. “When he walked into the room, I just thought how much he looked like my childhood vision of Santa. And then he was so funny. He had all of us laughing to tears. He’s just perfect.”

Capri said families can bring children with no worries about what they’ll see. “It’s as G-rated family fun as you can get. No,” she corrects herself. “It’s Rated F, for fun!”

And fun is definitely a priority for this show. “You know, my favorite thing to do is watch the audience watch the show, especially the kids. When you watch kids watch a movie, they lean back. They get comfortable. When you watch kids watch a live stage production, they sit on the edge of their seats. They are fully engaged in what’s happening in front of them. It’s simply magic.”

Underneath the fun that audiences experience, there is the serious business of creating that magic each holiday season: “The thing about live theater is that each show is unique,” Capri says. “Every night, you put the same people on the same stage doing the same show, and some magic happens that’s never happened before or will again. So the people who work in this genuinely enjoy living in the moment.”

Capri notes she doesn’t take it lightly that many in the cast and production have chosen to be away from their families during Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. That’s why it’s so important to her that there is a strong family atmosphere, both within The Rep and in the audience.

“This is the ultimate family show of the year,” she says. “You’ll see families in the audience and a makeshift family on and behind stage. The Rep really is amazing during the holidays.”

“Elf” plays at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre Dec. 3-Jan. 4. Join Little Rock Family for a special matinee performance on Dec. 6! Before the show, families can enjoy holiday crafts and giveaways, as well as sweets from Loblolly Creamery. Activities are included with show admission. Lobby activities begin at 1 p.m.; show starts at 2 p.m. For tickets: TheRep.org.