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Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (musical)
Encyclopedia
Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! is a seasonal musical adaptation of the Dr. Seuss
book How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
, San Diego, where it has run every Christmas season since 1998. The Old Globe production was directed by Jack O'Brien. 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).
. 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. 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.
The musical began its second limited run at the St. James Theatre
on November 9, 2007 with Patrick Page
returning to the title role. It was originally planned that the show would run continuously with up to 15 performances a week until January 6, 2008, but the show was halted before the morning matinee of November 10 because of the Local One stagehand strike
. 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. The producers of the musical brought the matter to court and were granted an injunction enabling the show to resume on November 23. The musical staged a total of 11 performances for the Thanksgiving
weekend (November 23 to 25), an unusual occurrence for Broadway shows.
Cast
2006 season
2007 season
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).
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.
and ran from November 10, 2009 to December 27, 2009. 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.
(*=Music by Albert Hague, lyrics by Dr. Seuss)
Dr. Seuss
Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American writer, poet, and cartoonist most widely known for his children's books written under the pen names Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSieg and, in one case, Rosetta Stone....
book How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
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 TheatreOld Globe Theatre
The Old Globe is a professional theatre company located in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. It produces about 15 plays and musicals annually in summer and winter seasons...
, San Diego, where it has run every Christmas season since 1998. The Old Globe production was directed by Jack O'Brien. This version featured songs from the television special, which had music by Albert Hague
Albert Hague
Albert Hague was a German-born songwriter, composer, and actor.-Early life:Hague was born as Albert Marcuse to a Jewish family in Berlin, Germany. His father, Harry Marcuse, was a psychiatrist and a musical prodigy, and his mother, Mimi , a chess champion...
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).
Broadway
From the Children's Theatre Company, the musical was transferred to Broadway by Maximum Entertainment producer Avram C. FreedbergAvram C. Freedberg
Avram Chaim Freedberg is a Broadway theatre producer and direct marketer. He also owns BioLogic Solutions. Among its products advertised on television was Sta-Tight which was said to be an alternative to Botox.-Biography:...
. 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
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
season and closed on January 7, 2007. This production is notable for being the first Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical to offer 12 performances a week. In the first week of December 2006, the musical topped the Broadway Box Office grosses, putting an end to Wicked
Wicked (musical)
Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard...
s top-grossing streak that had lasted 100 weeks.
The musical began its second limited run at the St. James Theatre
St. James Theatre
The St. James Theatre is located at 246 W. 44th St. Broadway, New York City, New York. It was built by Abraham L. Erlanger, theatrical producer and a founding member of the Theatrical Syndicate, on the site of the original Sardi's restaurant. It opened in 1927 as The Erlanger...
on November 9, 2007 with Patrick Page
Patrick Page
Patrick Page is an American actor and playwright living in New York City.-Career:Page’s Broadway credits include originating the role of The Grinch in Dr...
returning to the title role. It was originally planned that the show would run continuously with up to 15 performances a week until January 6, 2008, but the show was halted before the morning matinee of November 10 because of the Local One stagehand strike
2007 Broadway stagehand strike
2007 Broadway Stagehands Strike was a strike action by stagehands represented by Theatrical Protective Union Number One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees against the Shubert, Jujamcyn, and Nederlander theaters...
. 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. The producers of the musical brought the matter to court and were granted an injunction enabling the show to resume on November 23. The musical staged a total of 11 performances for the Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
weekend (November 23 to 25), an unusual occurrence for Broadway shows.
Cast
2006 season
- The GrinchThe GrinchThe Grinch is a fictional character created by Dr. Seuss. He first appeared as the main protagonist in the 1957 children's book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!...
- Patrick PagePatrick PagePatrick Page is an American actor and playwright living in New York City.-Career:Page’s Broadway credits include originating the role of The Grinch in Dr... - Old Max - John CullumJohn CullumJohn Cullum is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in many stage musicals and dramas, including On the Twentieth Century and Shenandoah , winning the Tony Awards for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for each...
- Young Max - Rusty RossRusty RossRusty Ross is an actor currently residing in New York City. In 2006, he appeared in the original cast of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! on Broadway, and reprised his role when the production returned in 2007...
- Cindy Lou Who - Nicole Bocchi + Caroline London
- Grandma Who - Jan Neuberger
2007 season
- The Grinch - Patrick PagePatrick PagePatrick Page is an American actor and playwright living in New York City.-Career:Page’s Broadway credits include originating the role of The Grinch in Dr...
- Old Max - Ed DixonEd DixonEd Dixon is an American character actor, playwright and composer, who has appeared in numerous Broadway shows, including No, No, Nanette, King of Schnorrers, The Three Musketeers, Les Misérables, Cyrano, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Iceman Cometh, The Best Man, How the Grinch Stole Christmas ,...
- Young Max - Rusty RossRusty RossRusty Ross is an actor currently residing in New York City. In 2006, he appeared in the original cast of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! on Broadway, and reprised his role when the production returned in 2007...
- 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 BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
from November 11 to 23, and then played the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
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
Walter Charles
Walter Charles is an American actor and singer.Charles made his Broadway debut in Grease in 1972...
(Old Max), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Young Max).
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)Pantages Theatre (Hollywood)
The Pantages Theatre, formerly known as RKO Pantages Theatre, is located at Hollywood and Vine , Hollywood, California, USA. Designed by architect B. Marcus Priteca, it was the last theater built by the vaudeville impresario Alexander Pantages...
and ran from November 10, 2009 to December 27, 2009. Stefán Karl Stefánsson
Stefán Karl Stefánsson
Stefán Karl Stefánsson is an Icelandic film and stage actor who is best known for playing the character Robbie Rotten on the television show LazyTown....
reprised his role from the tour as the Grinch with John Larroquette
John Larroquette
John Edgar Bernard Larroquette, Jr. is an American film, television and Broadway actor. His roles include Dan Fielding on the series Night Court, Mike McBride in the Hallmark Channel series McBride, John Hemingway on The John Larroquette Show, and Carl Sack in Boston Legal.-Personal...
as Old Max. Kayley Stallings and Issadora Ava Tulalian as Cindy Lou Who and James Royce as Young Max.
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. GrinchYou're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is a Christmas song that was originally written and composed for the 1966 cartoon special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. The lyrics were written by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, the music was composed by Albert Hague, and the song was performed by Thurl Ravenscroft...
*" - Old Max, Young Max and the Grinch - "Santa for a Day" - Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch
- "You're a Mean One, Mr. GrinchYou're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is a Christmas song that was originally written and composed for the 1966 cartoon special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. The lyrics were written by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel, the music was composed by Albert Hague, and the song was performed by Thurl Ravenscroft...
(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)