Broadway hits filled with music in fall schedule

PATRICK PAGE — Sooner or later, the Grinch had to come to Broadway in a starring role. He had a small part in "Seussical" in 2000. Now that venerable green meanie, a creation of Theodor Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss), will headline a limited holiday engagement at the Hilton Theatre, opening Nov. 8 for a run through Jan. 7.

The show, of course, is the impossibly long-titled "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! — The Musical." It's a 90-minute stage version that in past seasons has been wowing audiences at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre. And the show, starring Patrick Page as the Grinch, will play 12 performances each week to accommodate the kiddies during one of the busiest theatergoing times of the year.

"LES MIZ" RETURNS — The following night, Nov. 9, another old favorite returns. "Les Miserables" sets up its barricades at the Broadhurst for a six-month run with a new cast of theater veterans. Alexander Gemignani will portray Victor Hugo's tormented hero, Jean Valjean; Norm Lewis is the dastardly Inspector Javert; Daphne Rubin-Vega plays Fantine; Gary Beach, the opportunistic Thenardier; and Jenny Galloway his equally avaricious wife.

DISNEY CLASSIC — "Mary Poppins," the tales of P.L. Travers' most efficient nanny, was the basis for an acclaimed Disney movie starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Four decades later, Disney joined forces with Cameron Mackintosh to put "Poppins" on stage, first in London and now at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre where the musical, directed by Richard Eyre, opens Nov. 16.

Ashley Brown is Mary and Gavin Lee plays Bert the chimney sweep. Most of the songs from the movie are still around — where would we be without "Chim Chim Cher-ee" — although new numbers by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe have been added.

SONDHEIM CLASSIC — Last season, director John Doyle created a stir with his revival of "Sweeney Todd," in which the actors on stage played the show's instruments. This season, Doyle does it again with another Stephen Sondheim musical, "Company," a look at a bachelor who can't commit. Raul Esparza portrays the indecisive male in this production, which originated in April at Cincinnati's Playhouse in the Park. It opens Nov. 29 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.

LONDON TRANSFER — Breaking up happens all the time for Rob, the record-store owner who is the hero of "High Fidelity," a new musical based on British author Nick Hornby's novel. Transplanted to Brooklyn from London (the John Cusack movie was set in Chicago), the musical stars Will Chase as Rob and Jenn Collela as Laura, the last one who got away.