Lucy Lawless News

Season two of the hit animated comedy-adventure series 'Big City Greens' premieres SATURDAY, NOV. 16 (9:30 a.m. EST/PST), on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW. Created and executive produced by brothers Chris and Shane Houghton ('Harvey Beaks'), the series follows mischievous and optimistic 10-year-old Cricket Green who moves from the country to the big city with his wildly out of place family—older sister Tilly, father Bill and Gramma Alice. 'Big City Greens' ranks among the top five animated series across all Cable with Kids and Girls 6-11.

To kick off Hayes Theatre Co's 2020 season, 100 Coffees Productions and Neil Gooding Productions are thrilled to announce the World Premiere of the new musical, The Life of Us. Directed by Neil Gooding, this modern-day musical written by Ashleigh Taylor, composed and written by Ben Bennett and mentored by the legendary Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Godspell), is being performed at Hayes Theatre Co from 16 January 2020. 

AMC Networks' Acorn TV, North America's largest and most popular streaming service for British and international television, has surpassed a major milestone and is now serving more than one million subscribers in the U.S. and Canada. Since its launch in 2011, Acorn TV has specialized in original and exclusive mysteries, dramas, and comedies from across the globe including Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, and other European countries.

New York's leading LGBTQ film festival, NewFest, has announced the full lineup of their 31st annual celebration of the year's best LGBTQ films from around the world. As announced earlier this week, the festival will kick off the festival's 31st edition with the New York premiere of Mike Doyle's Manhattan-set ensemble rom-com SELL BY, featuring an eclectic cast including Scott Evans (Netflix's “Grace and Frankie”), Kate Walsh (ABC's “Grey's Anatomy”), Academy Award-nominee and Emmy Award-winner Patricia Clarkson, Michelle Buteau (Netflix's “Tales of the City”) and Augustus Prew (HIGH-RISE), and will close the festival with the New York premiere of Rodrigo Bellott's award-winning film TU ME MANQUES, which was recently announced as Bolivia's submission for Best International Feature Film selection for the 2019 Academy Awards. 

From the family behind TV's American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, Lythgoe Family Panto produces live, interactive musical theater for the whole family. Panto is a uniquely British holiday theatrical tradition dating back to the 1700s, taking classic fairy tales and blending them with pop culture and music, with comedic scripts, improvised moments and local references. Panto creates a raucus, interactive environment where everyone participates in the fun.

The Emmy Award-nominated series 'Star Wars Resistance' returns for its second and final season beginning SUNDAY, OCT. 6 (10:00-10:30 p.m. EDT/PDT), on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW, with subsequent airings on Disney XD. The new season takes place during the events of 'The Last Jedi' leading up to 'The Rise of Skywalker,' as Kaz and the team continue to fight against the threat of the First Order, culminating in an epic series finale.

Michael Sterling, BroadwayWorld's LA On Air Host and Co-Producer for BWW TV and Jerry Evans of JLE Media in Los Angeles spent the day at rehearsal for Hollywood Bowl's upcoming, new production of Into the Woods.

The well-crafted and compelling new Australian mystery MY LIFE IS MURDER makes its exclusive U.S. premiere from Acorn TV beginning Monday, August 5, 2019 with the first two episodes; followed by a new episode every Monday through September 30. The 10-part series stars the beloved, award-winning actress Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess, Parks and Recreation) as Alexa Crowe, a fearless private investigator and ex-homicide detective who solves the most baffling crimes, as well as coping with the frustrations of everyday life. My Life is Murder is set to premiere on Network Ten in Australia in mid-July. Called a 'glorious streaming service... an essential must-have' (The Hollywood Reporter), Acorn TV is North America's largest streaming service for high-quality British and international TV.

Rubicon Theatre Company announces two performances of an intimate concert featuring Golden Globe Award-Winner and Grammy nominee Amanda McBroom, presented as part of the 2018-2019 Janet and Mark L. Goldenson Broadway Concert Series. Amanda McBroom, a Rubicon favorite both as a singer and actress, returns to Rubicon with a concert version of her hit play Lady Macbeth Sings the Blues on Saturday June 8 at 8p.m. and Sunday June 9 at 2 p.m.

The 29th annual Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival (Inside Out), championing innovative LGBTQ filmmakers from across the globe, revealed its full feature and short film lineup. The announcement was made today by Inside Out's Executive Director Andria Wilson and the festival's Director of Programming Andrew Murphy. Inside Out, which launched the first ever annual LGBTQ Film Finance Forum, has established itself as an international home and incubator for LGBTQ emerging and established filmmakers. This year's festival will take place May 23 to June 2, 2019.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic announces its 98th summer season at the Hollywood Bowl. The Hollywood Bowl summer season features world-class artists ranging from classical and pops to jazz, rock, and world music including the world premiere of two new LA Phil-commissioned works plus a fully-staged Broadway musical.

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.

Although the Lythgoe family is best known for producing reality television shows like 'So You Think You Can Dance' and 'American Idol,' live theater is in their blood. 'It's more part of my DNA,' says Kris Lythgoe. 'I really grew up surrounded by the tradition and frankly know nothing else.' Lythgoe says that tradition included spending his summers in the orchestra pit watching his mother direct, his winters in the editing suite with his TV dad, Nigel Lythgoe, and his Christmas holidays watching panto productions written and directed by both his parents. 'In Britain, the first introduction to theater is through panto for any child,' he says. 'So, whether or not my parents were in the business, the first introduction to theater and the breaking down of walls is what we call panto for kids.'

Casting News! Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, announce the latest casting for their newest production, the world premiere of THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, (300 East Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101) which will play a strictly limited engagement from December 15 through December 30.

The opening night celebration of THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ on December 14 will also serve as a benefit for the GiveKidsPanto program.  Lythgoe Family Panto created GiveKidsPanto, a non-profit educational program, serving over 6,000 Title 1 students across America annually. For many of these students, this is their first opportunity to see live theater.  GiveKidsPanto raises funds, which allows each LFP production across the country to add a student matinee to their performance schedule.  The funds raised through GiveKidsPanto go to facilitate the student's bus transportation to and from the theater as well as buy the tickets to the performances.  Last year at the Pasadena Civic alone, over 2,000 students from the Pasadena and Greater Los Angeles area schools were brought in to see a performance of Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose.  For more information please contact events@americanpanto.com

Breaking News! Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, announce additional casting for their newest production, the world premiere of THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, (300 East Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101) which will play a strictly limited engagement from December 15 through December 30. Singer, actress and dancer Mackenzie Ziegler (Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, Dance Moms) as Dorothy, Phil LaMarr ("Mad TV" and "Pulp Fiction") as The Tin Man, Jared Gertner (Broadway's The Book of Mormon) as The Scarecrow, and Hailee Payne and Valerie Rockey of So You Think You Can Dance join previously announced Kermit The Frog as the Wizard of Oz and Tony-Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (Celebrity Big Brother Winner and Broadway's Hairspray) as Glinda. The official press opening will be held on December 14, 2018 at GIVE KIDS PANTO, a benefit to raise monies for the student matinee performance serving Title One schools in the PUSD and LAUSD.

Today we celebrate Eve Ensler and the groundbreaking off-Broadway opening of her feminist phenomenon, The Vagina Monologues.

Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP) in association with the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, announces Kermit The Frog as the Wizard of Oz and Marissa Jaret Winokur (Celebrity Big Brother Winner and  Hairspray) as Glinda in their newest production - THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, (300 East Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101) which will play a strictly limited engagement from December 14 through December 30, with the official press opening on December 14.

Pretty Woman is currently bringing its twist on the Cinderella tale to the stage at Broadway's Nederland Theatre with star Samantha Barks making her Broadway debut donning the signature red gown nightly. Get to know Barks below!

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.