First Stage Celebrates 40th Season With Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

MILWAUKEE (October 14, 2026) — This holiday season, First Stage invites families to experience a beloved Christmas classic, live on stage as never seen before. Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical runs November 21 – December 27, 2026 at the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Todd Wehr Theater. With tickets already on pace to make the production First Stage’s best-selling holiday show ever, families are encouraged to reserve their seats early.

Filled with humor, heart, music, and larger-than-life Seuss-ian spectacle, the production brings audiences into the whimsical world of Whoville, where the famously grouchy Grinch has a plan to stop Christmas from coming. But with the help of Cindy Lou Who and the joyful spirit of the Whos, he discovers that Christmas may mean a little bit more.

Featuring a cast and creative team of Milwaukee-area artists and young performers, this production offers audiences a distinctly First Stage experience of the beloved story. Young characters are brought to life by young actors, placing their voices, perspectives, and experiences at the center of the storytelling while surrounding them with professional artists from the local theater community.

Wisconsin-native, local Milwaukee actor, and First Stage favorite, Jake Horstmeier, takes on the role of the Grinch in this production. Most recently seen as Oaken in Disney’s Frozen, Jake shared, “First Stage is such a special place to make theater, and I’m thrilled to be back. Getting to take on an iconic character like the Grinch while sharing the stage with this incredible group of young performers makes the experience even more meaningful.”

The production is directed by First Stage Executive Artistic Director Jeff Frank (Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer™: The Musical), with music direction and accompaniment by Paul Helm and choreography by Stephanie Staszak (Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium). Six professional adult actors, including Helm and Staszak, are joined by 36 young performers in two alternating casts of 18. Full cast and creative team information is available here.

“At its heart, this story is about joy — not the kind that comes from presents or decorations, but the joy we find in love, generosity, and community,” shares Director Jeff Frank. “Even when everything has seemingly been taken from the Whos, they know in their hearts that they have something that can never be stolen. That spirit is something we can all learn from.”

The experience begins before audiences even enter the theater. Starting 30 minutes before every performance, families can enjoy free, hands-on lobby activities inspired by the world of Dr. Seuss. Select performances will also feature special opportunities to extend the experience:

• Tech Talk — Sunday, December 6 at 4 p.m.
  Following the performance, audiences are invited to stay for an extended conversation with a member of the creative team and discover how First Stage brings a story from page to stage.
• Grandparent Brunch — Sunday, December 13 at 11 a.m.
  Gather the whole family for a delicious, festive brunch, and holiday crafts before enjoying First Stage’s Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical together.

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical is recommended for ages 5 and up and runs approximately 95 minutes including an intermission. Tickets start at $30.

A Sensory Friendly Performance will take place Saturday, December 5 at 11 a.m. A Sign Language Interpreted Performance will take place Sunday, December 20 at 4 p.m.

Tickets and additional information are available at firststage.org.

About First Stage

Founded in 1987, First Stage is one of the nation’s leading theaters for young people and families, and a driving force behind the creation of the best and most innovative plays for family audiences, theater training programs for young people, and education initiatives for its schools and community. First Stage ensures that all programming is not only accessible to its community but that it is reflective of the community it serves.

First Stage creates theater that honors young people’s perspectives and sparks meaningful conversation. The company has produced more than 70 world premiere plays addressing issues relevant to today’s youth. Its nationally recognized Theater Academy serves students ages 3–18, building life skills through stage skills, including the Next Steps Program for neurodivergent students. As Wisconsin’s leader in arts-integrated education, First Stage’s Theater in Education Programs reach more than 10,000 students each year by blending theater with classroom learning.

First Stage is a member of TYA/USA, Milwaukee Theater District, Milwaukee Arts Partners, and is a cornerstone member of the United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF). For more information, visit firststage.org.

About Jeff Frank (Director)

Recognized as one of the top directors in the field with an expertise in developing new work, Jeff holds a BFA in Theater from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, and an MFA in Child Drama from the University of Utah. Having served as First Stage’s Education and Academy Director from 1996-2003, Jeff had a long tenure as Artistic Director before becoming Executive Artistic Director in March of 2024. Recent First Stage directing credits include Peter Pan and Wendy, Goosebumps: Phantom of the Auditorium, Disney & Pixar’s Finding Nemo TYA, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™: The Musical, and many more. As Jeff enters his 31st season, he remains committed to the power of theater to transform lives and forever thankful to call First Stage home.

About Jake Horstmeier (The Grinch)

As an actor and educator, Jake has worked with First Stage, Next Act Theatre, Skylight Music Theatre, and Milwaukee Repertory Theatre. Past First Stage credits include Oaken in Disney’s Frozen, Marlin in Disney & Pixar’s Finding Nemo TYA, and The Lightning Thief (u/s). He continually appears as Abe Lincoln in the Steinhafels Presidents Day Sale ad campaign. As a singer/songwriter he performs under the monikers Lake Juke and Dacada Summer. He received his MFA in Acting from Purdue University and is an assistant professor of Acting at the UWM Peck School of the Arts.

Based on the book How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss
Book and Lyrics by Timothy Mason | Music by Mel Marvin
Additional Music and Lyrics by Albert Hague and Dr. Seuss

DR. SEUSS’S HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

* Appearing through an Agreement between First Stage and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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