“The Grinch”

Whoville is getting a little wild this Christmas.

Highlands Ballet Company brings The Grinch to the stage in an all-new original production conceived and choreographed by Artistic Director Deirdre Cole, a 2026 Arts Alliance Mountain Empire Arts Achievement Award recipient.

Leading the cast is professional guest dancer Tom Lake of Florida as the Grinch, joined by Lillian Baranowsky as Cindy Lou Who, Aislynn Seagroves as Max, Amanda Johnson as Martha May, Ari Sheets as Betty Lou Who, Leena Johnson as Milly Lou Who, Regan Sheets as Tilly Lou Who, Taylor Stanfill as Maisy Lou Who, and Madi Johnson as Daisy Lou Who.

This isn’t your typical holiday ballet. Classical and contemporary dance collide with theatrical storytelling, live musicians, colorful Whoville characters, and the Patrick Henry High School Rebel Voices Chorus, directed by Brad Fore. Children from Highlands Center for Ballet Arts—the training school of Highlands Ballet Company—join company dancers, professional guest artists, and members of the local community to fill the stage with the wonderfully eccentric world of Whoville.

At the center of the chaos is one very green, very grouchy Grinch who has had enough of Christmas. But when his plan to steal the holiday brings him face-to-face with Cindy Lou Who, he discovers that Christmas may be about something much bigger than presents, ribbons, and trimmings.

Funny. Festive. A little irreverent. And underneath all that green, full of heart.

Bring the whole family and step inside Whoville for a fresh new Christmas experience celebrating community, kindness, and love.