Glee actor Matthew Morrison will star in a televised production of Dr Seuss’ The Grinch Musical for US broadcaster NBC.
Morrison will take on the titular role alongside fellow Americans Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story, True Blood) as old Max and Booboo Stewart (The Twilight Saga, X-Men: Days of Future Past) as young Max.
The supporting cast will be feature well known musical theatre actors including Claire Machin (Mary Poppins, The Girls, Titanic), Gary Wilmot (The Prince of Egypt, Me and My Girl), Ako Mitchell (The Lion King) and Idriss Kargbo (Wicked).
Completing the cast are Amy Ellen Richardson, Joseph Prouse, Lisa Mathieson, Billy Nevers, Genevieve Nicole, Bobbie Little, Callum Train, Kirsty Ingram, Rebecca Louis, Joe Allen, Francesca Mills, Kanon Narumi, Chantelle Tonoleti, Tafari Edwards, Alfie Murray, Erin Rushidi, Bebe Massey, Kayleen Nguema, Lyla Toplass and Louie Gray.
The Grinch Musical has book and lyrics by Tim Mason and music by Mel Marvin and features the hit songs “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas”.
The show is staged by director Max Webster, directed for television by BAFTA winner Julia Knowles, with additional script material by BAFTA-winning writer Simon Nye.
Set design is by Peter Bingemann with costume design by Soutra Gilmour, choreography by Lizzi Gee and casting by Stuart Burt.
The return of live broadcast tv musicals has proved a huge ratings hit for US broadcasters. Once a staple of US television, this long forgotten tradition returned with a bang in 2012 with The Sound of Music Live! Starring Carrie Underwood.
Since then there have been productions of The Wiz (2015) with Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah, Common, Ne-Yo; Jesus Christ Superstar Live (2019) with John Legend, Sara Bareilles, and Brandon Victor Dixon; Grease Live (2016) with Aaron Tveit and Julianne Hough; Peter Pan Live! (2014) with Christopher Walkin; and Hairspray Live (2016) with Harvey Fierstein, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Hudson, Dove Cameron and Broadway sweetheart Kristin Chenoweth.
The Grinch Musical will be filmed at London’s Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre and broadcast on NBC on 9 December 2020 at 8pm EST.
A UK broadcast date is yet to be announced.
