| Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! | |
| Subtitle: | The Musical |
| Music: | Mel Marvin |
| Lyrics: | Timothy Mason |
| Basis: | How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss |
| Productions: | 1998 San Diego 2006 Broadway 2007 Broadway revival 2008 US tour 2010 US tour 2019 UK tour |
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, or simply How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, is a seasonal musical stage adaptation of the 1957 Dr. Seuss book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.[1] Versions of the musical have been produced since the 1990s, including a Broadway production that ran during two Christmas seasons.
Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis first commissioned Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas in 1994. In 2022, they presented their version of the show for the 10th time.[2]
The musical was performed at the Old Globe Theatre, in San Diego, California, where it has run every Christmas season since 1998. The production was directed by Jack O'Brien.[3] This version featured songs from the 1966 animated television special, which had music by Albert Hague and lyrics by Seuss. Newcomer Vanessa Hudgens played Cindy Lou Who (in 1998 and 1999). The original cast also featured Guy Paul as The Grinch, Don Lee Sparks as Old Max, and Rusty Ross as Young Max.[4] Notable subsequent Grinches at the Old Globe include Jay Goede, Steve Blanchard, Jeff Skowron, and Andrew Polec.[5] [6] Notable actors who have played Old Max include Ken Page, Steve Gunderson, and John Treacy Egan.[7]
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 Foraze" (which was part of the television special).[8]
The musical was produced on Broadway by Running Subway (James Sanna). This version with book and lyrics by Timothy Mason, original score by Mel Marvin, was directed by Matt August and created and conceived by Jack O'Brien. Patrick Page starred as the Grinch.[3] 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 was the first Broadway musical to play 12 performances a week.[9] In the first week of December 2006, the musical topped the Broadway Box Office grosses, ending Wickeds top-grossing streak that had lasted 100 weeks.[10]
The musical began a 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.[11] It was originally planned that the show would run continuously with up to 15 performances a week until January 6, 2008,[12] but the show was halted before the morning matinee of November 10 as a result of the 2007 Broadway stagehand strike.[13] The show remained dark due to failed negotiations.[14] The producers brought the matter to court and were granted an injunction enabling the show to resume on November 23.[15] The musical staged a total of 11 performances over the Thanksgiving weekend (November 23 to 25), an unusual occurrence for Broadway shows.[16]
A limited-engagement tour ran during the Christmas season of 2008. The musical started at the Hippodrome in Baltimore, Maryland, from November 11 to 23, 2008, and then played the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, 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 as the Grinch, Walter Charles as Old Max, and Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Young Max.[17]
In 2009, the musical was produced at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, California, and ran from November 10 to December 27.[18] Christopher Lloyd had initially signed on to play the Grinch, but later withdrew and was replaced by Stefánsson.[19] John Larroquette starred as Old Max, with Kayley Stallings and Issadora Ava Tulalian as Cindy Lou Who, and James Royce as Young Max.[20]
In 2010, a North American tour ran in the cities of Omaha, Nebraska, Houston and Dallas, Texas, Tempe, Arizona and Toronto, Ontario. Stefánsson played the Grinch, and Carly Tamer and Brooke Lynn Boyd alternated as Cindy Lou Who.
In 2011, another tour played Providence, Rhode Island, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Atlanta, Georgia, St. Louis, Missouri and San Francisco, California. Stefánsson 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 to Bloomington, Indiana, Hartford, Connecticut, Richmond, Virginia, Chicago, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan, with Stefánsson as the Grinch.[21] [22]
In 2013, the production toured to Cincinnati, Ohio, Durham, North Carolina, Rochester and Buffalo, New York, and San Antonio, Texas, with Stefánsson as the Grinch.[21] [23] In 2014, the toured visited Springfield, Missouri, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Salt Lake City, Utah, Spokane and Seattle, Washington, New York City, Chicago, Costa Mesa, California, and Denver Colorado.[24] The Grinch was played by Shuler Hensley.[25]
In 2015, the production toured to Worcester, Massachusetts, Detroit, Michigan, Appleton, Wisconsin, Columbus, Ohio, and Jacksonville and Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[26] Stefánsson returned as the Grinch, with Bob Lauder as Old Max, and Genny Gagnon and Rachel Katzke as Cindy Lou Who.[27] [28]
In 2019, the production toured to Las Vegas, Nevada, Denver, and Detroit. Philip Bryan and Rachel Ling Gordon performed as the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who respectively.[29]
The musical played December 13 through December 30 at the Hulu Theater. The Grinch was played by Gavin Lee, after Stefánsson's death in August.[30]
The musical made its UK premiere on a tour from November 1, 2019 to January 5, 2020, stopping at New Wimbledon Theatre, SEC Armadillo, Glasgow, Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, The Alexandra, Birmingham and The Lowry, Salford.
A poorly received 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.[31]
Music by Albert Hague, lyrics by Dr. Seuss
| Character | Broadway | Broadway revival | US tour | US tour | UK tour | US tour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Grinch | Patrick Page | Stefán Karl Stefánsson | Edward Baker-Duly | Philip Bryan | ||
| 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 | Rachel Ling Gordon |
| 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 | ||