by Noella Noelophile®
(Photo by J. Katarzyna Woronowicz, and used with permission.)
O-kay. I made a mistake last year. I am NOT doing that again.
Even if we are still eight days away from Halloween.
Last November, I blithely assumed there was ample time to give you information on San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting–a free event featuring Dr. Seuss’ “Grinch”.
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
By November of 2013, required reservations for this beloved San Diego Christmas tradition were booked up tighter than the Grinch’s shoes. Seats were standby only.
(Gabriella Dimmick as Cindy-Lou Who and Steve Blanchard as The Grinch in the 2013 production of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The 17th annual production of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, directed by James Vásquez, will run Nov. 15 – Dec. 27, 2014 at The Old Globe. Photo by Jim Cox, and used with permission)
So–I’m alerting you now. If you’d like to go, this is the time to call the Old Globe’s box office and make your reservations for this family-oriented Christmas program. While it’s free on the day of the tree lighting, reservations are required–and not surprisingly, space tends to book up quickly.
This year’s tree lighting is scheduled for Sunday, November 16th. The celebration starts with special live performance by the cast of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, currently in its seventeenth year at the Old Globe. Showtime is at 4:30 pm, featuring a brand-new Grinch: Broadway veteran Burke Moses, making his Old Globe debut as everybody’s favorite green Christmas antihero.
Snow will fall on Copley Plaza, and after the show, the Grinch lights the Copley Plaza Christmas tree–as one lucky child gets to be “Santa for a Day” and help him.
Steve Blanchard as the Grinch. (Photo courtesy of J. Katarzyna Woronowicz, and used with permission.)
Which leads us to another tradition at the Old Globe Theatre. From now through the deadline date, Wednesday, November 12th, kids ages 3 to 10 are invited to create an original drawing about what Christmas (or Hanukkah, or winter solstice for that matter!) means to them. (Sorry, the Old Globe’s webpage says “what the holidays mean”, but lumping distinctive holidays into one generic term just seems strange to me.)
Parents may either e-mail a photo of their child’s entry to Contest@TheOldGlobe.org, deliver a drawing in person or mail it to: “Santa for a Day” Contest, P.O. Box 122171, San Diego, CA 92112. All of these submissions will be posted online on The Old Globe’s Facebook page. And according to the Old Globe’s contest information, the randomly-selected winner gets both a family VIP four-pack of tickets to the 4:30 pm performance, and the opportunity to assist the Grinch, afterwards, as he lights the tree for Christmas season 2014.
Meanwhile, opening night, for Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, is Thursday, November 20th, at 7 pm. There will be a preview show on Saturday, November 15th.
(from left) Steve Blanchard as The Grinch and Jeffrey Schecter as Young Max in the 2013 production of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The 17th annual production of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, directed by James Vásquez, will run Nov. 15 – Dec. 27, 2014 at The Old Globe. Photo by Jim Cox, and used with permission.
And a special, Christmas note: there will also be a sensory-friendly performance for children with autism or other special needs, and their families, at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 13th. Information on any of the shows is available here.
But, once again–if you and your family would like to see the “Grinch” on November 16th, and watch him light the Dr. Seuss-inspired Christmas tree afterwards, you’ll need to request reservations, available by calling the box office at (619) 23-GLOBE. And since this is a free show, the sooner the better–before they book up completely and you and your family have to miss this festive San Diego celebration.
Now THAT is a truly scary idea.
San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre’s Ninth Annual Old Globe Christmas Tree Lighting starts with a free performance by cast members of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Sunday afternoon, November 16th at 4:30 in Copley Plaza. The Grinch will light the tree at 6 pm. This is a free family event, but reservations are required and can be made by calling the Old Globe’s box office at (619) 23-GLOBE. Meanwhile, children ages 3 to 10 are invited to enter the Old Globe’s “Santa For a Day” contest. Contest entries will be accepted through Wednesday, November 12th; information is available here.