The producers of Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical have announced today that Shuler Hensley will star as the Grinch in the 2014 production at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The delightful family musical, which first won over Broadway audiences in 2006 and 2007, returns for a limited holiday engagement from Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 28, 2014. Hensley will also star in the production in Chicago from Thursday, November 20 to Saturday, November 29 at the Chicago Theater.
Shuler Hensley has appeared on Broadway in No Man's Land, Tarzan, Waiting for Godot, and Young Frankenstein since being awarded the Tony Award® for his performance as Jud in the 2002 Broadway revival of Oklahoma! Prior to his triumphant turn as Jud, Hensley played Inspector Javert in Les Miserables. In 2013, Hensley was awarded the
Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor and the OBIE Award for Best Performance for his role as Charlie in The Whale.
"For as long as I can remember, the Grinch has been a part of my Holiday experience," says
Shuler Hensley. "As a kid, watching
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas always helped remind me of the true meaning of Christmas, and the fact that I can now be a part of this story and share it with my own kids is amazing!!! What a great way to spend the Holidays!"
Audiences will find their hearts growing a few sizes (along with the Grinch's heart, of course) when they witness the magic of the holiday tale on stage, which will feature the hit songs, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and "Welcome Christmas," both from the original animated television special. Max the Dog serves as the story's narrator as the scheming Grinch plans to steal Christmas away from The Whos, the loveable characters that understand and embrace the true meaning of the holiday. When the Grinch realizes that he can't take Christmas away from Whoville by taking presents, he returns the gifts and decorations and joins the festivities, proving that all it takes is a little kindness and joy to make any Grinch not so mean after all.
"We're thrilled to welcome Shuler as the Grinch," says executive producer
James Sanna. "From Jud in Oklahoma! to the Monster in Young Frankenstein, Shuler is one of the most diverse and compelling actors on stage today. Audiences are in for a treat as he leaves his indelible mark on this iconic character."
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical features spectacular sets specially designed for The Theater at
Madison Square Garden. The costumes were inspired by
Dr. Seuss' illustrations, while the Music and Book of
Mel Marvin and
Timothy Mason only accentuate this timeless narrative. Embraced by generation after generation,
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical is a holiday tradition for audiences of all ages. The 2014 production is directed by
Matt August and choreographed by
Bob Richard based on the original choreography by
John DeLuca and originally created by three-time Tony Award winning director Jack O'Brien.
The Theater at
Madison Square Garden has become a destination venue for spreading holiday cheer annually, and has presented some of the most sought after family productions including A Christmas Story, The Musical;
Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan; A Christmas Carol, The Musical; and Wintuk by
Cirque du Soleil.
Performances of the 2014
Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical begin December 5 and run through December 28 at The Theater at
Madison Square Garden. Tickets are on sale now and range in price from $40.00 - $160.00, and can be purchased at http://www.theateratmsg.com/thegrinch and through Ticketmaster Charge By Phone (1-866-858-0008) and all Ticketmaster Outlets. Tickets will also be available in person at MSG, Radio City Music Hall and the Beacon Theatre Box Office.
