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BLUMENTHAL ARTS
DECEMBER 2025
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D R . S E U S S ’ H OW T H E G R I N C H STO L E C H R I ST M A S ! T H E M U S I C A L 2 0 2 5
C U R TA I N
C A L L
RILEY ELISE SMITH IS LIVING A HOLIDAY DREAM ON TOUR WITH THE GRINCH Story by Keith Loria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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I N FO R M AT I O N
Production Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Who’s Who. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 D E PA R T M E N T S Staff. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Blumenthal Arts Donors. . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
ADVERTISE WITH
Hila Johnson hila@encoremagazine.com
James Schultz as The Grinch, Aerina DeBoer as Cindy-Lou Who and the touring company of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.
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James Schultz as The Grinch, Aerina DeBoer as Cindy-Lou Who and the touring company of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.
RILEY ELISE SMITH IS LIVING A HOLIDAY DREAM ON TOUR WITH THE GRINCH STORY BY
Keith Loria Riley Elise Smith always knew she was meant to be onstage. “I have always loved dancing and that was kind of how my love for the arts started,” she said. “I started singing in choir when I was old enough to join and I just loved being able to express myself in that artistic mode. When I got to high school, I couldn’t really see myself going down any other path. I just always wanted more of it.” Smith, who plays Scallops Who, one of the joyful Who-ville children in How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, immersed in a vibrant local arts community that helped set the stage for everything that would follow. “I really liked the dance community and the arts community there,” she said. “It was a great place to launch me into performing arts.”
6 | encorecharlotte A TON OF FUN After high school, Smith continued her training and earned her BFA in dance performance and choreography from Slippery Rock University. She focused heavily on the concert side of dance— modern and contemporary work—but something was missing. “I hadn’t done a ton of musical theatre in college, and I was really missing it,” she said. “So, I just started auditioning for any and every opportunity in the musical theatre world.” It wasn’t long before major opportunities began knocking, including a contract with Carnival Cruise Lines. “I worked with Carnival doing their movie-production-style shows,” Smith said. “It was a ton of fun—lots of dancing, lots of singing and lots of high-energy performance.”
Riley Elise Smith
HER CHRISTMAS STORY These days, she’s part of the national tour of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Dr. Seuss’s beloved holiday story. Her journey to the musical is a story worthy of its own holiday special. In August 2022, while on vacation in Hawaii with her family, she opened Playbill.com during a free moment to scroll through audition listings. “I saw a virtual audition for The Grinch that was looking for adults under five-foot-two,” she said with a laugh. “I’m five-foot-one, so it felt like a perfect match.” The audition was due in just two days, and she didn’t have access to a studio as she was sharing a hotel room with her family. Still, she wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass. “I filmed the dance combination and the song in my hotel room and submitted it the next day,” she said. “A couple of callbacks and communication later, they offered me a role. I was over the moon. Doing a national tour was an absolute dream of mine.” Smith joined the tour four years ago. EVERY KID’S DREAM “She’s a really fun track to play because she has some really fun toys,” Smith said. “I have an umbrella with cymbals attached that I get to sing and make noise with—maybe slightly annoy the Grinch a little bit. I also have a big bouncy ball, and I get to skate across the stage on Heelys. It’s like every kid’s dream on Christmas morning. We get to bring that energy to the stage every night.” One of her favorite parts of being on tour is visiting new places around the country. “I’ve always loved traveling and it’s such a cool way to see different cities,” she said. “I like to find trails to walk on and local coffee shops. And because I have friends and family spread around the country, sometimes I get to see people I don’t often get to visit.”
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The touring Company of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical. Photo by Jeremy Daniel.
SEEING THE BOOK COME TO LIFE Performing at the Blumenthal is something special because Smith has a personal connection to the area. One of her first paid professional performing jobs was dancing in a holiday parade at Carowinds during college. “I really enjoyed my time there,” she said. “When I found out we were touring to Charlotte this year, I got super excited to go back. I like the town a lot. It has small-town vibes with access to big-city life.” For Smith, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is part of her own holiday tradition. “My family always put the book out with our decorations, and we would read it together,” she said. “The show really matches the book well. Seeing it come to life is pretty awesome.” She especially loves leaving the theatre and interacting with the young audience members. “We always get such awesome reactions,” she said. “When we leave the theatre, we see kids in Cindy Lou costumes and Grinch sweaters. For a lot of them, it’s their first time seeing theatre and this is their entrance into that world through a story they already love. The music is fantastic, the set and costumes are incredible, and the message reminds us what’s important during the holidays—community and acceptance. It’s really beautiful and special.”
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Crossroads Live and Running Subway present
Dr. Seuss’
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Based on the book How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss Book and Lyrics by
Music by
TIMOTHY MASON
MEL MARVIN
Additional music and lyrics by ALBERT HAGUE and DR. SEUSS Starring
CODY GARCIA NICHOLAS HAMBRUCH ANDREW FLEMING and
Natalie Buster Hallie Freiman Ethan James Lynch Alex Perone Khloe Saclolo Sienna Spektor Kennedy Swartz Anna Telfer with
Nadia Belaouchi Ryan P. Blagg Lauren Bobrow James Kelley Carroll Megan Kimiko Derbick Nick DiSandro Tiffany Furicchia Evan Gibley Alexis Goode Olivia Greco Nicole Hale Hannah Hill Christopher McHugh Riley Elise Smith Set Designer
JOHN LEE BEATTY
Costume Designer
ROBERT MORGAN
Associate Set Designer
Costume Coordinator
Dance Music Arranger
Music Supervisor
KACIE HULTGREN
SARAH SMITH
Lighting Designer
Sound Designer
CRAIG STELZENMULLER
Incidental Music/Vocal Arrangements
JOSHUA ROSENBLUM
JOSHUA D. REID Orchestrator
MICHAEL STAROBIN
Casting by
Additional Casting by
General Management
Production Management
DAVID KRANE PETER LEIGH-NILSEN MURNANE CASTING PEARSON CASTING CSA CHAD ERIC MURNANE, CSA AMBER SNEAD, CSA Music Director
Executive Producer
CHRISTOPHER BABBAGE JAYNA NEAGLE
DEANA MARIE KIRSCH
Production Stage Manager
Company Manager
LAUREN GUISO COLE ROBERTS
Tour Management
CROSSROADS LIVE NORTH AMERICA
Original Tour Producer
RUNNING SUBWAY ELIN EGGERTSDOTTIR Director
MATT AUGUST
HEATHER CHOCKLEY
Tour Booking, Marketing & Publicity
BOND THEATRICAL MARC VISCARDI
Associate Director
JORDAN MURPHY
Choreographer & Co-Director
BOB RICHARD
“Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” is produced by special arrangement with MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL, New York, NY. www.mtishow.com
12 | encorecharlotte CAST
(in order of appearance) Old Max................................................................................................................NICHOLAS HAMBRUCH Cindy Lou Who (Alternating)............................................HALLIE FREIMAN, KHLOE SACLOLO Papa Who.............................................................................................................. ETHAN JAMES LYNCH Mama Who...........................................................................................................................ANNA TELFER Grandpa Who......................................................................................................................ALEX PERONE Grandma Who............................................................................................................... NATALIE BUSTER Annie Who (Alternating)...............................................SIENNA SPEKTOR, KENNEDY SWARTZ Citizens of Whoville.. NICOLE HALE, CHRISTOPHER McHUGH, NICK DiSANDRO, JAMES KELLEY CARROLL, TIFFANY FURICCHIA, HANNAH HILL Who Kids.............................MEGAN KIMIKO DERBICK, EVAN GIBLEY, TIFFANY FURICCHIA, ALEXIS GOODE, NADIA BELAOUCHI, RILEY ELISE SMITH, OLIVIA GRECO Young Max.................................................................................................................. ANDREW FLEMING The Grinch............................................................................................................................ CODY GARCIA
SWINGS RYAN P. BLAGG, LAUREN BOBROW
UNDERSTUDIES For The Grinch: NICK DiSANDRO, CHRISTOPHER McHUGH; For Old Max: NICK DiSANDRO, ALEX PERONE; For Young Max: RYAN P. BLAGG, EVAN GIBLEY; For Mama Who: HANNAH HILL; For Papa Who: JAMES KELLEY CARROLL; For Grandma Who: NICOLE HALE; For Grandpa Who: CHRISTOPHER McHUGH; For Cindy Lou Who: SIENNA SPEKTOR, KENNEDY SWARTZ.
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CAST
Cody Garcia
Nicholas Hambruch
Andrew Fleming
Alex Perone
Natalie Buster
Hallie Freiman
Khloe Saclolo
Anna Telfer
Ethan James Lynch
Sienna Spektor
Kennedy Swartz
Nicole Hale
Alexis Goode
Tiffany Furicchia
James Kelley Carroll
Olivia Greco
Riley Elise Smith
Megan Kimiko Derbick
Christopher McHugh
Hannah Hill
Evan Gibley
Nadia Belaouchi
Nick DiSandro
Ryan P. Blagg
Lauren Bobrow
16 | encorecharlotte MUSICAL NUMBERS Who Likes Christmas?............................................................................................ Citizens of Whoville This Time of Year............................................................................................. Old Max and Young Max I Hate Christmas Eve........................................The Grinch, Young Max, Papa Who, Mama Who, Grandma Who, Grandpa Who, Cindy Lou Who, Danny Who, Annie Who and Boo Who Whatchamawho.................................................................................................... The Grinch, Who Kids Welcome, Christmas*............................................................................................. Citizens of Whoville I Hate Christmas Eve (Reprise)............................................................................................. The Grinch It’s the Thought That Counts................................. Grandma Who, Grandpa Who, Mama Who, Papa Who, Citizens of Whoville and Who Kids One of a Kind............................................................................................................................... The Grinch Now’s the Time..................................... Papa Who, Mama Who, Grandma Who, Grandpa Who You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch*.................................................Old Max, Young Max, The Grinch Santa for a Day..........................................................................................Cindy Lou Who, The Grinch You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch* (Reprise)...............................................................................Old Max Who Likes Christmas? (Reprise)........................................................................ Citizens of Whoville One of a Kind (Reprise)................................................. Young Max, The Grinch, Cindy Lou Who This Time of Year (Reprise)..........................................................................................................Old Max Welcome, Christmas* (Reprise).......................................................................... Citizens of Whoville Santa for a Day (Reprise)....................The Grinch, Cindy Lou Who and Citizens of Whoville Who Likes Christmas? (Reprise) ........................ The Grinch, Young Max, Old Max and Whos Everywhere * Music by Albert Hague and lyrics by Dr. Seuss. Published by EMI Robbins Catalog, Inc. Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical will be performed without an intermission THE GRINCH ORCHESTRA Music Director, Conductor: CHRISTOPHER BABBAGE Associate Music Director, Keys 1: MATTHEW McGRATH Keys 2: ABIGAIL GALLETA CANAFE Reed 1: MARYBETH KERN Reed 2: SARAH McCOWN Reed 3: MICHAEL RICHTER Trumpet 1: VICTOR MEDINA Trumpet 2: TALITHA DUCKWORTH Trombone: GUILLERMO RAMIREZ Bass: JOHN CONVERTINO Drums/Percussion: ROWENA WEBB Music Coordinator: TALITHA FEHR; TL MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL
The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited by law. Please turn off all electronic devices such as cellular phones, beepers and watches prior to the beginning of the performance.
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WHO’S WHO in the CAST CODY GARCIA (Grinch) How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? @popgoesthecultureshock NICHOLAS HAMBRUCH (Old Max) has appeared as Shrek in Shrek the Musical (U.S. National Tour) and Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar (50th Anniversary Tour). Follow along: TikTok/Instagram @nickofmusic ANDREW FLEMING he/him (Young Max). So grateful for this opportunity! Regional credits: Frozen (Olaf), MT Wichita, Barnum (Tom Thumb), The Rev. TXST BFA MT ’24 Alum. Love always to Mom, Dad, Meg, Em, DJ, Khop, and everyone at Avalon. @andrew_flem | andrewfleming.net ALEX PERONE he/him (Grandpa Who). Honored to be returning to Whoville! Favorite roles include Uncle Louie (Lost in Yonkers), Aaron Fox (Curtains), and Joe (Angels in America). Alex is also an accomplished audiobook narrator, musician and cartoonist. AlexPerone.com NATALIE BUSTER (Grandma Who). Favorite roles include Dorothy Brock in 42nd Street, Miss Hannigan in Annie, and Catherine in Checking In. Natalie is a podcaster, a Yoga Therapist, a Death Doula, and an Intimacy/Trauma Coordinator. www.nataliebuster.com HALLIE FREIMAN (Cindy Lou Who). National Tour debut! My heart has grown three sizes! Credits: Frozen (Young Anna). Love to Mom, Dad, Logan, Randi Rosen, Ivy Artists Management, MSA, Alyson Isbrandtsen, Darby Vincent, Emily Freilicher, Murnane. @halliereesefreiman KHLOE SACLOLO (Cindy Lou Who). Khloe is thrilled to make her national tour debut! She is grateful for the endless love and support of her family. Special thanks to Ascend Management, Amelia DeMayo’s group, and Kelli Gautreau for helping her chase her dreams.
ANNA TELFER she/her (Mama Who). Thrilled to be here! Credits include Ode to the Wasp Woman (Off-Broadway), Madagascar the Musical (Nat’l Tour). Film/TV: “Palm Royale” (Apple TV), The Puppetman (Shudder), “Lost in Tomorrow” (Apple TV). Love to family & friends! ETHAN JAMES LYNCH (Papa Who). Proud to return for 6th season! Credits: Anything Goes (Lord Oakleigh), 25th Annual…Spelling Bee (Barfée), Footloose (Willard), A Midsummer Night’s Dream LIVE! (Puck), Happy Days (Ralph Malph), She Loves Me (Waiter). Ethanjameslynch.com SIENNA SPEKTOR (Annie Who, u/s Cindy Lou Who) is thrilled to make her National Tour debut and join Whoville! Professional credits include Off-Off-Broadway: Matilda The Musical (Matilda Wormwood). Film: The Hare (Sophie); Human Theories (Bailey). Special thanks and gratitude to Murnane Casting, Rebel Creative Group, Take3Talent, Amelia DeMayo, Janine Molinari, and the entire Grinch team! IG: @siennaspektor KENNEDY SWARTZ she/her (Annie Who, u/s Cindy Lou Who) is thrilled to make her national tour debut! Regional: Joseph..., Gypsy, A Christmas Story. Thanks to her family, cat Mochi, Barry Kolker, Jocelyn Geronimo, Jan Saltmarsh & SET Studios friends! @kennedy_swartz NICOLE HALE she/her (Auntie Who, u/s Grandma Who). Returning to Whoville! National Tour: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Select Regional: Come From Away, Elf, The Full Monty. Thanks to my Grinch family & ATB Talent! Love to Chris, my family and fur babies! @nicole.r.hale ALEXIS GOODE she/her (Boo Who). Thrilled to spread Christmas cheer on her first tour! A Temple BFA ’25 grad, she’s signed with Hell’s Kitchen Agency. Credits: Once on This Island, All Shook Up, A Chorus Line, Blood at the Root. Grateful to God & loved ones!
18 | encorecharlotte TIFFANY FURICCHIA (Reno Who/ Phyllis Who). National Tour Debut! Regional: Frozen, Legally Blonde (Ensemble, Arrow Rock), Sweeney Todd (Johanna, Clear Space), The Sound of Music (Liesl u/s, Engeman). Montclair State BFA MT. Love to my family, MTA & ATA! @tiffanyfuricchia JAMES KELLEY CARROLL he/ him (Palm Spring Who, u/s Papa Who). Thrilled to be making his touring debut! Credits include: Tuck Everlasting, Seussical, Sweeney Todd, and Forever Plaid. BFA/MT University of Arizona. “Enjoy the show!” @jameskelleycarroll OLIVIA GRECO she/her (Punky Who). Olivia is thrilled to be going back on the road to join such a festive show! Past credits include the national tour of Chicago (June), A Christmas Story, and Paint Your Wagon. Big love to her parents, fiancé, and fur babies. RILEY ELISE SMITH she/her (Scallops Who) is delighted to be back in Whoville! Credits: Carnival Cruise Line, RWS Global, & Cedar Fair Entertainment. BFA Dance from Slippery Rock University. Pittsburgh native. Endless gratitude to family, friends, Mom, & Grinch team. MEGAN KIMIKO DERBICK she/ her (Betty Who). National Tour Debut! 24’ Grad of UArts. Credits: Hersheypark/RWS Global, Six Flags Great America, Theatre SilCo, New Musicals Lab, Millbrook Playhouse. Much gratitude to her family, friends, and Murnane Casting! IG: @meg.derbick CHRISTOPHER McHUGH he/him (Buzz Who, u/s Grinch, u/s Grandpa Who). Thrilled to be returning to Whoville! Regional & NY credits: Jersey Boys (Bob Gaudio), Bye Bye Birdie (Albert), Legally Blonde (Warner), Cabaret, Jesus Christ Superstar, Newsies. Thanks to the Grinch team and love to my family! HANNAH HILL (Trixie Who, u/s Mama Who). Making her first appearance in Whoville! Past roles:
Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Rusty (Footloose), and Vola (Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour). Grateful to family, friends, and God! Love one another! @hannahbrookehill EVAN GIBLEY (Danny Who) is thrilled to welcome Christmas with this amazing group! Regional favorites include West Side Story (Baby John), Jersey Boys (Joe Pesci) and Pippin. Much love always to his family, his incredible mom, and Gabrielle. @hey.itsevan NADIA BELAOUCHI she/her (Bugsy Who). Nadia is so excited to make her debut in Whoville! Previously touring with Sesame Street Live! and Cocomelon Live! Other credits: Pickles (TGATPM), Cat in The Hat (Seussical), Godspell (Day by Day). CAP21 Alum. @nadsbela NICK DiSANDRO he/him (Timey Who, u/s Grinch, u/s Old Max) is grateful to call Whoville home for the 2nd time! This performance is for all the small town kiddos with Broadway dreams, the nerds that feel like outcasts, and my loves John & Pearl. Visit nickdisandro.com for more details. RYAN P. BLAGG he/him (Swing, u/s Young Max). Whoville Debut! National Tours: A Charlie Brown Christmas. Regional: Sweeney Todd, Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Sound of Music, and more. OU BM Voice. Huge thanks to the Grinch team & much love to his family! @RyanPBlagg LAUREN BOBROW she/her (Swing) is delighted to be returning to Whoville for her third year! Off-Broadway: My True Love. VeeCee Award. LIU Post BFA MT ‘23. Thank you to family & loved ones for the unwavering love & support! @LaurenRoseBobrow www.LaurenBobrow.com DR. SEUSS (Writer) was born Theodor Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904. After attending Dartmouth College and Oxford University, he began a
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career in advertising. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1984, two Emmy awards and three Academy awards, Dr. Seuss was the author and illustrator of 44 books, many of which have been made into audiocassettes, animated television specials and videos. His books include The Cat in the Hat, which infused 236 simple words with rhythm, rhyme and humor, and Green Eggs and Ham which used only 50 words. Even after his death in 1991, Dr. Seuss continues to be the world’s best-selling author of children’s books. TIMOTHY MASON (Book & Lyrics). Broadway: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical (2006 & 2007). Off-Broadway: Levitation, Only You, Babylon Gardens (with Timothy Hutton and Mary-Louise Parker) and The Fiery Furnace (with Julie Harris), all produced by Circle Rep. Regional: the Old Globe, San Diego; Actors Theatre of Louisville; South Coast Rep; Seattle Rep; Victory Gardens, Chicago; the Jungle Theatre and the Guthrie Theatre Lab, Minneapolis; and the Royal National Theatre, London. Tim’s historical thriller, “The Darwin Affair”, is now available from booksellers everywhere. MEL MARVIN (Composer). Bway; Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Cymbeline, A History of the American Film, Tintypes (Tony Award® nom.), Yentl, Fascinating Rhythm. Innumerable scores for productions of plays, from Shakespeare (Lincoln Center Theater, Guthrie, A.R.T., Arena Stage, Hartford Stage, McCarter, etc.) to Kushner (Angels in America, Mark Taper Forum), Musicals for young audiences: Little Miss Hollywood, Madeline’s Rescue, Strega Nona Meets Her Match, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, A Cricket in Times Square, Gold. Opera: Guest From the Future, premiered at Bard Summerscape in 2004, and Buwalsky, Opera Spanga, Holland, Yale, the Skirball Center, NYC (2004) Recently: Elmer Gantry at D.C.’s Signature Theatre,
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Truth and Reconciliation at the O’Neill Theater Center, workshops of Perfect 36. Head Faculty Composer and Director of Production, Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. ALBERT HAGUE (Original Composer of “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas”). His music for the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, especially the songs “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas” are instantly recognized worldwide by young and old alike. His Broadway career includes the standard “Young and Foolish” from the hit show Plain and Fancy as well as Redhead, for which he won the Tony in 1959. His film and TV career started when he was in his late 50s with the role of Professor Shorofsky in the movie Fame and the “Fame” TV series, and continued with many small roles in movies such as Space Jam and The Story of Us. Born in 1920 in Berlin, he escaped the Nazis via music scholarships in Rome and Cincinnati and settled in NY. The music from The Grinch is his most enduring achievement. MATT AUGUST (Director) is currently the Artistic Director of Arizona Theatre Company. His productions have broken box-office records on Broadway (How the Grinch Stole Christmas!), played Off-Broadway, in many major regional theatres, in festivals, on National Tours, at the Grand Ol’ Opry and three holiday seasons at Madison Square Garden. They have been featured on television, radio and been performed at the White House for President Bush and several Veteran organizations. He has directed world premieres, American premieres, regional premiers that have been recognized with nominations and awards from LA’s Ovation, Washington DC’s Helen Hayes, Arizona’s Mac, San Francisco’s Bay Area Critics, Broadway World, Utah’s Audience Choice and Australia’s Helpmann Awards. His work has appeared on Year End Top-Ten lists for the LA Times, San Francisco
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Chronicle, Huffington Post, Arizona Republic, Oakland Tribune, Tucson Sun, San Jose Mercury News and NPR/KQED. He has been awarded fellowships and residencies from the Old Globe Theatre, Drama League, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Acting Company, Robert Wilson’s Watermill Center, the Juilliard School, and San Francisco’s Zen Center. In addition to theatre, he was awarded the Panavision New Filmmakers Grant and directed the Award Winning short family film How to Get to Candybar which has played at festivals around the world. He recently directed the American Regional Premiers of King Charles III and In the Heights; the world premiere of Discord-The Gospel According to Jefferson, Dickens and Tolstoy, Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, and Norris’ Clybourne Park. He was the Associate Director to Jack O’Brien on three Broadway shows. BOB RICHARD (Choreographer & Co-Director) is an award-winning Broadway Choreographer and adept Director and Master Instructor. He provided choreography for Broadway’s Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and all of its national tours and regional productions for the past 18 years. Off-Broadway Bob directed and choreographed Inventing Mary Martin: The Revue of a Lifetime (Joe A. Callaway Award nomination) and The Road to Qatar. As a director he has worked at North Shore Music Theatre, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Theatre By The Sea and many others. Favorite productions include: Peter Pan, Music Man, Beauty and the Beast and Chicago. Bob’s award-winning choreography has wowed audiences at Seattle’s 5th Ave Theatre, TUTS, Pioneer Theatre Salt Lake City, Old Globe San Diego, and on the other side of the planet in Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo, Reykjavik Iceland and New Zealand. Television and Film credits include “LazyTown”, “The Tonight Show,” “The Today Show,” and “Macy’s
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Thanksgiving Day Parade.” His work has also been seen at the Big Apple Film Festival. Mr. Richard has shared his talent and knowledge as a Master Instructor at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Christchurch New Zealand, Shanghai China and Tokyo Japan and as an adjunct faculty teacher at NYU. A sampling of just some of the awards Bob has been honored to receive include the Footlight Award, Gypsy Rose Lee Award, IVEY, ERNIE, Bay Area Critics award. To date Bob’s career has encompassed directing, choreographing, dancing and teaching master classes worldwide for over 42 years in this business of show! Love you always Diane and Robert. JORDAN MURPHY (Associate Director). Jordan is a theatre director from Petersfield, England. He is currently Associate Director of Back to the Future The Musical (West End, Broadway, U.S. National Tour). Further credits include Your Lie in April (West End), Mary Poppins (West End), Matilda the Musical (West End), Sunset Boulevard (Royal Albert Hall), Treason (UK Tour), Wonderland (UK Tour), Flashdance (International Tour), and The Sound of Music (International Tour). JOSH ZACHER (Associate Choreographer) welcomes you to Whoville! Nat’l Tours: The Prom, A Chorus Line. Regional: MUNY, Tuacahn, Seattle’s 5th Avenue, KC Starlight. Founder: Stage The Number, Faculty: Broadway Dance Center. josh-zacher.com @dancingdudejz @stagethenumber JOHN LEE BEATTY (Scenic Designer). His 115 Broadway productions include: Junk, Disgraced, Other Desert Cities, Venus in Fur, Chicago, Good People, Proof, Doubt, The Color Purple, The Sisters Rosensweig, A Delicate Balance, The Heiress, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Talley’s Folly, Burn This, Fifth of July, Rabbit Hole, Penn & Teller and more. Education: Brown, Yale School of Drama. Awards: Tony, Obie, Outer Critics, Drama Desk, Theater Hall of Fame.
22 | encorecharlotte ROBERT MORGAN (Costume Designer). Broadway: The Full Monty, Imaginary Friends, I’m Not Rappaport and Sherlock’s Last Case. Off-Broadway: Saturn Returns and Pride’s Crossing, Lincoln Center; The Loves of Anatol, Circle in the Square. 101 Dalmatians. Forty years of designing for regional theatres across the U.S; founding Associate Artist, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego. CRAIG STELZENMULLER (Lighting Designer) is a New York based Lighting Designer. Broadway Associate credits include: The Queen of Versailles, Real Women Have Curves, Hell’s Kitchen, Sweeney Todd, Grey House, Almost Famous, MJ, A Christmas Carol, Springsteen, The Minutes, Hillary & Clinton, Boys in the Band, Pretty Woman, Charlie…Chocolate Factory, Cats, School of Rock, An Act of God, Gigi, Gentleman’s Guide…, I’ll Eat You Last…, and Wonderland. Recent: Here We Are (The Shed), Beauty and the Beast (International Tour). Faculty at Studio School of Design. Graduate: UNC School of the Arts. JOSHUA D. REID (Sound Designer) is a sound and systems designer, based in New York City. He holds dual citizenship with the United States and Canada, and has worked extensively on Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, international productions and sound system installations. Recent design selections include RENT (Stratford Festival), A Christmas Carol (Broadway w/Jefferson Mays, Tony Nomination, Outer Critics Circle Award), Ragtime (Calgary Philharmonic), Million Dollar Quartet (Theatre Calgary), A Little Night Music (Arizona Opera), The Color Purple (National Tour), Girlfriend (TheatreWorks Hartford, Connecticut Critics Circle Award), A Christmas Carol (Geffen Playhouse, LA Drama Critics Circle Award, LA Ovation Award), Jerry Springer: The Opera (Signature Theatre), A Time Like This (Carnegie Hall). Full credentials listed at ReidSoundDesign.com
JOSHUA ROSENBLUM (Vocal Arrangements and Incidental Music). Broadway: Miss Saigon, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Wonderful Town, The Music Man, Falsettos, Anything Goes. Off-Broadway (composer/ lyricist): Bush Is Bad, Fermat’s Last Tango, Einstein’s Dreams (Drama Desk nomination). Pianist: New York Pops, City Center Encores! Faculty member: NYU (conducting), Yale (composition). Contributing writer: Opera News. Education: B.A. in Music (summa cum laude) and M.Mus. in Piano, both from Yale. Wonderful family: Joanne, Julian, Phoebe DAVID KRANE (Dance Music Arrangements) created the dance music and additional score for the Academy Award–winning Chicago and the film of Nine; created the musical score adaptation for Disney’s Into the Woods starring Meryl Streep; produced and arranged Michelle Williams’s vocals for “My Week with Marilyn”; and composed Aspire with Stephen Cole, the first American musical produced in the Middle East. Their musical comedy about that incredible experience, The Road to Qatar!, was produced in Dallas, New York City, and the Edinburgh Festival. It is licensed by josef-weinberger.com, and the album, produced by jayrecords.com, is available on iTunes. Mr. Krane’s many Broadway credits include Cabaret, On the Twentieth Century, and She Loves Me. His latest work is in Disney’s Mary Poppins Returns and his own new original musical, Goin’ Hollywood (goinhollywood.com). davidkrane.com PETER LEIGH-NILSEN (Music Supervisor). Broadway: Harmony, Pirates! The Penzance Musical, Mamma Mia. Tours: Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Anastasia, The Bodyguard, My Fair Lady (China), The Producers, Guys and Dolls, Bring It On: The Musical (US, Japan), Dreamgirls (China), and Aida (Taiwan). He has recorded on OBC albums for Sony Masterworks
24 | encorecharlotte (Grinch) and Ghostlight Records (Harmony). All my love to Richard. CHRISTOPHER BABBAGE (Music Director) returns for his fourth season with Grinch. He is Music Supervisor at Tuacahn Amphitheatre where highlights have included The Prince of Egypt with Stephen Schwartz and The Count of Monte Cristo with Frank Wildhorn. Other tours: Smokey Joe’s Café, Grease (Asia), CATS (North and Latin America), Sister Act (First and Second National, Asia), Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Regional: Circa ’21, MUNY St. Louis, Arvada Center, Paper Mill Playhouse. MURNANE CASTING (Casting) is a casting office in New York City, founded by Chad Eric Murnane. We specialize in casting theatre, film, and television projects nationwide, with a focus on developing new works and collaborating with emerging creators. Our mission is to curate exceptional ensembles of artists in a relaxed and imaginative casting environment. Learn more at www.murnanecasting.com PEARSON CASTING CSA (Additional Casting). Won ‘Best Casting In Regional Theatre’ at the CDG Awards for their work on Rent. UK/European Theatre Includes: Titanique, Starlight Express, Operation Mincemeat, SIX, Superyou!, Lizzie, Fly More Than You Fall, The Whistling, Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera, House Of Cleopatra, Play On!, Bluey’s Big Play, 42 Balloons. US Theatre includes: Pretty Woman, Clue. JAYNA NEAGLE (Executive Producer) left her job at The Wall Street Journal Online in 2004 to study theatre at Columbia University, where she transitioned her love of creating things with people from news to theatre. Since then, she has produced shows for CXL, Running Subway, Cirque du Soleil, and BASE Entertainment. DEANA MARIE KIRSCH (General Manager) is excited to return to the magic of Whoville this season. Las Vegas credits include: Absinthe, Jersey Boys, BAZ, Mat Franco: Magic Reinvented Nightly, Magic Mike Live, and Criss Angel Mindfreak. Select Regional and Tour credits: A
Chorus Line, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Wonderland, Annie, and TINA - The Tina Turner Musical. HEATHER CHOCKLEY (Production Manager) joined the CXL team after having toured, both nationally and internationally, for 15 years. After that lifetime on the road, she finds she likes not living out of a suitcase the whole time. Now based in the DC metro area, she also does a bit of political event work, and shares the crew member recruiting responsibilities at CXL. COLE ROBERTS (Company Manager). Tour managing since 2012, her TM/CM/GM credits include Hideaway Circus, Nick Cannon’s Future Superstar, Big Bounce America, Circus Smirkus, Venardos Circus + many more. Her 2nd Christmas in Whoville. Brielle Roberts’ biggest fan. BRITTANY G. (Assistant Company Manager) is thrilled to be part of Whoville this year! A proud Atlanta, GA native, she loves exploring new places, immersing herself in different cultures, and enjoying music, the arts, and quality time with family and friends. She’s deeply grateful to be on the road with such a talented team and sends heartfelt thanks to her husband and family for their unwavering love and support. LAUREN GUISO (Production Stage Manager). Lauren is thrilled to be back in Whoville! Regional credits: Redwood, La Jolla Playhouse. Cry It Out, Moxie Theatre. Business Ideas, Cygnet Theatre. Illuminate, The Old Globe. Touring credits: Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Crossroads Live. Pretty Woman The Musical, Crossroads Live. @laurensaysgo CASEY FORT (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to return to Whoville again to make holiday magic. He is primarily a freelancing stage manager in Chicago and a staff member on the stage crew at The Santa Fe Opera. Because and for mentors, friends, teachers, family. NEURO TOUR (Physical Therapy). Carolyn Lawson PT, founder and CEO of NEURO TOUR, Global leaders
26 | encorecharlotte in performing arts & entertainment medicine. We are honored to be part of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! Merry Christmas, Whoville. CROSSROADS LIVE (Producer & Tour Management) brings together some of the world’s top producers of live entertainment, now all under one banner. With offices in London, New York, Washington, D.C., Sydney, and Melbourne—our global platform ensures the best-loved titles from Broadway and the West End can be embraced by audiences around the world. Crossroads Live North America, under the leadership of Angela Rowles, is an innovative, full-service theatrical production company delivering the Broadway experience to audiences in North America and beyond. Our 20242025 Season: Annie; Dear Evan Hansen; Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical; Pretty Woman; The Phantom of the Opera (Asia); TINA–The Tina Turner Musical, and Elf, The Musical on Broadway. BOND THEATRICAL (Tour Booking, Marketing & Publicity) is an independently-owned theatrical booking, marketing and publicity company representing award-winning Broadway shows and live entertainment properties. BOND connects artists and audiences by forming strategic, authentic and profitable partnerships between producers and presenters across North America. For a complete list of current projects, please visit BondTheatrical.com RUNNING SUBWAY (Producer) is a NYC based entertainment company founded by James Sanna with Joshua Rosenblum. Grinch: Broadway & all Tours. Other productions include Sinatra at the London Palladium, Peter Pan at Madison Square Garden (Cathy Rigby), Judy Garland In Concert. Projects include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex NYC, Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience (NYC) Bodies - the Exhibition, as well as the venue Discovery Times Square which featured Star Wars, Vikings, The Hunger Games, Titanic, DaVinci, King Tut, TerraCotta Warriors, Harry Potter the Exhibition, Spy,
CSI, Pompeii and The Avengers. Current exhibitions include, Art of the Brick (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Philadelphia and Edmonton), Bricktionary A-Z, Body Worlds (Boston), and touring productions of DaVinci and The Dead Sea Scrolls. Running Subway is the producer of RiseNY is a first-of-itskind attraction in the heart of New York City, combining a spectacular, soaring ride with museum-style galleries to celebrate the history of the Big Apple and the joy of the New York experience. Head to riseny.co for tickets and more information! MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (MTI) is one of the world’s leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting theatres from around the world the rights to perform the greatest selection of musicals from Broadway and beyond. Founded in 1952 by composer Frank Loesser and orchestrator Don Walker, MTI is a driving force in advancing musical theatre as a vibrant and engaging art form. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these musicals to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 70,000 professional, community and school theatres in the US and in over 60 countries worldwide. MTI is particularly dedicated to educational theatre and has created special collections to meet the needs of various types of performers and audiences. MTI’s Broadway Junior™ shows are 30- and 60-minute musicals for performance by elementary and middle school-aged performers, while MTI’s School Editions are musicals annotated for performance by high school students. MTI maintains its global headquarters in New York City with additional offices in London (MTI Europe) and Melbourne (MTI Australasia).
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encorecharlotte STAFF FOR DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL For Crossroads Live North America EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Jayna Neagle GENERAL MANAGER Deana Marie Kirsch Associate General Manager........................................Emily Miu PRODUCTION MANAGER Heather Chockley Associate Production Manager.............................Drew Neitzey COMPANY MANAGER Cole Roberts Assistant Company Manager.................................... Brittany G. TOUR BOOKING, MARKETING & PUBLICITY BOND Theatrical bondtheatrical.com Temah Higgins Mollie Mann DJ Martin Marc Viscardi Wendy Roberts Jenny Bates BOOKING & OPERATIONS Mary K. Witte Madison St. Amour Laura Rizzo Jesse Daniels Kolten Bell Jordan Ivezaj MARKETING & PUBLICITY Elisabeth Reyes Bridget Gross Melissa Cohen Alexandra De La Cerda Caroline Frawley Tony Joy Steph Kelleher Deborah Mann Harrison Mootoo Scotland Newton Linda Stewart Katelyn Wenkoff CASTING Murnane Casting Chad Eric Murnane, CSA Amber Snead, CSA Nathanial Riccio PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER................... LAUREN GUISO Assistant Stage Manager..........................................Casey Fort Associate Director.............................................. Jordon Murphy Associate Choreographer................................... Joshua Zacher Dance Captain....................................................Lauren Bobrow Rehearsal Production Assistant........................Sarah Schwartz Associate Lighting Designer................................Olivia LoVerde Assistant Lighting Designer........................... Willem Hinternhoff Moving Light Programmer................................ Parker Conzone Production Electrician................................. Brandon Hawkinson Production Audio...............................................Brenden Friedel Costume Coordinator............................................. Sarah Smith Hair & Makeup Coordinator....................Erin Kennedy Lunsford Music Supervisor...........................................Peter Leigh-Nilsen Keyboard Programmer.................................................Jim Harp HEAD CARPENTER.................................WENDY BECKWITH Flyman.............................................................. Natalie Mauricio Deck Carpenter..................................................Donovan Diggs Head Props......................................................... Rachel McCall Assistant Props..................................................... Devin Wilson Head Electrician............................... Justin "Rocky" Rauckhorst Assistant Electrician........................................ Dylan Sepulveda Deck Electrician........................................................ Mack Baird Head Audio..................................................... Cameron Griffiths Assistant Audio......................................................... Akari Izumi Head Wardrobe................................................... Emily Bloomer Assistant Wardrobe................................................ Maki Niikura Head Hair & Makeup........................................... Melanie Smith Assistant Hair & Makeup..................................Hannah Andruss Crew Swing.................................................. Mardelle Singleton
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Physical Therapy....................NEURO TOUR Physical Therapy Onsite Permitting and Education.............Christine Rudakewycz Child Wrangler......................................... Courtney Sue Mulford Payroll Services.............................................................Paychex Insurance..............................................EPIC Insurance Brokers Housing/Travel............................................. Road Rebel Global Merchandise Provider.................................... Max Merchandise Merchandise Manager.......................................... Ryan Faleska Social Media........................................................Rachael Joyce Production Photography...................................... Jeremy Daniel Backstage Photography................................. Richard Bowditch For Crossroads Live North America Chief Executive Officer....................................... Angela Rowles Executive Producer.............................................. Jayna Neagle Executive Producer..................................................... Kori Prior Vice President of People Operations................ Charisse Fontes Vice President of Finance........................................ Brian Jacob Vice President of Marketing........................ Michael Yuen-Killick Senior General Manager.................................... Andrew Terlizzi Director of Production.....................................Heather Chockley Director of Booking and Engagements......................Tyler Soltis Production Manager...........................................Gregg Damanti General Manager........................................Deana Marie Kirsch General Manager........................................Christine Adamczyk Engagement Manager...................................... Barrett Newman Tour Project Manager.......................................Wendy Beckwith Associate General Manager........................................Emily Miu Tour Operations Manager.....................Suzayn MacKenzie-Roy Associate Production Manager.............................Drew Neitzey Production Accounting Manager............................ Sheila Lewis Production Accountant......................................... Travis Huebel Staff Accountant.................................................. Electra Walker Arts Administration Apprentice.................. Lindsay Weidenfeller Learn more about Crossroads Live North America and our team: www.xroadslive.com/team/na For Running Subway President.............................................................. James Sanna Lawyer...................................................................... Ken Munoz CFO.................................................................Glenn Masterson SVP of Production...........................................Elin Eggertsdottir Production Executive.......................................... Chris Giordano VP of Marketing................................................ Kelley Anderson Senior Producer......................................................Evan Storey Producer & Staff Manager................................ Cameron Crews Manager, Events, Groups & Experiences...... Kristen Peterman Marketing Manager...........................................Vanessa Lizana Marketing Assistant.................................................. Sam Zaintz Production Associate...................................Cameron Lawrence CREDITS Lighting Provided by Main Light Motors Provided by Christie Lites Sound Provided by Masque Sound. Trucking by JANCO Backstage and Front of the House Employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or I.A.T.S.E.). The Director and/or Choreographer is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union. United Scenic Artists represents the designers and scenic painters for the American Theatre.