Photo Flash: First Look at Dr. Seuss' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS at Children's Theatre Company

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is gearing up to make sure that cranky old Grinch doesn't ruin the holiday season. This year CTC is bringing back the holiday classic Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This is the story about a mischievous and grumpy Grinch who hates Christmas so much that he has decided to steal it from his neighbors, the Christmas-loving Whos down in Whoville. With the help of his faithful dog Max and a reality check from the tiny Cindy-Lou Who, the Grinch comes to realize that you can't steal Christmas because Christmas doesn't come from the store, "maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more." Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

The stage adaptation of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (GRINCH) has become familiar to past generations of CTC's audiences since its premiere in 1994. GRINCH has become a CTC favorite because like all of Dr. Seuss' work, it continues to be relevant to everyone. "CTC has long been attracted to the work of Dr. Seuss not only because of its brilliant imagery and delightful wordplay but also because his stories call us to be our best selves, to be generous, to be tolerant, and to celebrate the hugeness of the human heart," says Peter Brosius, CTC's artistic director. This production will be the first time Brosius directs GRINCH.

This season the role of the Grinch falls on CTC Company member Reed Sigmund. This will be Sigmund's first time playing the iconic Grinch, and for a self-described "Ultimate Who", it will be quite the challenge. Sigmund exclaims, "I love Christmas. I love the food. I love the tunes. I love the movies. I love the lights. I love the decorations. I love the traditions. I love the way it makes me feel. I can't help it. I am filled with a combination of elation, excitement, and pure fear. Whether it's the Grinch, the Cowardly Lion, or Ernie from Sesame Street, these roles carry a strong sense of expectation from an audience. They are beloved characters with amazing histories and I never want to disappoint those people who cherish these figures as much as I do."

CTC managing director Tim Jennings explains, "The story of a character moving away from the trappings of material things toward understanding the power of personal experiences makes a perfect play, and the very act of attending the theatre is participating in that shared, joyful experience with your community. Revisiting a beloved story and seeing a book come to life on stage is a hugely compelling reason to attend theatre as a family, not only because of what you see on stage, but also because you can see it through the eyes of your children."

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas runs now through December 30 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage. As part of CTC's commitment to programming for ages two through eighteen, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas is recommended for pre-K and up. Tickets are on sale now starting at $10. Affordable subscription packages are also available. For more information visit us online at childrenstheatre.org or call the Ticket Office at 612.874.0400.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is the first theatre for young people to win the coveted Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater (2003). Founded in 1965, CTC serves more than 300,000 people annually and is one of the 20 largest theater companies in the nation. The company is noted for defining worldwide standards for youth theatre with an innovative mix of classic tales, celebrated international productions and challenging new work.

Photo Credit: Dan Norman

Reed Sigmund

The Cast of THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS

Reed Sigmund

BranDon Brooks and Reed Sigmund

Natalie Tran and Autumn Ness

The Cast of THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS

Adam Qualls, Noah Deets, Lauren Meredith, Natalie Tran, Dot McDonald