MINNEAPOLIS — The 11th time may well be the charm for a beloved holiday classic.
Not that the previous runs of "Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" at the Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) have ever disappointed. But this year, the choreography, cast and chemistry have all combined to deliver one of the most memorable productions yet, according to a couple of the most demanding critics in the theater world.
“I love what we did this year, and so it’s a really good feeling. I thought we found things we never found. We found colors that we hadn’t found,” said Peter C. Brosius, who directs the production.
“I do feel like this year, we’ve gotten even closer to the bullseye that we share as to what we want to convey with this story,” said Reed Sigmund, who’s portraying The Grinch for the sixth time.
‘It’s been a fun ride’
To be clear, much of the production’s magic comes from the palpable chemistry within the theater: both between characters — The Grinch and Max, the dog — and between actor and director.
“He thinks so deeply and so rigorously about each moment and how each moment links to every other moment. And how, in order to get to the ‘X’ moment at the end, these are the steps that need to happen. And his thinking about that is rigorous, it’s deep, it’s profound. And that is a joy,” Brosius said about working with Sigmund.
It’s a trust that Sigmund both reciprocates and channels to further explore his acting.
“Just like having that trust and that faith like, when you can’t find it in yourself, is so rewarding and so freeing and so empowering,” he said.
“And then also to have somebody that shares that ability to go, ‘You know, that was brilliant, what if we make it brilliant plus. So that you never stop exploring,” Sigmund said. “It’s about keeping theater alive. Keeping each performance alive. Keeping every production alive. And that’s a gift, man.”
“Well it’s an honor to work with you,” Brosius immediately responded to his star performer.
A Grinch finale
And Brosius is savoring those honors, as he will depart from his role as the CTC’s Artistic Director on June 30, 2024 at the end of the theater season.
“Opening night, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, okay, bye. Good luck, here goes.’ But also just great sense of honor that I got to do this and got to work with this amazing team and our incredible stage managers, our fabulous crew. I mean, and these actors are just so glorious and fun and creative,” Brosius said.
As for what you can expect that’s “new” this year, Brosius and Sigmund say they revealed more of the nuances of The Grinch character by, according to Sigmund, “finding the humanity underneath all the fur.”
And the actor-director duo also further explored the relationship between Max and The Grinch.
“I think one of the things we really worked on in the rehearsal room was the relationship between Max and The Grinch,” Sigmund said, adding: “Really making sure that relationship is solid and grounded and incredibly real. So that when you get to the end, the impact, when he changes and is able to look at his dog for the first time and actually verbalize the words, ‘You’re a wonderful dog,’ after having him around and never actually saying it… the weight of it I think hits harder this year than it ever has before.”
Also this year, the music still rings out, the set still looks Seussical, the choreography still delights. And, most importantly to the director who’s earned the right to impart his own wisdom on the production: The Grinch still delivers an important community message.
“This is a story about how do we change, can we change? And I think in this moment in our time when people are so fixed and unwilling to change, it’s also, can a community change? Can we accept the other,” Brosius said. “You can reach out. You can change. It's possible. Is it easy? No, but go for it. Go for it. He did, he did, and it worked, and watch that smile at the end of the show, watch that joy at the end of the show, he earned it.”
"Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" runs through Jan. 7, 2024, in the UnitedHealth Group Stage. The show is best for all ages. Tickets can be purchased at childrenstheatre.org/grinch or by calling the ticket office at 612-874-0400. Ticket prices start at $15.
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