The holidays are coming early courtesy of Broadway In Tucson.
The Broadway show presenter is bringing “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” to Centennial Hall Tuesday, Nov. 11, through Sunday, Nov. 16, in what could be the hottest holiday ticket this year.
Not only is it one of the most endearing holiday stories, the show is one of those near “once in a lifetime” opportunities.
James Schultz as The Grinch and Xavier McKnight as Young Max in the Touring Company of “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,” which comes to Centennial Hall in Tucson this week.
“The Grinch” only tours during the holidays, from November through December, which means it reaches very few cities. This year’s run, which started in California Nov. 2, will hit just 19 cities before ending at The National Theatre in Washington, D.C., Dec. 30-Jan. 4.
Tucson is the only Arizona city to snag the show, which means we’re likely going to have folks coming from the Phoenix area and throughout Southern Arizona to see that “mean one, Mr. Grinch” torment the good folks of Whoville and sweet Cindy Lou Who.
This is the first time in its 20-year history that Broadway In Tucson has had a weeklong holiday show, said General Manager Mario Di Vetta.
“We decided we wanted to pull out all the stops and try something we’ve never done before,” he said. “I think it’s just one more thing that makes our 20th anniversary season special.”
In seasons past, Broadway In Tucson has landed one- or two-night runs of special holiday events, including Mannheim Steamroller. Di Vetta said the bigger holiday shows are harder to get because of the tight window of opportunity; those shows tend to tour from late October through the end of December.
The Touring Company of “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical.” Tucson is the only Arizona city to snag the show this holiday season.
But Di Vetta hinted that this is not the last time Tucson audiences will have a chance to see a weeklong run of a popular Broadway holiday show on the Centennial Hall stage.
“I think it goes to show the growth of the Tucson market,” he said.
This is the first time “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” has come to Southern Arizona.
Here’s everything you need to know about the show:
A classic Christmas tale
The Grinch is a grouch, and the fact that the folks of Whoville are all giddy in the holiday spirit is annoying as heck. So he plots and ponders and comes up with a plan to come down from his mountaintop overlooking Whoville and spoil Christmas for everyone. With his trusty if not reluctant pooch, Max, Grinch puts on a red suit and disguises himself as Santa Claus with a plan to break into the homes of Whoville while they sleep and steal their holiday gifts and feasts.
When little Cindy Lou Who happens upon him and asks why the Grinch is stuffing her family’s tree up the chimney, he tells her he’s taking it to his workshop to fix a light. The little girl would never even think to question his answer as the Grinch rushes her back to bed.
ABOVE: James Schultz as The Grinch. RIGHT: James Schultz as The Grinch, Aerina DeBoer as Cindy Lou Who and the show’s Touring Company.
Imagine Grinch’s shock when he hears singing and good cheer coming from the village below on Christmas morn’. Why, how can they still be happy when they have no Christmas? Perhaps there is more to Christmas than just gifts and a feast, he concludes, and his heart, which the folks of Whoville had always assumed was “two sizes too small,” grows three sizes. Filled with his newfound Christmas joy, Grinch returns the presents and feasts and joins Cindy Lou and all the other Whos for a Christmas celebration.
All those wonderful songs
From the theme song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” to “Whatchama Who,” “I Hate Christmas Eve,” “One of A Kind,” “Santa For A Day” and “Welcome, Christmas,” the music of “Grinch” takes some of us back to that 1966 animated original featuring Boris Karloff voicing Grinch. That version had just a few songs, including “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and we’ve seen a number of iterations since then, including the 2000 film featuring Jim Carrey.
James Schultz as The Grinch.
Other songs you’ll hear include “This Time of Year,” “Who Likes Christmas,” “Down the Mountain” and “Fah Who Foraze.”
Showtimes
Broadway In Tucson will have eight performances: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, Nov. 11-14; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15; and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. on the University of Arizona campus. Performances run 85 minutes and are appropriate for all age groups.
Tickets
Tickets are $37.70-$159 through broadwayintucson.com. Warning: Tickets for the Saturday and Sunday matinees are in very short supply.
An Arizona fun fact
Arizona Theatre Company’s Kasser Family Artistic Director Matt August has a long history with “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical.”
He was the original Broadway director when it debuted in 2006 and returned to direct the Broadway show in 2007 and at Madison Square Garden in 2012. He also is the tour director going back to the inaugural national tour in 2008l. August also directed the show at Pantages in Los Angeles in 2009 and at Madison Square Garden in 2012.
