NBC orders Grinch Christmas special

US cablenet NBC has ordered a live, two-hour musical Christmas special based on Dr Seuss’s classic children’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Matthew Morrison

Produced by UK-based Penny Lane Entertainment and Simon Friend Entertainment in association with Dr Seuss Enterprises and Running Subway in the US, Dr Seuss’ The Grinch Musical! will star Matthew Morrison (Glee) as the Grinch and will be filmed at the Troubadour Theatre in London.

Max Webster will direct the telecast, with television direction by Julia Knowles and additional script by Simon Nye. Tim Mason and Mel Marvin are in charge of lyrics and music respectively.

The cast also includes Denis O’Hare (Big Little Lies) as old Max, Booboo Stewart (Descendants 3) as young Max and newcomer Amelia Minto (The Lost Girls) as Cindy-Lou Who. Producers have also assembled an ensemble of musical theatre actors from London’s West End.

Exec producing for Penny Lane Entertainment are Sue Andrew and the prodco’s founder, Lee Connolly. Exec producing for Simon Friend Entertainment is founder Simon Friend, alongside Running Subway’s CEO James Sanna and exec VP Joshua Rosenblum.

“Dr Seuss is an indelible part of all of our lives and we’re thrilled to bring a stage production of The Grinch Musical! to our audience,” said Doug Vaughan, exec VP of special programmes at NBC Entertainment. “This is a perfect addition to our annual holiday programme traditions and a telecast the entire family will enjoy.”