I thought Jack O'Brien was directing The Grinch?

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 2:25pm

I remember reading that Jack was directing it before it started rehersals...was he replaced?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 2:43pm

No, he directed it both in NY and San Diego....

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 2:45pm

But it says on broadway.com and interviews I saw that Matt August directed it.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 2:47pm

Matt is his assistant.

Everything I can find online has Jacks name as diretor.

[otis33]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 2:48pm

Jack directed the original production in San Diego, with John Deluca choreographing. There's a team that restages/recreates Jack's show in San Diego. I believe Jack 'oversaw' the staging in NYC, but Matt August does get directing credit.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 2:51pm

Matt was the guy who directed the Canadian version of 'Hairspray' as well.

[otis33]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 3:11pm

Jack and John still have director/choreographer billing in San Diego, but neither have been directly involved for the last several years.
Matt is definitel billed as director for the Bway show.

[manderson05]

Posted: 11/13/06 at 4:36pm

I ran into Jack at opening night not knowing actually that he was at all involved with the Grinch... yep felt super intelligent there... but I approched him to congratulate him on how amazing I thought the first part The Coast of Utopia was. We chit chatted for a bit and then introduced me to Matt August, and said M.. this Matt August. He directed the show. So, I am assuming that Jack did it originally in San Diego and just supervised over the project in New York. However, when I got to my seat and read in the playbill that he had supervised I which I would have wished him luck on his opening night. When I ran into him later, we both had a good laugh.