Lythgoe Family Productions to Stage Two Holiday Pantos in SoCal with Choreography by SPRING AWAKENING's Spencer Liff

Lythgoe Family Productions (LFP) announces the expansion of their family friendly pantos this holiday season with two productions playing concurrently in Southern California - A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS, directed by Chris Baldock, playing December 2-27 at the Laguna Playhouse, and PETER PAN AND TINKER BELL - A PIRATES CHRISTMAS, directed by Bonnie Lythgoe, playing December 9 - January 3 at The Pasadena Playhouse. Michael Orland of AMERICAN IDOL will serve as musical director and Spencer Liff of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE and the current Broadway revival of SPRING AWAKENING will serve as choreographer for both productions.

Adding to the excitement, auditions will be held for children to play the dwarves in A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS at Westfield Main Place shopping Mall in Santa Ana on Sunday, October 4, 2015. The auditions will be judged by "So You Think You Can Dance" creator and judge Nigel Lythgoe. For further information see www.americanpanto.com/casting.

LFP CEO Kris Lythgoe said, "We are so proud of the Panto brand expanding to another prestigious theatre, the Laguna Playhouse. Laguna and Pasadena are both communities that support the arts and we are excited to entertain families there for years to come."

Lythgoe Family Productions produces fun, musical theatre the whole family can enjoy. Known for their creativity and involvement in television hits AMERICAN IDOL and SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, the Lythgoes are dedicated to bringing affordable theatre to families across America.

Bringing the longstanding British tradition of pantomimes to the United States, Los Angeles area audiences know them from SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT starring Olivia Holt and Lucy Lawless, ALADDIN AND HIS WINTER WISH starring Ben Vereen and Jordan Fisher and A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS starring Ariana Grande and 'onscreen' Magic Mirror Neil Patrick Harris at The Pasadena Playhouse, and previously A CINDERELLA CHRISTMAS starring Shoshana Bean and Fred Willard and A Snow White Christmas starring Marina Sirtis and Erich Bergen at the El Portal Theatre.

Based on the Grimm fairytales and others, each story has been modernized with topical scripts for parents and well known pop songs for kids. The Lythgoes pride themselves on creating a memorable experience families can share together. The shows include the family musical interactive fun that LFP is known for, with beloved fairytale characters singing well-known pop songs.

A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS is the American Panto version based on the Snow White fairytale which includes singing, dancing and interactive fun and magic, and features songs from Lady Gaga's 'Born this Way', Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' and The Village People's 'YMCA'.

PETER PAN AND TINKER BELL - A PIRATES CHRISTMAS is the latest Holiday Spectacular presented by The Pasadena Playhouse and Lythgoe Family Productions. Tinker Bell, Wendy and Peter Pan embark on a wild quest to foil the pirates' plot to kidnap Peter for Captain Hook's Christmas present in this flying, singing, swashbuckling adventure, which features comedy, magic, dancers from "So You Think You Can Dance," and contemporary music from Taylor Swift to the Bee Gees.

The creative team for A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS and PETER PAN AND TINKER BELL - A PIRATES CHRISTMAS also includes musical arrangements by Michael Orland ("American Idol"), book by Kris Lythgoe, scenic and costume design by Lythgoe Family Productions, and producers Becky Baeling Lythgoe and Kris Lythgoe.

See what goes into staging a panto in the video!

A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will play from December 2-27, 2015 at the Laguna Playhouse. The Laguna Playhouse is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna, CA 92651. The performance schedule is Wednesdays - Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 12:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.; Special matinees --. Thursday, December 17 at 2:00pm, Wednesday, December 23 at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00pm.; Thursday, December 24 at 12:00pm and 4:00 p.m. (No performances December 25.)

Tickets for A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS range from $30.00 - $60.00 with Child single tickets available from Orchestra and Mezzanine seating ranging from $20.00 - $30.00. Tickets are available by calling the Laguna Playhouse at 949-497-2787, online 24 hours a day at www.lagunaplayhouse.com, or by visiting the Laguna Playhouse Box Office, Monday - Saturday 12 noon to 5:00pm and Sunday 11:00am - 4:00pm or one hour prior to show time on performance nights. Hours of operation are subject to change.

PETER PAN AND TINKER BELL - A PIRATES CHRISTMAS will play from December 9, 2015 - January 3, 2016 at The Pasadena Playhouse. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101. The performance schedule is Tuesdays - Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 12:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.; Special matinees -- Tuesday, December 22 at 3:00 p.m.; Wednesday, December 23 at 3:00 p.m.; Thursday, December 24 at 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 29 at 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday, December 30 at 3:00 p.m. (No performances December 25, 31, and January 1.)

Tickets for PETER PAN AND TINKER BELL - A PIRATES CHRISTMAS range from $34.00 - $77.00, with Premium Seating available for $125.00. Child single tickets are available for Rear Orchestra and Rear Mezzanine seating ranging from $29.00 - $49.00. Service and theatre restoration fees apply to all purchases. Group Sales (8 or more) are available by calling 626-921-1161. Tickets are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529, online 24 hours a day at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org, 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.

GOLDEN TICKETS are available as an add-on to any child's ticket for an additional $50.00 each (limit of 10 Golden Tickets available per performance). A Golden Ticket provides the ticketholder (children only) with a special onstage sing-a-long experience during the production, a gift bag with special surprises, a SNOW WHITE or PETER PAN collectible poster, and one free photo with Santa!

Pictured: Ariana Grande, Neil Patrick Harris and Charlene Tilton in 2012's A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS at The Pasadena Playhouse. Photo courtesy of F. Scott Schafer.

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