NEW YORK (AP) — Could the Grinch get Christmas stolen out from under him?

The limited holiday engagement of "Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas!" won't re-open until the lengthening labour dispute between Broadway stagehands and theatre producers is settled, James Sanna, the show's producer, said.

"It's not like there's an option to rebook the show," Sanna said, adding that the musical "is losing a significant amount of money."

Sanna had wanted to resume yesterday, the start of the lucrative Thanksgiving holiday when "Grinch" was to play 15 performances ¿ almost twice the usual number of weekly performances for Broadway shows.

The producer said an agreement for "Grinch" was reached over the summer and signed by both the League of American Theatres and Producers and Local 1, the stagehands union, and the current contract wrangle does not involve his production. Sanna is not a member of the league.

But the owners of the St. James Theatre, where "Grinch'',is playing, said no.

"'The Grinch' will not re-open until the union signs agreements and ends the strike at all theaters and all the other shows that have been closed by their strikes reopen on Broadway," Jujamcyn Theatres, which does belong to the league, said in a statement.

There are only seven weeks left for the limited-engagement run of the show.

"We need a miracle on 44th Street," Sanna said.

The family friendly musical opened November 9, one day before the strike began. Cast members were visibly upset by the news that the show wouldn't go on, some crying at Monday's news conference.

"We've been jerked around so much," said Amy Griffin, who plays Cherry Who. "We have little children waiting to make their Broadway debut in this show who are just miserable."