By Beth Mack
November 14, 2021
The holiday season brings out the childlike spirit in all of us, no matter what your age, it brings memories of carefully scoping the evening sky for Rudolph’s red nose and watching the same Christmas television specials year after year. This year in Charlotte, Blumenthal Performing Arts hosts Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical on November 16-21 at Belk Theater.
Dr. Seuss’ original story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! debuted in 1957 as a children’s book with much fanfare and was adapted into the perennial animated television special narrated by Boris Karloff in 1966. The Grinch has been part of Christmas pop culture ever since, making the term grinch synonymous with a green, bitter, pear-shaped hairy creature with an inordinate disdain for Christmas. In 2000, it was adapted into a live-action film starring Jim Carey in a 3D animated film in 2018 titled The Grinch with Benedict Cumberbatch lending his voice as the Grinch.
Prior to the silver screen adaptations, Timothy Mason and Mel Marvin wrote How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, which debuted at a children’s theater in Minneapolis in 1994. In 1998 the show made the jump to San Diego’s The Old Globe theater, where it has been performed every holiday season since. Broadway came calling with holiday runs in 2006 and 2007, where it broke Broadway box office records consecutively. Since then, there have been a handful of limited engagement US tours, a UK tour, and special performances in select cities every holiday season.
The musical adaptation of Theodore Seuss Geisel’s (Dr. Seuss) book provides a different point of view than other adaptations. It is narrated by an older and wiser version of the Grinch’s dog, Max, as he recounts his younger years and the fateful day the Grinch’s attempt to steal Christmas away from the Who’s in Whoville. Featuring original songs from the 1966 animated television special You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch and Welcome Christmas, in tandem with costumes and a set design pulled straight from the book, it’s as if the book has come to life right before your eyes. The 85-minute show will help your inner child rediscover the true meaning of Christmas all over again.
Charlotte is the first stop on this year’s three-city tour. Directed by Matt August featuring the original choreography from three-time Tony award-winning director Jack O’Brien, the production will span six days and 10 shows with a variety of showtimes for children and adults to kick off the holiday season.
To make the holiday classic inclusive and accessible to all, the Blumenthal will also offer a daytime relaxed performance on November 20 with adaptations to accommodate those with developmental, sensory, or communicative differences to welcome Christmas and bring cheer to all.
Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical comes to Belk Theater on November 16-21.
Tuesday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, November 19 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 20 at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, November 20 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 20 at 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 20 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 21 at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 21 at 5:00 p.m.
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