DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! 2013 PRESS HIGHLIGHTS REVIEWS Page 1 of 2 THEATER REVIEW 'GRINCH' A CHRISTMAS TRADITION WITH COLOR, MAGIC Returning cast, (From left) Eileen classic set bring Bowman as Grandma Who, happy familiarity Bets Malone as Mama Who, PAM KRAGEN • U-T Geno Carr as Papa Who and Kurt Norby as Christmas traditions are Grandpa Who usually sacred rites with perform in "Dr. little variation from year Seuss' How the to year. That recipe seems Grinch Stole to be working as well as Christmas" at ever at The Old Globe, The Old Globe. where "Dr. Seuss' How the The annual holiday Grinch Stole Christmas" musical runs musical is marking its 16th through Dec. 28. holiday season. PHOTO BY JIM COX With many of the same cast members and only a few minor script tweaks, this year's "Grinch" runs like a well-oiled machine, book (and animated 1966 and audience interaction. best-ever Grinches. Over yet there's nothing routine TV special) by the late La Back for his third year the years, he has beefed about it. It still has the Jollan Theodor "Dr. Seuss" in the title role, Steve up his "One of a Kind" solo charm, warmth and magic Geisel about a grumpy Blanchard is a mean one, number with so many oneliners that brings audiences back green monster who unwittinglyMr. Grinch. The 6-foot-3 and asides, it has year after year. discovers the true actor played the Beast on become more a stand-up For those new to the spirit of Christmas. Broadway for many years, monologue than song. "Grinch," the 1997musical O'Brien's concept was to so he can roar and grumble Each year, director was conceived and re-create the Seuss storybook with menace, but it's James Vasquez adds a few directed by former Globe onstage with scenery his vocal dexterity (as John new topical jokes to the artistic chief Jack O'Brien by John Lee Beatty and Wayne, Arnold Schwarzeneggerscript to keep it fresh. This with book and lyrics by bulbous, buglike costumes and a Scotsman, year's best are Twitter, Timothy Mason and music by Robert Morgan. Adding to name a few) and his Twyla Tharp and Robert by Mel Marvin. It's based to the dazzle are snow effects, singing skills that make Goulet gags. on the 1957children's puppetry, singalongs him one of the Globe's An especially nice addi- The above material first appeared in the U-T San Diego on the above date. All copyrights are reserved and no further reproduction is allowed without permission of the U-T San Diego. Page 2 of 2 antics steal the show from "Dr. Seuss' How Blanchard in many scenes. the Grinch Stole A sweet, ambling Steve Christmas" Gunderson reprises his role as Old Max, the show's nostalgic When: p.m. TuesdaysFridays. narrator. Geno Carr, 7 back for thirds, has honed a.m., and 11 2 his gentle-natured Papa 5 p.m. Saturdays and Who to perfection. Moonlight Sundays. Plus additional Amphitheatre veteran performances. Through Bets Malone makes her Dec.28. No performance Old Globedebut as Mama on Christmas Day. Who, giving the part a much Where: The Old Globe younger vibe than past performers. Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Endearing 7-yearold Way, Balboa Park Gabriella Dimmickhas to be the tiniest Cindy-Lou Tickets: $37 and up, Who in Globehistory. Eileen adults. $24, children 17 Bowman returns once again and younger as Grandma Who and Kurt Phone: (619) 234-5623 Norby makes his debut as Online: theoldglobe.org Grandpa Who. And Elan McMahan, musical director for the Globe's tion to the cast this year past two Shakespeare festivals, is Jeffrey Schecter as the adds the "Grinch"to Grinch's much-abused her credits as both musical but endlessly cheerful dog director and conductor. Young Max. Globe audiences The 100-minutemusical may remember the is just the right size for high-flying Schecter as one toddlers, who made up of the best things about a starry-eyed (and quite the theater's 2010 musical vocal) chunk of Thursday's "Robin and the 7 Hoods." opening-nightaudience. While he can't jump and Since the "Grinch" is showing dance as much in his furry no signs of age, today's costume, Schecter's ebulliencetoddlers might just be and charisma shine bringing their own children through and his puppylike to see the show someday. The above material first appeared in the U-T San Diego on the above date. All copyrights are reserved and no further reproduction is allowed without permission of the U-T San Diego. Page 1 of 2 'GRINCH' A CHRISTMAS TRADITION WITH COLOR, MAGIC PAM KRAGEN • U-T Christmas traditions are usually sacred rites with little variation from year to year. That recipe seems to be working as well as ever at The Old Globe, where "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" musical is marking its 16th holiday season. With many of the same cast members and only a few minor script tweaks, this year's "Grinch" runs like a well-oiled machine, Eileen Bowman as Grandma Who, Bets Malone as yet there's nothing routine Mama Who, Geno Carr as Papa Who and Kurt Norby about it. It still has the as Grandpa Who perform in "Dr. Seuss' How the charm, warmth and magic Grinch Stole Christmas" at The Old Globe. The annual that brings audiences back holiday musical runs through Dec. 28. jim cox year after year. For those new to the on the 1957 children's O'Brien's concept was to "Grinch," the 1997 musical book (and animated 1966 re-create the Seuss storybook was conceived and TV special) by the late La onstage with scenery directed by former Globe Jollan Theodor "Dr. Seuss" by John Lee Beatty and artistic chief Jack O'Brien Geisel about a grumpy bulbous, buglike costumes with book and lyrics by green monster who unwittingly by Robert Morgan. Adding Timothy Mason and music discovers the true to the dazzle are snow effects, by Mel Marvin. It's based spirit of Christmas. puppetry, singalongs The above material first appeared in the U-T San Diego on the above date. All copyrights are reserved and no further reproduction is allowed without permission of the U-T San Diego. Page 2 of 2 singing skills that make talgic narrator. Geno Carr, 'Dr. Seuss' How him one of the Globe's back for thirds, has honed the Grinch Stole best-ever Grinches. Over his gentle-natured Papa Christmas' the years, he has beefed Who to perfection. Moonlight up his "One of a Kind" solo Amphitheatre veteran number with so many oneliners Bets Malone makes her When: 7 p.m. TuesdaysFridays. 11 a.m., 2 and and asides, it has Old Globe debut as Mama 5 p.m. Saturdays and become more a stand-up Who, giving the part a much Sundays. Plus additional monologue than song. younger vibe than past performers. performances. Through Each year, director Endearing 7-yearold Dec. 28. No performance James Vasquez adds a few Gabriella Dimmick has on Christmas Day. new topical jokes to the to be the tiniest Cindy-Lou script to keep it fresh. This Who in Globe history. Eileen Where: The Old Globe year's best are Twitter, Bowman returns once again Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Twyla Tharp and Robert as Grandma Who and Kurt Way, Balboa Park Goulet gags. Norby makes his debut as Tickets: $37 and up, An especially nice addition Grandpa Who. adults. $24, children 17 to the cast this year And Elan McMahan, and younger is Jeffrey Schecter as the musical director for the Phone: (619) 234-5623 Grinch's much-abused Globe's past two Shakespeare but endlessly cheerful dog festivals and Online: theoldglobe.org Young Max. Globe audiences longtime musical director may remember the for Vista's Moonlight Stage high-flying Schecter as one Productions, adds the and audience interaction. of the best things about "Grinch" to her credits as Back for his third year the theater's 2010 musical both musical director and in the title role, Steve "Robin and the 7 Hoods." conductor. Blanchard is a mean one, While he can't jump and The 100-minute musical Mr. Grinch. The 6-foot-3 dance as much in his furry is just the right size for actor played the Beast on costume, Schecter's ebullience toddlers, who make up a Broadway for many years, and charisma shine starry-eyed (and quite vocal) so he can roar and grumble through and his puppylike chunk of the audience. with menace, but it's his antics steal the show from Since the "Grinch" is showing vocal dexterity (as John Blanchard in many scenes. no signs of age, today's Wayne, Arnold Schwarzenegger A sweet, ambling Steve toddlers might just be and a Scotsman, Gunderson reprises his role bringing their own children to name a few) and his as Old Max, the show's nos¬ to see the show someday. The above material first appeared in the U-T San Diego on the above date. All copyrights are reserved and no further reproduction is allowed without permission of the U-T San Diego. Page 1 of 2 GLOBE'S 'GRINCH' A CHRISTMAS TRADITION WITH COLOR AND MAGIC PAM KRAGEN • U-T little variation from year to "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch re-create the Seuss storybook year. That recipe seems to Stole Christmas" musical onstage with scenery Christmas traditions are be working as well as ever is marking its 16th holiday by John Lee Beatty and bulbous, usually sacred rites with at The Old Globe, where season.