Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (musical)

This article is about the musical. For the Dr. Seuss book see How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. For the 1966 animated special, see How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (TV special). For the feature film, see How the Grinch Stole Christmas (film)

Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!
The Musical
Promotional poster
Music	Mel Marvin Albert Hague
Lyrics	Timothy Mason Dr. Seuss
Book	Timothy Mason
Basis	How The Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Productions	1994 Minneapolis 1998 San Diego (annual) 2006 Broadway 2007 Broadway 2008 US tour 2009 Los Angeles 2010 US Tour 2011 USTour

Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! is a seasonal musical adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book How The Grinch Stole Christmas.^[1]

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 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 animated television special).^[3]

Broadway

From the Children's Theatre Company, the musical was transferred to Broadway by Maximum Entertainment producer Avram C. Freedberg. 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 heatre) 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.^[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 because of the Local One 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]

Cast

2006 season The Grinch - Patrick Page Old Max - John Cullum Young Max - Rusty Ross Cindy Lou Who - Nicole Bocchi + Caroline London Grandma Who - Jan Neuberger

2007 season[12] The Grinch - Patrick Page Old Max - Ed Dixon Young Max - Rusty Ross Cindy Lou Who - Caroline London + Athena Ripka Grandma Who - Jan Neuberger Mama Who - Tari Kelly

2008, 2010 and 2011 US Tours

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, John DeLuca original choreographer, Bob Richard co-choreographer. The cast included Stefán Karl starring as the Grinch, Walter Charles (Old Max), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Young Max).^[13]

In 2010, after the 2009 Los Angels production, a non-equity national tour ran in the cities of Omaha, Houston, Dallas, Tempe and Toronto. In 2011, the national tour will play in the cities of Providence, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, St. Louis and San Francisco.

Los Angeles

The musical then had its most recent production in Hollywood, CA at the Pantages Theatre (Hollywood) and ran from November 10, 2009 to December 27, 2009.^[14] Stefán Karl Stefánsson 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.^[15]

Musical numbers

• "Who Likes Christmas?" - Citizens of Whoville
• "This Time of Year" - Old Max and Young Max
• "I Hate Christmas Eve" - The Grinch, Young Max and the Whos
• "Whatchama Who" - The Grinch and the Little Whos
• "Welcome, Christmas*" - Citizens of Whoville
• "I Hate Christmas Eve (Reprise)" - The Grinch
• "It's the Thought That Counts" - The Citizens of Whoville
• "One of a Kind" - The Grinch
• "Now's the Time" - Papa Who, Mama Who, Grandma Who, Grandpa Who
• "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch*" - Old Max, Young Max and the Grinch
• "Santa for a Day" - Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch
• "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch (Reprise)*" - Old Max
• "Who Likes Christmas? (Reprise)" - Citizens of Whoville
• "One of a Kind (Reprise)" - Young Max, The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who
• "This Time of Year (Reprise)" - Old Max
• "Welcome, Christmas (Reprise)*" - Citizens of Whoville
• "Santa For a Day (Reprise)" - Company
• "Who Likes Christmas? (Reprise)" - Company

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

References

1. ^ "Green Menace Is Back, Just in Time for Holidays". New York Times. November 23, 2007. http://theater.nytimes.com/2007/11/23/theater/reviews/23grin.html. Retrieved 2011-03-28. 
2. ^ Gans, Andrew (2007-09-06). "Tix for Grinch — with Patrick Page — Go on Sale Sept. 6". Playbill. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/110789.html. 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. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/110913.html. Retrieved 2007-09-11. 
4. ^ Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!: The Musical on BroadwayWorld.com [1]
5. ^ The Grinch is Highest Grossing Show on Broadway
6. ^ Gans, Andrew (2007-08-27). "Page Will Be Green Again for Broadway's Grinch.". Playbill.com. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/110676.html. 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. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/110158.html. Retrieved 2007-08-09. 
8. ^ Viagas, Robert (2007-11-10). "On the Scene: Grinch Is First Show Affected by Strike.". Playbill. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/112686.html. Retrieved 2007-11-21. 
9. ^ Gans, Andrew (2007-11-20). "Day 11: The Strike Goes On, The Grinch Does Not". Playbill. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/112922.html. Retrieved 2007-11-21. 
10. ^ Gans, Andrew (2007-11-21). "UPDATE: Grinch Will Reopen at the St. James Theatre Nov. 23". Playbill. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/112995.html. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 
11. ^ "Update: Judge Rules 'Grinch' Will Reopen Friday, Owners to Appeal?". BroadwayWorld.com. 2007-11-21. http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=23109. Retrieved 2007-11-22. 
12. ^ "Patrick Page & Rusty Ross Return for 2007 Holiday Run of The Grinch at St. James". Broadway.com. 2007-09-07. http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=552335. Retrieved 2007-09-08. 
13. ^ Gans, Andrew (2008-10-06). "Karl, Charles, Keenan-Bolger and More Cast in Grinch Tour". Playbill. http://www.playbill.com/news/article/122048.html. Retrieved 2008-10-06. 
14. ^ [2] broadwayla.org
15. ^ [3]

External links

• Official Website
• Official site of Dr. Suess' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! The Musical at the Pantages Theatre, Hollywood CA
• Internet Broadway Database listing for all productions
• Old Globe Theatre site