THE FESTIVE season is almost upon us and with it comes a traditional British panto at the Pasadena Playhouse, courtesy of those clever expat Brits, the Lythgoe family.
A Snow White Christmas will run from December 13th to 23rd and will star Ariana Grande, Charlene Tilton and Neil Patrick Harris in an onscreen guest role as the Magic Mirror.
Starring as Snow White is 19-year-old Grande, from Boca Raton, Florida, who is best known as Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon sitcom Victorious. Charlene Tilton of course needs no introduction – at least for Dallas fans. The diminutive actress played Lucy Ewing on the popular TV series from 1978 to 1985. And Neil Patrick Harris is a near-constant on our TV screens. The actor got his start in 1989 on Doogie Howser, MD and currently stars as the womanizing Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother on CBS TV.
This inaugural “Panto at The Playhouse” production will be directed by Bonnie Lythgoe, producer and judge of season one of So You Think You Can Dance) with choreography by Spencer Liff and musical direction by Michael Orland.
Bonnie Lythgoe is the former wife and producing partner of Nigel Lythgoe, who together with their son Kris, comprise Lythgoe Family Productions. The family are dedicated to bringing affordable theatre to families across America. Based on timeless Grimm fairytales, each story has been modernized with topical scripts for parents and well known pop songs for kids.
“We are truly honored to be working with the prestigious Pasadena Playhouse in continuing the introduction of American Panto to families,” said Kris Lythgoe of the upcoming show. “It has always been a goal of the Lythgoe family to work with a theatre that shares in our ambition of encouraging young audiences to attend theatre and to bring families together at the holiday season. We believe The Playhouse is the perfect LA home for Panto and we look forward to Panto at The Playhouse for many seasons to come!”
British expats will of course know panto’s uniquely British quirks from their own childhoods, including heavy audience interaction, toe-curling puns and humor that appeals to both kids and adults. Before every performance, guests and their families are invited to enjoy a “Winter Wonderland” event sponsored by Parenting Magazine in The Playhouse’s Engemann FamilyCourtyard, complete with holiday carolers, crafts, activities, games and photo opportunities.
The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 7:00 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Single show ticket prices for range from $32.00 – $72.00, with Premium Seating available for $100.00. Child single tickets are available for Rear Orchestra and Rear Mezzanine seating ranging from $22.00 – $47.00. Golden Tickets are available for an additional $100.00 each and are limited to 10 Golden Tickets per performance. A Golden Ticket allows the ticketholder (children only) a special on-stage experience during the production. Service and theatre restoration fees apply to all purchases. Tickets are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Tuesday – Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates. On performance dates the Box Office is open Tuesday – Saturday from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org. Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena.
