Christmas may be over, but the spirit of Christmas is still alive at the National Theatre in DC with Director Matt August’s lively production of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical (book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin). This limited-time production, showing only through January 4, is full of fun and excitement for the whole family.
We all know the story of the lonely curmudgeon whose hatred of Christmas (particularly the commercialization of the holiday) brings him to a decision to steal Christmas from the happy Whos of Whoville. Theodore Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, first published the beloved Christmas tale How the Grinch Stole Christmas! in 1957. It’s this original story, with its memorable rhyme scheme and soft black-and-white illustrations, that August’s production draws from.
From the trees and wreaths to the snowy hills, the show’s beautiful black-and-white setting, designed by John Lee Beatty, appeared as though directly plucked from the book and magically enlarged to fit the stage. The props, made to seem two-dimensional, were detailed with thick black lines in the style of a comic book, giving the effect of the original illustrations brought forth for all to enjoy.
In tandem with the sets and props, the costumes, designed by Robert Morgan, brought the book characters to life through exaggerated shapes and angles, giving the various Whos the classic look associated with Dr. Seuss’ beloved creations. In the original black-and-white illustrated book, the only color present is bright red. Morgan played on this by dressing every character in shades of red and pink, which not only keeps on theme, but also worked to create eye-catching contrast against the hues of green that make up the Grinch’s suit.
The sour, grumpy Grinch himself was portrayed by Cody Garcia. Garcia’s Grinch felt like a rather successful amalgamation of all the different Grinches represented through the various films. Despite having to wear a bulbous (and what I can only assume is inordinately hot) costume, he effortlessly and exuberantly maneuvered across the stage — leaping, spinning, and playfully pacing.
Garcia’s tall frame and deep voice made for a comically endearing juxtaposition during the scenes with the tiny Cindy Lou Who (Hallie Freiman) — the little girl whose hope and heart is the spark that leads the Grinch on his ultimate path of redemption. Freiman’s and Garcia’s duet, “Santa for a Day,” was delightfully sweet, but Garcia’s jazzy vocals were on full display during the almost vaudevillian number, “One of a Kind,” in which he commanded the stage.
This performance (as well as virtually every performance of the night) was highlighted further by the extraordinary lighting designed by Craig Stelzenmuller. Garcia danced under the glow of strong spotlights reflecting larger-than-life shadows, shimmering green lights flashing every which way, and powerful projected animations that built shapes to match sounds, all of which popped prominently against the otherwise darkened stage. Although we all could have benefited from a strobe light warning at the beginning of the show, the lighting definitely elevated the evening.
In line with Whoville’s community-centered culture, the ensemble cast primarily sang as a whole. However, in the few moments where individual Whos sang solo, Anna Telfer’s vocals as Mama Who stood out. Her lovely, warm tone and successful dynamics are highlighted during “It’s the Thought That Counts” and “Now’s the Time,” during which she was joined by Ethan James Lynch (Papa Who), Alex Perone (Grandpa Who), and Natalie Buster (Grandma Who).
Overall, the music felt somewhat repetitive and missed some majorly catchy hooks, but the joy felt from the audience, which was stuffed with awe-eyed children, compensated for the lack of complexity. After all, the show is meant for children and does a wonderful job of creating Christmas magic for them to soak up. The production even goes so far as to incorporate the kids’ excitement by talking directly to the audience, providing moments to sing along, and showering the theater with “snow.”
The story of How the Grinch Stole Christmas famously includes a narrator who leads us on the journey with the Grinch as he grows from being “cuddly as a cactus” and “charming as an eel” to having a heart two sizes larger, full of Christmas joy. Although this production pulls directly from the original book in almost every way, the choice of narrator is where they deviate.
In Director August’s version, the Grinch’s loyal companion, his dog, Max, serves as the narrator in the form of his older self. Old Max, played by Nicholas Hambruch, waggles on and off stage, providing narration as though recounting his memories. Hambruch’s deep baritone, while maybe not what you’d expect from the little doggy we all know and love, was perfect for showcasing the climactic number of the night, the classic song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” The show closed out with the other famous song from original composer Albert Hague, “Welcome Christmas,” in which all the Whos of Whoville gather together around the Christmas tree, hold hands, and sway in unison as they remind us of the true meaning of Christmas, the meaning Dr. Seuss imparted seven decades past: Christmas isn’t about gifts under the tree or food on the table, it’s about treasuring those we love and showing them we care. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a reminder that, unlike material things, love, joy, gratitude, and hope can never be stolen.
Running Time: Approximately 90 minutes, with no intermission.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical plays through January 4, 2026, at The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Purchase tickets (starting at $57 and $77) online or at the National Theatre box office.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Presented by Crossroads Live and Running Subway
Directed by Matt August
Information about the North American tour can be found here.
