Ben Giroux News

A beast and a human form an unlikely friendship in Nickelodeon's newest animated series BUNSEN IS A BEAST, debuting Today, Feb. 21, at 5:30p.m.

A beast and a human form an unlikely friendship in Nickelodeon's newest animated series BUNSEN IS A BEAST, debuting Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 5:30p.m.

For the last few years the uber talented Lythgoe family have been entertaining us at Christmastime, at the Pasadena Playhouse with a British style panto. A panto is an interactive entertainment that starts with a very contemporary retelling of a fairy tale such as Snow White, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, or in this case Cinderella  and turns it into a fun imaginative show with music that will appeal to both children and their parents. There's usually an actor or two in drag, and a villain ... and audience are encouraged to root for the heroes and HISS loudly at the villains. It's all in amusement, of course, and this year's A Cinderella Christmas is all good fun with a superb cast, some fine pop singing and fast-paced dancing... and, first and foremost, a funfilled script by Kris Lythgoe. To pull the younger audience into the proceedings, crowns and magic wands are on sale. The kids wave their wands on high to encourage the union of Prince Charming (Kenton Duty) and Cinders, short for Cinderella (Lauren Taylor). The delightful family show plays at the Pasadena Playhouse throughout the holiday season until January 8.

A CINDERELLA CHRISTMAS marks the 5th anniversary of Panto at The Playhouse, and will play from December 8, 2016 - January 8, 2017.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Danny Feldman, Producing Artistic Director) announced today that this year's Panto at the Playhouse, Lythgoe Family Productions' A CINDERELLA CHRISTMAS (opening Thursday, December 8, 2016) kicks off with a special Tree Lighting Celebration on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).

Panto at The Playhouse, now in its fifth year, has become a "must-do" holiday tradition for Southern California residents. A CINDERELLA CHRISTMAS is the latest Holiday Spectacular  presented by The Pasadena Playhouse and Lythgoe Family Panto in the style of the traditional British Panto. A Panto is interactive holiday fun for all ages, and the timeless tale of Cinderella will feature comedy, magic, dancers from "So You Think You Can Dance" and contemporary music from Taylor Swift to the Bee Gees. Panto at The Playhouse productions have featured luminaries from the worlds of music, theatre and television, including Sabrina Carpenter, John O'Hurley, Ariana Grande, Ben Vereen, Olivia Holt and Lucy Lawless.

The Pasadena Playhouse and Lythgoe Family Productions (LFP) just opened Panto at the Playhouse PETER PAN AND TINKER BELL - A PIRATES CHRISTMAS. The cast features Sabrina Carpenter as 'Wendy' ('Girl Meets World', Hollywood Records recording artist), Kevin Quinn as 'Peter Pan' ('Bunk'd,' Season 12 of 'American Idol', 'Adventures in Babysitting'), Nikki SooHoo as 'Tiger Lily' ('The Lovely Bones,' 'Bring It On: Fight to the Finish' and 'Stick It'), Corey Fogelmanis as 'John' ('Girl Meets World'), and August Maturo as 'Michael' ('Girl Meets World'). Scroll down for photos from the opening night festivities, plus, click here for a behind-the-scenes look at opening night!

Due to overwhelming demand, The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director) and Lythgoe Family Productions (LFP) have added a January 2, 2015 7:30pm performance of this year's Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT.

The Pasadena Playhouse's presentation of this year's Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT is now in its final week and must close Sunday, January 4.

Due to overwhelming demand, The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director) and Lythgoe Family Productions (LFP) have added a January 2, 2015 7:30pm performance of this year's Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT.

For the last few years the uber talented Lythgoe family have been entertaining us at Christmastime, first at the El Portal in NoHo and now at the Pasadena Playhouse with a British style panto. A panto is an interactive entertainment that starts with a very contemporary retelling of a fairy tale such as Snow White, Cinderella, or in this case Sleeping Beauty and turns it into a fun imaginative show with music that will appeal to both children and their parents. There's usually an actor in drag (outrageous David Engel as Nanny Tickle, Aurora's nanny), a villain or villainess (Lucy Lawless as Carabosse))... and audience are encouraged to root for the heroes and HISS loudly at the villains. Lawless tries to sway and seize control over the audience by singing 'One Way or

The Pasadena Playhouse and Lythgoe Family Productions (LFP) presents this year's Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT. The production opened on December 10 and plays through January 4, 2015. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

The Pasadena Playhouse and Lythgoe Family Productions (LFP) presents this year's Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT, opening tonight, December 10, and playing through January 4, 2015.

Disney Channel star Olivia Holt (I Didn't Do It) is coming to Pasadena Playhouse this holiday season in SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT. The actress recently stopped by 'Good Day LA' to discuss playing 'Aurora' onstage. Watch the interview below!

The Pasadena Playhouse announces the debut of the "Holiday Presentation Package." Playhouse guests who have purchased tickets for the Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT may add tickets to Twilight Zone UnScripted: Holiday Edition for just $ 25 per ticket. In addition, Playhouse guests who attend Twilight Zone UnScripted: Holiday Edition can save 20% on tickets to SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director) announce the debut of the 'Holiday Presentation Package.' Playhouse guests who have purchased tickets for the Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT may add tickets to Twilight Zone UnScripted: Holiday Edition for just $ 25 per ticket. In addition, Playhouse guests who attend Twilight Zone UnScripted: Holiday Edition can save 20% on tickets to SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT. More information can be found at The Pasadena Playhouse Box Office: 626-356-7529.

This just in! The Pasadena Playhouse and Lythgoe Family Productions (LFP) announces Garrett Clayton (Disney's "Teen Beach Movie") as Sleeping Beauty's Prince of Alhambra in this year's Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT. The cast also features previously announced Disney Recording Artist Olivia Holt as "Aurora" (Disney's "I Didn't Do It"), Lucy Lawless as "Carabosse" ("Xena: Warrior Princess," "Spartacus"), David Engel as "Nanny Tickle" (Broadway's "La Cage aux Folles," "Seussical"), Tamyra Gray as "The Good Fairy" ("American Idol," Broadway's "Bombay Dreams" and "Rent") and returning from last year's Panto at the Playhouse production of Aladdin and His Winter Wish, Ben Giroux as "Silly Billy" (CW's "Hart of Dixie).

The Pasadena Playhouse announce cast members for this year's Panto at the Playhouse SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT. The cast will feature Disney Recording Artist Olivia Holt as "Aurora" (Disney's "I Didn't Do It"), Lucy Lawless as "Carabosse" ("Xena: Warrior Princess," "Spartacus"), David Engel as "Nanny Tickle" (Broadway's "La Cage aux Folles," "Seussical"), Tamyra Gray as "The Good Fairy" ("American Idol," Broadway's "Bombay Dreams" and "Rent") and returning from last year's Panto at the Playhouse production of Aladdin and His Winter Wish, Ben Giroux as "Silly Billy" (CW's "Hart of Dixie).

Aladdin and His Winter Wish/written by Kris Lythgoe/directed by Bonnie Lythgoe/Pasadena Playhouse/through December 29 For a few years the prolific Lythgoe family have been entertaining us at Christmastime, first at the El Portal in NoHo and now at the Pasadena Playhouse with a British style panto. A panto is an interactive entertainment that starts with a very contemporary retelling of a fairy tale such as Snow White, Cinderella, or in this case Aladdin and turns it into a fun imaginative show with music that will appeal to both children and their parents. There's usually an actor in drag (outrageous Bruce Vilanch as the Widow Twankey, Aladdin's mother), a villain (Josh Adamson as Abanazar) and audience are encouraged to root for the heroes and HISS loudly at the villains. Actors such as Adamson tease the audience with a Mel Brooks-like phrase 'It's fun to be evil!' after which kids and adults boo and boo some more and even raise up props such as swords and other toy weapons in defense of their favorite hero. It's all in amusement, of course, and this year's Aladdin and His Winter Wish is by far the best show to date with a superlative cast, great special effects, some spectacular dancing and singing and an overall jolly good script by Kris Lythgoe that flows along without the slightest snag.