Burke Moses to Star in 'THE GRINCH' at The Old Globe; Full Cast, Creatives Announced!

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the Globe's 17th annual production ofDr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The holiday musical will run on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre,part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, November 15 - December 27. Previews run from November 15 - November 19. Opening night is November 20 at 7:00 p.m.

The Grinch is directed by James Vásquez with book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin. The original production of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! was conceived and directed by Jack O'Brien with Additional Lyrics by Theodor S. Geisel, Additional Music by Albert Hague, and original choreography by John DeLuca.

Ticket prices start at $37 for adults and $24 for children (17 years and under). Performances are restricted to children 3 years and up except for the 11:00 a.m. performances for which tickets can be purchased for children of all ages. Everyone must have a ticket. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a wonderful, whimsical musical based upon the classic Dr. Seuss book. Back for its 17th incredible year, the family favorite features the songs "Santa for a Day," "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," and "Welcome, Christmas (Fah Who Doraze)," the delightful carol from the popular animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Celebrate the holidays as the Old Globe Theatre is once again transformed into the snow-covered Whoville, right down to the last can of Who-hash.

Burke Moses makes his Old Globe debut as The Grinch. He made his Broadway debut as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls and then went on to create the role of Gaston in the New York, Los Angeles, and West End productions of Disney's mega-hit Beauty and the Beast. He also starred on Broadway in Kiss Me, Kate and Sondheim's Frogs and Off Broadway in The Most Happy Fella, Li'l Abner, and The Fantasticks.

Returning to alternate in the role of Cindy-Lou Who are Taylor Coleman of Carmel Valley and Gabriella Dimmick of La Mesa. Coleman recently played Minnie in Annie Get Your Gun at San Diego Musical Theatre and also performs with the Royal Academy of Performing Arts, seen numerous times at Mandeville Auditorium. Dimmick was most recently seen as Molly in Annie Jr. at Actors' Conservatory Theatre - San Diego and Gretl in The Sound of Music at San Diego Musical Theatre. She has danced with California Ballet Company for several years, appearing in their productions of The Nutcracker (2010-2012), Dracula, and Alice in Wonderland.

Three-time San Diego Critics Circle Award winner Steve Gunderson returns as Old Max and marks his 12th appearance in The Grinch at the Globe. His Off Broadway credits include Suds: The Rocking '60s Musical Soap Opera, Forever Plaid, Back to Bacharach and David, Butley,and Street Scene. Returning as Young Max is Jeffrey Schecter, who previously appeared at the Globe in the world premiere musical Robin and the 7 Hoods. His extensive Broadway credits include Nice Work If You Can Get It, Anything Goes, A Chorus Line, and The Pajama Game, among others.

Rounding out the cast of The Grinch are Robert J. Townsend (Papa Who), Bets Malone (Mama Who), Geno Carr (Grandpa Who), Nancy Snow Carr (Grandma Who), Katelyn Katz and Alexis Rae Tenney (Annie Who), Brooke Henderson and Mikaela Celeste Villalpando(Betty-Lou Who), Noah Baird and Elliot Weaver (Boo Who), and Jordi Bertran and Imahni King-Murillo (Danny Who) with Ensemble members Luke Babbitt, Josh Bradford, Nathan Conlan, Sophia Dimmick, Savannah Rae Farmer, David Kirk Grant, Kyrsten Hafso-Koppman, Jacob Haren, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Hourie Klijian, Cady Mariano, Dylan Nalbandian, Nathan Andrew Riley, Lexy Sakrekoff, Jill Townsend, and Kelsey Venter, as well as James Vásquez (Swing).

This season's production features Musical Direction by Elan McMahan, Additional Choreography by Bob Richard, and Restaged Choreography by James Vásquez. The Grinch creative team also includes John Lee Beatty (Scenic Design), Robert Morgan (Costume Design), Pat Collins (Lighting Design), Paul Peterson (Sound Design), Anita Ruth (Orchestrator), Joshua Rosenblum (Vocal Arrangements and Incidental Music), David Krane (Dance Music Arranger), Caparelliotis Casting (Casting), and Leila Knox (Stage Manager).

The Old Globe will once again offer a sensory-friendly performance of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! on Saturday, December 13 at 10:30 a.m. Following very successful performances the past two years, The Grinch will be performed for children on the autism spectrum and their families, as well as other families with special needs that may appreciate the welcoming and supportive environment this performance provides. Slight adjustments will be made to the production including fewer loud noises and flashing lights that may be challenging for some audience members. Additional features will also help make the experience safer and more enjoyable for children with autism and other sensitivity issues, including a pre-show visit to the Globe to familiarize children with the theatre; an online social story available to view and print at home that will outline in words and pictures the experience of a visit to the Globe; a quiet area in the lobby of the theatre; and on-site volunteers to assist families as needed.

The ninth annual Globe Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m. on the Globe's Copley Plaza. The ceremony will kick off the holiday season in conjunction with the presentation of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!Designed by Grinch scenic designer John Lee Beatty, the unique tree will be located in the center of the Plaza and will remain for the run of the show. This fun family event will feature a special live performance by members of the Grinch cast and a delightful holiday snowfall on the Globe Plaza. Although the event is free, reservations are required. Reservations can be made by contacting the Box Office at (619) 23-GLOBE.

The Old Globe will again hold its "Santa for a Day" contest that will give one lucky child a chance to be a part of this year's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Children aged 3 - 10 may create a drawing expressing what the holidays mean to them, and parents may enter it by emailing a photo of it to Contest@TheOldGlobe.org, or drawings may also be delivered in person to the Globe Box Office or mailed to "Santa for a Day" Contest, P.O. Box 122171, San Diego, CA 92112. All of these submissions will be posted online on The Old Globe's Facebook page. Parents may also enter by posting a photo of their child's drawing on their Instagram page and tagging @TheOldGlobe. The randomly selected winner will receive a VIP Family Four-Pack to attend the 4:30 p.m. performance of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! on November 16 and, directly after the show, assist The Grinch on stage with the lighting of the Dr. Seuss-inspired tree. For full details and rules, visit www.TheOldGlobe.org/tickets/production.aspx?PID=11481.

James Vásquez has recreated the original staging of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! since 2003. At the Globe, he directedRichard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show, served as Associate Director of Jane Austen's Emma - A Musical Romantic Comedy, and provided musical staging for Boeing-Boeing and the 2013 Shakespeare Festival production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. He received San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award nominations for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for the world premiere of Harmony, Kansas and the West Coast premiere of [title of show] (Diversionary Theatre) and won the award in 2010 for Sweeney Todd (Cygnet Theatre Company). His other recent directing/choreography credits include Cats (San Diego Musical Theatre), Marry Me a Little, Birds of a Feather, Pippin, and Next Fall(Diversionary), and Pageant, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Little Shop of Horrors (Cygnet), as well as developmental workshops at La Jolla Playhouse and Goodspeed Musicals. Mr. Vásquez is co-founder of Daisy 3 Pictures. His film, Ready? OK!, won the Best Film award at Seattle, North Carolina, and San Diego film festivals. Daisy 3's latest feature film, That's What She Said, made its world premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

TICKETS to Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Performances begin on November 15 and continue through December 27.Ticket prices start at $37 for adults and $24 for children (17 years and under). Performance times: Previews: Saturday, Nov. 15 at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 16 at 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7:00 p.m. Opening Night is Thursday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m. Regular Performances: Tuesday - Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. The sensory-friendly performance is on Saturday, December 13 at 10:30 a.m. (there is no 11:00 a.m. performance that day). Additional performances: Friday, Nov. 28 at 2:00 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 22 at 7:00 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 23 and Wednesday, Dec. 24 at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. (there are no 7:00 p.m. performances those days); and Friday, Dec. 26 at 4:00 p.m. There is no 7:00 p.m. performance on Friday, Dec. 5, and no 11:00 a.m. performance on Saturday, Dec. 27. There are no performances on Thanksgiving (Nov. 27) and Christmas (Dec. 25).

The Old Globe is located in San Diego's Balboa Park at 1363 Old Globe Way. There are numerous free parking lots available throughout the park. Guests may also be dropped off in front of the Mingei International Museum. The Balboa Park valet is also available during performances ($12), located in front of the Japanese Friendship Garden. For additional parking information visit www.BalboaPark.org. For directions and up-to-date information, visit www.TheOldGlobe.org/Directions. To look up online or GPS directions to The Old Globe, do not use the Delivery Address above. There is only a 10-minute zone at that physical address. For GPS users, please click here for the map coordinates, and here for written directions to The Old Globe and nearby parking in Balboa Park.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country's leading professional regional theatres and has stood as San Diego's flagship arts institution for over 75 years. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Managing Director Michael G. Murphy, The Old Globe produces a year-round season of 14 productions of classic, contemporary, and new works on its three Balboa Park stages: the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the 600-seat Old Globe Theatre and the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, both part of The Old Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, and the 605-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, home of its internationally renowned Shakespeare Festival. More than 250,000 people attend Globe productions annually and participate in the theatre's education and community programs. Numerous world premieres such as 2014 Tony Award winner for Best Musical, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, The Full Monty,Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, A Catered Affair, and the annual holiday musical Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! have been developed at The Old Globe and have gone on to enjoy highly successful runs on Broadway and at regional theatres across the country.

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