Matthew Morrison to portray the Grinch in NBC musical special

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The holiday season will be a bit grumpier with a little help from Matthew Morrison, who will portray Dr. Seuss’ Grinch in a two-hour musical event for NBC. Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Musical! is set to air Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT from the Troubadour Theatre in London with Denis O’Hare, Booboo Stewart, and newcomer Amelia Minto in supporting roles.

"In what has been an extremely challenging year for us all, it is an honor to bring some holiday cheer into viewers’ homes this December,” Morrison said in a statement. “My wish is to bring some Who-ville magic to this holiday season and, while the pandemic presents some challenges in bringing a stage production to life, we are excited to present a unique version of this seasonal favorite in a new creative and imaginative way.”

Based on Seuss’s popular book How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the musical tells the story of a reclusive creature who attempts to cancel Christmas by stealing holiday decorations while dressed as Santa Claus. A Christmas miracle melts the Grinch’s cold heart teaching him that there’s more to the celebration than money and gifts.

Morrison is best known for his role in Ryan Murphy’s Glee, as well as a Broadway resume that includes Footloose, Hairspray, and a Tony nomination for his role in The Light in the Piazza. The actor has also appeared in The Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy, and American Horror Story: 1984.

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• How Dr. Seuss created The Cat in the Hat

• This heroic boy called 911 to help save Christmas from the Grinch