Rehearsals are well underway at the Nolan Center as cast and crew members get ready for their Thanksgiving weekend stage production of “Elf: The Musical.”

Actors, musicians and stagehands currently gather three nights each week to prepare the ambitious holiday show. Co-director Haley Reeves originally aimed to assemble a company of around 30 performers, but enthusiastic community interest pushed the final numbers far beyond her early expectations.

Music teacher Tasha Morse oversees the musical direction for the production, which features extensive choral arrangements, solo performances and complex choreographed dance routines tailored for the large ensemble.

“Between the cast and stage crew, we have 47 people,” Reeves said. “When you add some of the background extras, it’s a little over 50.”

Managing such a sizable volunteer group presents logistical hurdles, particularly when coordinating schedules during busy evenings. Reeves noted that attendance has been the primary test during early preparations, though she commended the team’s commitment to the project.

“It’s important to remember this is a volunteer thing. No one is getting paid,” she said. “And everyone has their own lives and things to do. So, it’s understandable. And everyone has been good about making most of the practices.”

Reeves planned to have every actor completely “off book” by Nov. 1, meaning performers must deliver their dialogue entirely from memory without scripts. Practice sessions continue to balance stage movement, singing and choreography for each individual scene.

Based on the 2003 film, “Elf: The Musical” centers on Buddy, an orphaned human baby who crawls into Santa Claus’ sack of toys and is raised alongside elves at the North Pole. Upon discovering his true origins, Buddy travels to New York City to track down his birth father, a cynical children’s book publisher who lands on the naughty list.

Dressed in full elf attire and bursting with festive cheer, Buddy navigates corporate indifference, wins the heart of a jaded department store worker and helps his skeptical new family — and the city at large — rediscover the magic of Christmas.

“I think this is going to be a good production,” Reeves said. “Everyone is putting in so much hard work and I love the process of seeing things come together.”

Performances run Thanksgiving weekend at the Nolan Center, opening Nov. 27 at 7 p.m., followed by two showings Nov. 28 at noon and 6 p.m.

Tickets are available at the Nolan Center and online at the www.thenolancenter.org

Tickets are $25. The center can seat more than 220 people sitting on the risers for a show.