Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP) expands across America this holiday season, including a multi-year deal at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium beginning with their newest production - THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ. It will be directed by Bonnie Lythgoe and choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (NappyTabs), with book by Kris Lythgoe and Michael Orland (American Idol) serving as musical arranger and supervisor. Casting is by executive producer Becky Lythgoe. This will be the seventh holiday season of Lythgoe Family Panto in Pasadena, and their second in this larger venue.
THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ will play a strictly limited engagement from December 14 through December 30, with the official press opening on December 14, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium,
300 East Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101. There will also be a special student matinee on December 14, 2018, servicing over 2000 Title One school children who will be introduced to the magic of live theatre for the very first time.
New this season, Pasadena VIP Memberships are on sale now through July 15, 2018, which include prime seating (and the ability to choose your own seat), an exclusive VIP experience featuring a meet and greet with the actors, and VIP Gold Room access. For more information, visit
https://americanpanto.com/tickets
Tickets start at $40 and Family Four Packs for just $99, go on sale July 20, 2018 and can be purchased online, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium or by calling 800-982-2787. Golden Tickets, which allow the ticketholder (children ages 4 - 12 only) a special on-stage experience during the production, are available for an additional $75.00 each.
An updated version of the beloved classic, in the style of a traditional British family Panto, THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ features family-friendly magic, with a comedic twist, dancing (with "So You Think You Can Dance" alumni), contemporary music and more.
This season Lythgoe Family Panto will also present three additional productions across America:
ALADDIN AND HIS WINTER WISH directed by
David F.M. Vaughn with Supervising Direction by
Bonnie Lythgoe will be presented in partnership with
North Carolina Theatre at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium from November 29- December 2. Tickets will go on sale July 17, 2018 and start at $23.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: A CHRISTMAS ROSE will mark the fourth year of the partnership between Lythgoe Family Panto and
Laguna Playhouse, and play December 7 - December 30. The production will be directed by
Sheldon Epps with choreography by
Mandy Moore. Tickets will go on sale July 9, 2018 and start at $20 for children and $30 for adults.
PETER PAN AND TINKER BELL - A PIRATES CHRISTMAS will star
John O'Hurley as Captain Hook and will be presented in partnership with Tennessee Performing Arts Center at the James K. Polk Theatre in Nashville from December 13-23. Tickets will go on sale September 21, 2018 and start at $35.
Lythgoe Family Panto is also finalizing details with Houston's Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) for a 2019 world premiere of a new Panto title to be directed by
Dan Knechtges.
"We are extremely excited to be launching our shows in the artistic and musically rich and diverse cities of Nashville and Raleigh. By expanding to new cities, we are introducing even more young audiences to live theatre some for the very first time, all while creating a new family holiday tradition at the theatre," says
Becky Lythgoe, Producer and Co-Founder of Lythgoe Family Panto.
Previously Lythgoe Family Panto established their reputation with productions including Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose starring Kellie Berglund,
James Snyder and
Gedde Watanabe, A Cinderella Christmas starring
Lauren Taylor,
Alex Newell and
Morgan Fairchild, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell - A Pirates Christmas starring
Sabrina Carpenter and
John O'Hurley, Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight starring
Olivia Holt and
Lucy Lawless, Aladdin and His Winter Wish starring
Ben Vereen,
Jordan Fisher, and
Ashley Argota - and A Snow White Christmas starring
Ariana Grande and
Neil Patrick Harris.
Lythgoe Family Panto 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. 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 a family can share together. In 2017 over 6000 title 1 students were introduced by the Lythgoe's to live theatre, through the medium of Panto.
Casting for THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ will be announced at a later date.
