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.
“One town was saying that they had the most Christmas cheer, and I was like, ‘That is absolutely not true,’” Michael says.
Around the same time, one of his students began exploring face paint and makeup for theatre, which inspired him to start experimenting with character makeup.
“I started doing stuff on my own face and then did a Grinch makeup,” Michael says. “The rest is history.”
From ingenious details to intricate shading, Michael’s art background was a springboard for working with makeup.
“I probably couldn’t have asked for the stars to align any better because I understood the shading,” Michael says. “I’ve got a pretty malleable face, so I’ve got the right contours and stuff to follow. It was a lot of fun.”
To add to the artistry, Michael refrains from using any prosthetics.
“It’s all face paint, and I actually shove grape tomatoes under my lip to kind of give that raised ‘Who’ face. So, that’s my secret technique,” Michael says.
By the time Michael leaves his house, he’s fully become the Grinch, and Elkton residents can’t get enough. This past Saturday, Dec. 13, Smiley’s Ice Cream was packed with a line of over 400 people lining up to meet the Grinch and take photos with him.
“I’m just excited, and it’s crazy that it’s evolved the way it has,” Michael says.
Michael also makes appearances at holiday events at the school where he teaches.
“Almost every year, we’ve done a 12 days of holiday dress up, and the Grinch is almost always one of those days,” he says.
Apart from being a local celebrity, Michael has also garnered a following on TikTok, where he posts videos decked out in full Grinch makeup and costume, impersonating Jim Carrey’s iconic voice. It’s no surprise that sometimes Michael’s students come across him online.
“Sometimes I just don’t say anything about it; a lot of times I’ll just let them figure it out. Other times, people are like: ‘Oh my gosh, wait a minute, why did I see you on my For You Page?’”
Though he impersonates a holiday-hating villain, Michael is a big Christmas fan and has always loved The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
“It’s actually probably one of the first movies I saw in theaters that I recall, definitely one that my mom and I shared a lot of memories with,” Michael says.
When Michael is the Grinch, he embraces being the villain you love to hate, but underneath all that chartreuse fur, he never loses the Christmas spirit.
“I actually love, love Christmas. And the Grinch always loved Christmas too, he just didn’t like people,” Michael says.
At the end of the day, Michael’s favorite part about being the Grinch is “being such a hateful character but making people giggle and laugh using his anger in a comical way.”
To catch Michael as the Grinch before the end of the holidays, visit Virginia BBQ & Pizza Co. at 1822 Resort Dr., Massanutten, on Dec. 23 from 6–8 p.m. Facebook.com
This article is a Virginia Living digital exclusive.
