When Whoville bursts to life on the Children’s Theatre Company stage, longtime Bloomington resident Dean Holt is never far from the magic. Now more than 30 years into his CTC career, Dean directed Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas for the second time in the 2025-2026 season, and he’s also scampering across the stage as Old Max, the dog, for the fifth year running.
Dean joined CTC as a young apprentice, expecting a one-year adventure. Instead, it became a lifelong artistic home. It’s where he met his wife, Stacy, and where their sons, Henry and Emmet, spent childhood afternoons exploring rehearsal halls and backstage corners. Shifting into directing feels like a natural evolution for Dean.
“Each season brings new ideas, new cast members and new discoveries,” he said.
For him, the show’s staying power is simple. “It’s a story of togetherness and community,” Holt said. “Bloomington and the Twin Cities offer that too — a vibrant, growing arts community we’re very lucky to have.”
Catch Holt next as the Scarecrow in CTC’s The Wizard of Oz, April 21-June 14. Visit childrenstheatre.org for more information.
