By day, Christopher Michael shapes young minds in Elkton’s East Rockingham High School art classroom. But, come December each year, he transforms into the town’s most beloved Christmas curmudgeon: the Grinch. Dressed in classically green Grinchly garb, Michael prowls around Elkton’s local churches, ice cream shops, and small businesses.
“I’m interacting, I’m heckling, I’m harassing, but in a funny and comical way, and I think I have a good percentage of making people laugh instead of making people cry,” Michael says. “I’m absolutely a method actor, so once I’m dressed up and going, I don’t leave character.”
It all started in 2021, when Elkton competed in a “Christmas cheer” competition against other nearby towns. The towns submitted videos of their communities showing off their Christmas cheer, and Michael was determined to prove Elkton’s superior holiday spirit…