Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, or simply How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, is a seasonal musical adaptation of the 1957 Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.[1]

Dr. Seuss'
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
The Musical
Promotional poster
MusicMel Marvin
LyricsTimothy Mason
BookTimothy Mason
BasisHow the Grinch Stole Christmas!
by Dr. Seuss
Productions1994 Minneapolis
2006 Broadway
2007 Broadway revival
2008 US tour
2010 US tour
2019 UK tour

Productions

Minneapolis

The musical, with book and lyrics by Timothy Mason, original score by Mel Marvin and choreography by John DeLuca, made its debut on the mainstage of Minneapolis's Children's Theatre Company in November 1994, after special arrangements had been made with the Dr. Seuss estate to exclusively adapt and perform the book. The original production was remounted in again in 1995 and 1998 playing to sold-out houses every time.

San Diego

The musical was performed at the Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, where it has run every Christmas season since 1998. The Old Globe production was directed by Jack O'Brien.[2] This version featured songs from the television special, which had music by Albert Hague and lyrics by Seuss. A then-unknown Vanessa Anne Hudgens played Cindy Lou Who (1998–1999).

For the 2007 Christmas season, three new songs were added to both this and the subsequent Broadway production. These songs are "This Time of Year", "It's the Thought That Counts" and "Fah Who Doraze" (which was part of the 1966 animated television special).[3]

Broadway

From the Children's Theatre Company, the musical was transferred to Broadway by Running Subway (James Sanna). This version with book and lyrics by Timothy Mason, original score by Mel Marvin, directed by Matt August and created and conceived by Jack O'Brien. The Broadway production debuted on November 8, 2006 at the Foxwoods Theatre (then the Hilton theatre) for the Christmas season and closed on January 7, 2007. This production is notable for being the first Broadway musical to offer 12 performances a week.[4] In the first week of December 2006, the musical topped the Broadway Box Office grosses, putting an end to Wicked's top-grossing streak that had lasted 100 weeks.[5]

The musical began its second limited run at the St. James Theatre on November 9, 2007 with Patrick Page returning to the title role and starring John Cullum as Old Max.[6] It was originally planned that the show would run continuously with up to 15 performances a week until January 6, 2008,[7] but the show was halted before the morning matinee of November 10 as a result of the 2007 Broadway stagehand strike.[8] The show remained dark due to failed negotiations. On November 19 the show's general manager, David Waggett, announced that Local One had agreed to continue to work on the show due to the unique contracts with the show's stagehands, but later the same day the owners of St. James Theatre issued a statement that the musical will not reopen until the strike affecting all of Broadway had been settled.[9] The producers of the musical brought the matter to court and were granted an injunction enabling the show to resume on November 23.[10] The musical staged a total of 11 performances for the Thanksgiving weekend (November 23 to 25), an unusual occurrence for Broadway shows.[11]

2008: US tour

A limited-engagement tour ran during the Christmas season of 2008. The musical started at the Hippodrome in Baltimore from November 11 to 23, and then played the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre in Boston from November 26 to December 28. Matt August directed the show, with John DeLuca as original choreographer and Bob Richard as co-choreographer. The cast included Stefán Karl Stefánsson (who is best remembered for playing the role of Robbie Rotten on the children's TV series LazyTown) starring as the Grinch, Walter Charles as Old Max, and Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Young Max.[12]

2009: Los Angeles

In 2009, the musical was produced at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, California, and ran from November 10, 2009 to December 27, 2009.[13] Stefán Karl reprised his role from the tour as the Grinch, with John Larroquette as Old Max, Kayley Stallings and Issadora Ava Tulalian as Cindy Lou Who, and James Royce as Young Max.[14]

2010–2015: North American National Tours

In 2010, a North American tour ran in the cities of Omaha, Houston, Dallas, Tempe and Toronto. Stefán Karl performed as the Grinch and Carly Tamer and Brooke Lynn Boyd alternated as Cindy Lou Who.

In 2011, the tour played Providence, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, St. Louis and San Francisco. Stefán Karl again performed as the Grinch, with Bob Lauder as Old Max, Seth Bazacas as Young Max, Brance Cornelius as Papa Who, and Serena Brook as Mama Who and Brooke Lynn Boyd as Cindy Lou Who.

In 2012, the production toured North America playing in Bloomington, Hartford, Richmond, Chicago and Detroit, with Stefán Karl performing as the Grinch.[15][16]

In 2013, the production toured North America playing in Cincinnati, Durham, Rochester, Buffalo and San Antonio, with Stefán Karl performing as the Grinch.[15][17]

In 2014, the production toured North America with showings planned in Springfield, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City, Spokane, Seattle, New York City, Chicago, Costa Mesa and Denver.[18] The Grinch was played by Shuler Hensley.[19]

In 2015, the production toured in North America with shows in Worcester, Detroit, Appleton, Columbus, Jacksonville, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.[20] Stefán Karl performed as Grinch, Bob Lauder as Old Max, and Genny Gagnon and Rachel Katzke as Cindy Lou Who.[21][22]

2018: Madison Square Garden

The musical played December 13 through December 30 at the Hulu Theater. The Grinch was played by Gavin Lee due to Stefán Karl's death in August 2018.[23]

2019: UK tour

The musical made its UK premiere on a tour beginning at New Wimbledon Theatre (1 - 3 November 2019) before touring to SEC Armadillo, Glasgow (13 - 17 November), Motorpoint Arena Cardiff (20 - 24 November), Edinburgh Festival Theatre (26 November - 1 December), The Alexandra, Birmingham (3 - 8 December) and The Lowry, Salford (10 December - 5 January 2020).

2020: TV Special

A television adaptation titled Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical Live! premiered on December 9, 2020 on NBC. Matthew Morrison plays The Grinch, Denis O'Hare plays Old Max, Booboo Stewart plays Young Max and Amelia Minto plays Cindy Lou Who.[24]

Musical numbers

(*Music by Albert Hague, lyrics by Dr. Seuss)

Casts
Character Broadway
(2006)		 Broadway revival
(2007)		 US tour
(2008)		 US tour
(2010)		 UK tour
(2019)
The Grinch Patrick Page Stefán Karl Stefánsson Edward Baker-Duly
Old Max John Cullum Ed Dixon Walter Charles Bob Lauder Gregor Fisher
Young Max Rusty Ross Rusty Ross
Andrew Keenan-Bolger		 Andrew Keenan-Bolger Seth Bazacas Matt Terry
Cindy Lou Who Nicole Bocchi
Caroline London		 Caroline London
Athena Ripka		 Lexie DeBlasio
Maya Goldman		 Carly Tamer
Brooke Lynn Boyd		 Isla Gie
Sophie Woods
Eve Corbishley
Bebe Massey
Papa Who Price Waldman Aaron Galligan-Stierle Brance Cornelius Alan Pearson
Mama Who Kaitlin Hopkins Tari Kelly Jacquelyn Piro Donovan Serena Brook Holly Dale Spencer
Grandpa Who Michael McCormick Darin DePaul Stuart Zagnit Ryan Knowles David Bardsley
Grandma Who Jan Neuberger Rosemary Loar Rebecca Prescott Karen Ascoe

References
  1. "Green Menace Is Back, Just in Time for Holidays". The New York Times. November 23, 2007. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
  2. Gans, Andrew (2007-09-06). "Tix for Grinch — with Patrick Page — Go on Sale Sept. 6". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  3. Hernandez, Ernio (2007-09-10). "Grinch Musical Adds New Songs for 10th Year in San Diego (and Second on Broadway)". Playbill.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-21. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  4. Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!: The Musical on BroadwayWorld.com
  5. Desk, BWW News. "'The Grinch' is Highest-Grossing Show on Broadway". BroadwayWorld.com.
  6. Gans, Andrew (2007-08-27). "Page Will Be Green Again for Broadway's Grinch". Playbill.com. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
  7. Gans, Andrew (2007-08-07). "Grinch Will Play 15 Performances a Week at the St. James; Tix On Sale in September". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2007-08-20. Retrieved 2007-08-09.
  8. Viagas, Robert (2007-11-10). "On the Scene: Grinch Is First Show Affected by Strike". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  9. Gans, Andrew (2007-11-20). "Day 11: The Strike Goes On, The Grinch Does Not". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2007-11-22. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
  10. Gans, Andrew (2007-11-21). "UPDATE: Grinch Will Reopen at the St. James Theatre Nov. 23". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2007-11-23. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  11. "Update: Judge Rules 'Grinch' Will Reopen Friday, Owners to Appeal?". BroadwayWorld.com. 2007-11-21. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
  12. Gans, Andrew (2008-10-06). "Karl, Charles, Keenan-Bolger and More Cast in Grinch Tour". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2008-10-09. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-10-19. Retrieved 2009-08-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) broadwayla.org
  14. Desk, BWW News. "Christopher Lloyd Bows Out of LA's 'GRINCH;' Replaced by Stefan Karl". BroadwayWorld.com.
  15. Frank Rizzo (November 15, 2012). "Icelandic Actor Puts Chill In Musical 'Grinch' At Bushnell". Hartford Courant. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
  16. abouttheartists.com
  17. prnewswire.com
  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-09-25. Retrieved 2014-08-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Grinch Musical 2014 Tour Dates
  19. Pm, 2014 2:19. "Shuler Hensley suits up for 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical'". am New York. Retrieved 2018-12-23.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. "Welcome". Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas The Musical. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  21. "The Grinch Media Day - Images | MEDIA PUNCH". mediapunch.photoshelter.com. Retrieved 2015-12-29.
  22. http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2015/11/24/1AA_GRINCH_REVIEW_.html
  23. McPhee, Ryan (2018-09-28). "SpongeBob SquarePants' Gavin Lee to Star in Madison Square Garden How the Grinch Stole Christmas!". Playbill. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
  24. "Hoorays in Who-ville as NBC Brings Classic Dr. Seuss Tale to the Stage with Holiday Special "Dr. Seuss' The Grinch Musical!" on Dec. 9". The Futon Critic. November 10, 2020.
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