Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Judge grants injunction ordering Jujamcyn Theaters to allow the show to re-open, Jujamcyn plan to appeal the decision.

The producers of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! won their injunction against Jujamcyn Theaters today. State Supreme Court Justice Helen Freedman summed up her ruling: "I'm going to grant the injunction against the lockout. I think one Grinch in town is enough."

Now that the producers have won their injunction they will re-open Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! in time for the 11am matinee on Fri 23 Nov 2007.

Despite this apparent good news, the producers of The Grinch may still not be able to open the show, as Jujamcyn Theaters are to launch an appeal against the court�s decision.

The producers sought the injunction after Local One, Broadway's stagehand's union, had agreed to work the musical. The agreement was reached because the The Grinch has twelve performances per week, and not the standard eight performances of a typical Broadway production, and therefore the producers of the musical had negotiated their own contract with Local One, separate from the League.

Following the agreement, the union removed the picket line from the front of St James Theatre, home of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! on 19 Nov 2007, only for the theatre's owner, Jujamcyn Theaters, to announce that they had locked out the show's stagehands and would not allow the show to go ahead.

Jujamcyn's lawyer, Neil Abramson, argued in court that their decision to lock-out the stagehands was legal and a tactical decision on how they should respond to the strike by Local One. They also argued that they had no guarantee that, if the stagehands returned to work, they would not walk out again at a later date. Abramson also told the Judge that she lacked authority under state labour laws to end the lockout.

State Supreme Court Justice Helen Freedman made her ruling based on the wording of the theater lease and because the producers of The Grinch, a $6 million production, would be irreparably harmed if the show wasn't permitted to resume its runs.

So, after going to court, it still remains to be seen if The Grinch will resume its run. If Jujamcyn Theaters are successful in their appeal, and continue to lock-out the stagehands, then many expect that the producers will post closing notices for the show.

In Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! � The Musical, a Christmas hating Grinch steals all the Xmas toys and decorations from the Christmas loving Who's family, but as the musical unfolds both the Grinch and the Who's learn the true meaning of Christmas. The show includes two songs from the 1966 Grinch film: 'You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch' and 'Welcome Christmas.'

Patrick Page, who played the grumpy 'Grinch' in last year's production, returns to the role. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! � The Musical is once again be directed by Matt August.

The production also features Rusty Ross, Jan Neuberger, Janet Dickinson, Amy Griffin, Kurt Kelly, Josephine Rose Roberts and Pearl Sun.

Patrick Page's Broadway credits include playing 'Scar' in The Lion King, Brutus in Julius Caesar (2005), Lumiere in The Beauty and the Beast (1994) and The Kentucky Cycle (1993).

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! � The Musical has book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin and was directed by Matt August and choreographed by John DeLuca.

Set design was by John Lee Beatty, with costumes by Robert Morgan, lighting by Pat Collins and sound by Acme Sound Partners.

The musical has been playing during the Christmas holidays at The Old Globe Theater in San Diego for the last 9 years.

The show was conceived and created by Jack O'Brien, and is based on the 1957 Christmas story by Dr. Seuss of the same name.

The musical is being produced on Broadway by Running Subway Prods.