A production spokesperson confirmed to Playbill.com that Page, who is currently playing Scar in The Lion King, will head the cast of Grinch, when it plays the St. James Theatre Nov. 1-Jan. 6, 2008. Opening night is Nov. 9.
Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
The musical is based on Theodore Geisel's classic book, which is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Running Subway Productions and Tony Award-winning director Jack O'Brien will present the return engagement of the holiday-hating Grinch. The production will offer up to 15 performances a week at the St. James. The musical runs approximately 90 minutes.
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! — The Musical, according to press notes, is narrated by Max the Dog, who relates "the Grinch's fiendish plan to steal Christmas from the holiday-loving Whos. However, the Grinch soon discovers there's more to Christmas than he bargained for." The show will include the songs "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and "Welcome, Christmas," which are heard in the animated version of the Seuss classic, which is aired annually on television. Broadway composer Albert Hague (Plain and Fancy, Redhead) penned the music to the TV songs, which had lyrics by Seuss. How the Grinch Stole Christmas – The Musical was presented at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre under the direction of Jack O'Brien with choreography by John DeLuca. It has played to critical acclaim and sold-out houses for the past nine years. In fact, the Globe will present its 10th anniversary production of The Grinch Nov. 25-Dec. 30.
Matt August directed the enhanced Broadway production in the cavernous Hilton, which also featured Bob Richard re-creating the original choreography. Timothy Mason wrote the book and lyrics with music by Mel Marvin.
Patrick Page's other Broadway credits include Decius Brutus opposite Denzel Washington in Broadway's Julius Caesar and over a thousand performances as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast. Page is also an active classical actor, who won Washington, D.C.'s Helen Hayes Award for playing Iago opposite Avery Brooks' Othello The Shakespeare Theatre Company, where he also played Macbeth opposite Kelly McGillis. Page is married to actress and former "Trading Spaces" host Paige Davis.
Individual tickets for the upcoming production, priced $25-$111.50, will go on sale Sept. 6 by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com. Group tickets are now on sale by calling (800) 223-7565. For more information visit www.grinchmusical.com.
The St. James Theatre is located in Manhattan at 246 West 44th Street.
