Synopsis
An elderly dog carrying a battered suitcase appears, listening to carolers in the distance. He puts a paw to his ear and hears the voices of Whos from long ago (“Welcome, Christmas”). Suddenly the past becomes the present, and we’re in Who-ville at the holidays (“Who Likes Christmas"”). The memory fades and is replaced by the old dog’s younger self: it’s Max, the Grinch’s pooch (“This Time of Year”). But Old Max and Young Max hear an ominous chord and from an icy hole in the mountain the Grinch himself appears! (“I Hate Christmas Eve”) But why does he hate Christmas so'
We see a wild, nightmarish version of Christmas as the Grinch sees it, with hordes of toy-crazed children (“Whatchamawho”). We see the Whos caroling as the Grinch sees them (“Welcome, Christmas” and “I Hate Christmas Eve” reprises). And then … the Grinch gets an awful idea: he’ll stop Christmas from coming, and now he knows how!
In Who-ville the unsuspecting Whos go holiday shopping (“It’s the Thought That Counts”) while the Grinch sneaks about town in disguise, stealing what he needs for his awful plot: red fabric and a pair of antlers. Back home in his cave the Grinch ties the antlers to Young Max’s head (“This Time of Year” reprise). Then, the Grinch dresses himself as Santa Claus! (“One of a Kind”). He harnesses the poor dog to a ramshackle sleigh and hurtles down the mountain to Who-ville (“Down the Mountain”). Meanwhile the grownups wrap presents and remember Christmases gone by, while the Who-kids sleep (“Now’s the Time”). But when everyone has gone to bed, the Grinch and Young Max slide down a chimney and emerge from a Who fireplace, and the old green meanie starts stealing Christmas! (“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”).
When everything has been stuffed up the chimney except the tree, young Cindy-Lou Who interrupts the fake Santa. She buys his lie that he’s old Saint Nick, and assures him she’ll never forget him (“Santa for a Day”). Cindy-Lou almost melts his small heart, but in the end he sends her to bed and steals her tree!
The Grinch steals Christmas from every Who-home. He loads the presents and toys and all the food onto his sleigh, and whipping his whip, drives through the night to the top of Mount Crumpit. He waits there for morning, to hear the sad cries of the Whos as they discover their happiness has been stolen. But what he hears from down below shocks him (“Who Likes Christmas"” reprise). He hasn’t stolen Christmas after all! The Whos are still happy!
Maybe, he wonders, their happiness isn’t the toys and the gifts and the feasts that he stole! (“One of a Kind” reprise). Even Cindy-Lou remembers him … with love! Painfully, the Grinch comes to realize that Christmas is not something that comes from a store, and that a Who is whoever can be of good cheer – including him!
Old Max has remembered it all, this special Christmas when everything changed for the better. Now, he’s ready to say goodbye (“This Time of Year” reprise). Down in Who-ville the Whos hold hands and celebrate (“Welcome, Christmas” reprise) But a crazy horn blast interrupts them, and the Grinch – still dressed as Santa – rides into town with Young Max and a sleigh full of gifts. He’s finally able, with Cindy-Lou Who’s help, to wish them all a Merry Christmas from the bottom of his three-sizes bigger heart! A gigantic Christmas wreath descends and frames them all.
The curtain falls. When it rises again, we see the holiday miracle as Dr. Seuss illustrated it on the story-book’s final pages: the Grinch and all the Whos, hand in hand on a glowing horizon, singing for joy! (Bows and Exit Music).
