Basis
The musical originated from the wonderfully written story by Dr. Seuss. His 1957 demonstration of the central character ‘Grinch’ fascinated the young readers from all around the world. Besides this eponymous book, Dr. Seuss’s other notable works in children’s literature include The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who!, Green Eggs and Ham, and The Lorax.
The tricky, evil and anti-Christmas oriented character inspired many writers to develop look-alike antagonists in various stories and novels. The popularity of the original book led to its recurring stage, TV and movie adaptations in the coming years.
Production Chronology
The first adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s book was a children TV special that broadcasted on CBS in 1966. Due to positive reception and improved ratings, many successful sequences of the show were made in the following years. The musical version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! premiered during the holiday season of 1994.
With amazing music by Mel Marvin and well-adapted book by Timothy Mason, Children’s Theatre Company presented a streak of shows in Minneapolis. The venture turned out to be a great success and made way for the subsequent productions. The same show was produced in 1995 and 1998 and was a massive hit with the audience.
In 1998, it opened at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. The musical was directed by Jack O’Brien and featured some additional songs. The show was an instant hit with the native audience and became a regular production after that. The musical grew bigger in terms of budget and other stage dimensions and till date, it entertains hordes of people. In 2000, a big budget movie starring Jim Carrey was released to commercial and critical acclaim.
This incredible success of the musical brought it to Broadway in November 2008 where it opened at the Foxwoods Theatre. Receiving raving response from the critics and public alike, the show staged for a record-setting run of 12 performances per week. The sales of How the Grinch Stole Christmas tickets hit the roof and made it the highest Broadway Box Office grosser of December 2006. In 2009, the musical was revived at the St. James Theatre for its second Broadway run and played a number of successful shows throughout the holiday season.
About the Show
Featuring lasting hit numbers such as You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch and Now’s The Time, the musical celebrates the classic Christmas tale onstage. Colorful backdrops, cheerful performances by the performers and a concluding positive message make it a holiday favorite for the audiences of all ages.
Epic Holiday Fun!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas will be playing at multiple venues across the country. Enjoy the musical in your nearby venue and celebrate the holiday season with this must see show. Be it young ones or elderly, this show is meant to entertain all!