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

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 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 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

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 was best known for playing 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.^[13]

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.^[14] 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.^[15]

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 Brooke Lynn Boyd 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.^[16][17]

In 2013, the production toured North America playing in Cincinnati, Durham, Rochester, Buffalo and San Antonio, with Stefán Karl performing as the Grinch.^[18][19]

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.^[20]

In 2015, the production toured in North America with shows in Worcester, Detroit, Appleton, Columbus, Jacksonville, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale.^[21] Stefán Karl performed as Grinch, Bob Lauder as Old Max, and Genny Gagnon and Rachel Katzke as Cindy Lou Who.^[22][23]