Whoville is getting rebuilt in Balboa Park once again. The Old Globe's musical production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! returns for its 29th year, running November 4 through December 31 with opening night set for Sunday, November 8.
A Holiday Fixture Gets a Bilingual Addition
The production is a musical based on the classic Dr. Seuss book, according to The Old Globe. This year's run is notable for a new addition: a fully produced Spanish-language production titled ¡Cómo el Grinch robó la Navidad!, scheduled for just four performances from November 19 through 22. The English-language version features the songs “Santa for a Day,” “You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and “Welcome, Christmas (Fah Who Doraze),” the last of which is a carol from the animated version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.
As detailed in KPBS's event listing, the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage inside the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, is once again transformed into snow-covered Who-ville for the run. The theater sits within Balboa Park, where the Old Globe has stood as San Diego's flagship arts institution for more than 70 years. The Grinch musical itself carries a book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin, per BroadwayWorld.
Running Time and Who Can Attend
The show clocks in at one hour and 20 minutes with no intermission, the theater's production page notes. Performances admit children ages three and older, though kids under three are only admitted to 10:30 a.m. all-ages performances. Minors age 12 and under must attend with an accompanying adult and sit with them, and for afternoon and evening performances, every attendee needs a ticket for their own seat.
Showtimes vary each week, and the theater notes that event dates and times are subject to change without notice, so attendees should check the ticketing website for exact showtimes before planning a visit.
Accessible Performances Added to the Schedule
The 2026 run includes several access-oriented performances. ASL-interpreted shows are set for Friday, November 13, and Friday, December 11, both at 7 p.m. An open-caption performance is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, at 2 p.m.
A sensory-friendly performance is also planned for Saturday, December 12, at 10 a.m. The 2023 production, which marked the show's 26th year, included a similar sensory-friendly performance for children on the autism spectrum, their families and other families with special needs, offering a point of comparison for the format's history at the Globe.
Part of a Broader Holiday Lineup
The Grinch is one piece of the Old Globe's holiday programming, which also includes Ebenezer Scrooge's BIG San Diego Christmas Show, running Friday, November 20, through Sunday, December 27, in a version that wraps in an hour and fifteen minutes with no intermission, according to There's San Diego. The Old Globe includes a Shakespeare Festival among its offerings; one of the theater's own releases describes its year-round programming as a season of 16 productions across three Balboa Park stages, while KPBS's listing describes it as 15 plays and musicals on three stages, a discrepancy that remains unresolved in the available materials.
The Old Globe Theatre is located at 1363 Old Globe Way in San Diego. Because schedules can shift, attendees should check the event organizer's website for the most updated performance calendar before buying tickets.
