They say he’s a mean one, cuddly as a cactus and as charming as an eel. That he’s got termites in his smile and the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile.

You wouldn’t want to touch him with a 39-and-a-half-foot pole. But, perhaps, you might want to see him singing and dancing onstage.

That’s what Broadway in Richmond is hoping for next week when they bring “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical” to the Altria Theater for a six-day stay. Adapted from Seuss’ 1957 book and the 1966 animated film narrated by Boris Karloff, the musical has the distinction of topping Broadway box office grosses in the first week of December 2006, ending the top-grossing streak that “Wicked” had enjoyed for the previous 100 weeks.

Ahead of his residency at the Altria, Style caught up with the Grinch to see what Richmond can expect from the famous misanthrope:

Grinch: I hope this isn’t a spam call about my sled’s extended warranty.

Style: Luckily, no.

Oh, good. Go ahead. What do you want?

I was hoping to speak with you ahead of your visit to Richmond next week.

Oh, of course. I just had a visit this week too. We’ve been everywhere. I’ve been to the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade. They had me as the Grand Marshal.

I also visited the RVA Illuminates and I tried to stop all the lighting, but it didn’t work. I had to sneak in because the mayor wouldn’t give me an invitation. Ugh.

I read to some kiddies over in Carytown at BBGB, and I went to the VCU basketball game. Oh, it’s been so fun. We’ve recruited so many people to steal Christmas this year.

What do you make of Richmond?

It’s quite a cheery town, I’ll tell you that. My goodness. I mean, I knew that everyone was so filled with Christmas cheer. And that’s why I had to come. I had to come take all the cheer away. I had to get a bunch of recruits and steal this Christmas.

You’re famous for your animus towards Christmas. What about other holidays? What about Easter? What about Hanukkah? Do you feel the same way towards Kwanzaa?

I’m not a big fan of any holidays, really. But, I guess if I had to pick one, Halloween would be my favorite. Because, you know, it’s trick or treat. I love to cause some mayhem. It’s fun to play tricks on people.

What should folks expect when you come to the Altria?

They can expect a good time and a show that’s all about me. There’ll be lots of dancing and Whos singing and my dog Max will be there. And Cindy Lou Who. It’s really fun for the whole family.

What’s the hardest part about being the Grinch?

Having to deal with the Whos. I mean, I’ve got the best life. I’m mean, I’m green, I’m beautiful. I’ve got a gorgeous cave up on Mount Crumpet. I’ve got a dog named Max who acts as one of my reindeer (don’t tell anybody). It’s fun being me, but the hardest part would be dealing with all of the Whos, because Mount Crumpet is just 3,000 feet up from Whoville. Everything that goes on down there, it’s way too much, you know?

What else should audiences know about your residency at the Altria?

It’s just a really fun show. The costumes, the set design — everything just transports you into the world of Dr. Seuss. It’s really a blast. It’s 85-90 minutes. There’s no intermission. But it zips on by, and, you know, it made my heart grow three sizes. I hope it’ll make yours, too.

That’s a good place to end things. Mr. Grinch, thank you for your time.

Thank you. Awful Christmas to you.

Broadway in Richmond’s “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical,” plays Dec. 12-17 at the Altria Theater, 6 N. Laurel St. For more information, visit altriatheater.com or call (800) 514-3849.