Michael Strahan makes his debut on another type of field; the Broadway stage. The co-host of “Live with Kelly and Michael” made three short appearances at Wednesday’s matinee of “Elf” that made him have a new found respect for Broadway performers.

“I was surprised at how nervous you get and the adrenaline and that feedback from the audience — it really was an amazing thing,” Strahan said after the show. “To see these performers who do it every day — eight or nine times a week — is really amazing. I take my hat off to them.”

The musical is adapted from the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell about Buddy, a human raised in the North Pole who travels to New York in search of his parents.

Strahan brought the film to light as he played both a police officer and Salvation Army Santa in the first act. He later came out as himself in a scene with the real Santa in the second act.

In preparation for the show, the former football player, rehearsed for an hour in the morning with stage managers and associate director Casey Hushion. At 1 p.m the cast came in early to work with him, including  Jordan Geiber, who plays Buddy, and Beth Leavel, who plays Buddy’s stepmother.

Strahan would not rule out a return to the stage. “I will take it off my bucket list, but if the opportunity came across again, I might just take it up and do it again,” he said.

Shanika Simmons

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