Due to Covid-19 all panto camps are cancelled until further notice. For further information please email lfp@americanpanto.com
How important is dance in the world?
CHASE: Dance is one of the most important things we actively practice in the world. It’s a movement that allows you to express emotion, feelings and anything trapped inside of you. Thus leading you to a better place. It allows us to connect to each other beyond what words can do. Dance is an action that speaks louder than words and I believe it has the ability to move mountains in our lives.
NAPOLEON: I’m not sure if it’s importance can be measured against some of the things we go through in our world. But i do know that when you dance you can’t help to smile, to have feeling, to go through emotions and that is good for the soul and good for the heart.
KITTY:Movement is the universal language! I think it's the key to uniting the world!
This is your first Panto, what do you find fun about the Art?
CHASE: I love how Panto combines older stories and up to date music to the stage. I think it’s a fun way for everyone of all interest to get involved with the art. There’s always something in Panto you can connect to whether its the music or the actors lines.
NAPOLEON: I’m a theatre geek at heart. I live the theatre so it’s so fun to be able to Collabo in this space. We don’t get to do theatre often enough.
KITTY: Laughter is the best medicine, it's refreshing to not take everything so seriously and have a bit of silly fun.
If you could choreograph any one dead or alive who would it be?
CHASE: Fosse for sure. I would love to see how he took my movement into his own. That would be the most invirgorating learning process for me. As a choreographer, encounters with people like that only make you better at your craft.
NAPOLEON: Michael Jackson. Just love his music and lived his music.
KITTY: NIJINSKY
What is your next project after Panto?
CHASE: Installing a show in Italy called DIAMOND RUN. It features an international man of mystery who crisscrosses the globe in pursuit of a priceless blue diamond -- and the beautiful jewel Assasin who wants it for herself. This heart-pounding spy thriller features songs by Madonna, Tina Turner, Duran Duran, Shirley Bassey and more.
NAPOLEON: Super Bowl Halftime
KITTY: Developing more theatre pieces.
-We know you from Teen Beach Movies, TV shows and theatre, what do you love about the form of Panto?
I love how interactive it is! It introduces family’s young and old to a form of cherished theatre they’ve been doing in the UK for hundreds of years. We also incorporate modern pop/rock music into the show. It feels like a very modern take on classic fairy tales. My favorite show is always the ones where they’re not scared to yell the loudest! Hah! It’s as much fun for us as it is them.
- What is expected from the Panto audience and how should they best participate in the performance?
When the heroes come out cheer them on and when the villains come onstage boo them! Don’t be afraid to laugh or heckle as much as you want. This is one of the few times kids parents can welcome tiring their kids out by taking them to a musical!
- What cities have you performed a Panto in and was there any difference in the way the audience reacts? How did they react?
I’ve been lucky enough to do Panto in Pasadena, Houston, and Nashville. The biggest difference is the cities that have had Panto before. They’re not scared to participate.
- If you could play any Musical theatre character, who would you play and why?
Elder price from Book of Mormon would be a BLAST! I’ve always wanted to do that show.
- What do the holidays mean to you?
Quality time with family, good food, and nice reminder that we can stop to let the people we love know how thankful we are for them.
North Carolina Theatre is proud to announce its special holiday production in partnership with Lythgoe Family Productions, Aladdin and His Winter Wish! A new addition to the theatre’s upcoming 2018-19 sea-son, Aladdin and His Winter Wish starring the Bold and the Beautiful’s Nia Sioux will run Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.
Based on the Aladdin fairytale of a street rat with a dream, this special holiday-themed production follows the style of the traditional British Panto with singing, swinging and soaring adventure that features family-friendly magic, comedic twists, contemporary music, and more. The production is an exciting and interactive form of live theatre specifically designed for families.
Starring in the role of the Princess is television personality, dancer and singer Nia Sioux. Nia, best known for spending seven sea-sons on the unscripted Lifetime show Dance Moms, is a series regular on CBS's Emmy Award-winning daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful. Some of Nia’s previous credits include Musical.ly's correspondent for the 2018 Summer Olympic Games in South Korea, on-screen appearances in Runnin’ from my Roots and High Strung, with Off-Broadway credits including Trip of Love and Just Dance Live.
The Lythgoe Family are best known for being behind hit television shows American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, but their passion lies deep in live performance arts. Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP) will expand across America this season with a total of four productions running across the country, with Aladdin and His Winter Wish marking the first appearance by Lythgoe Family Panto in Raleigh.
David F.M. Vaughn (Shrek, Pittsburgh CLO; Beauty and the Beast, Musical Theatre West) will direct Aladdin and His Winter Wish with choreography by Mario Mosley and book by Kris Lythgoe.
“We are thrilled to be producing these family-friendly productions with Elizabeth Doran and her team at NC Theatre. Raleigh is a huge supporter of the arts, and we share the important mission of getting more kids into live theatre,” said Kris Lythgoe.
Also starring in NC Theatre’s production of Aladdin and His Winter Wish include Barry Pearl as Sultan, who is best known for his role of Doody in the classic 1978 film Grease, Jeff Sumner (Happy Days) as Widow Twankey, Jonathan Meza as Wishy Washy, and reprising his role as Abanazar is Josh Adamson.
Aladdin and His Winter Wish opens Thursday, Nov. 29 for seven performances and runs through Sunday, Dec. 2 at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium in Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at $25. Click below to purchase tickets or call (919) 831-6941 x6944. For groups of 10 or more, call (919) 831-6941 x6949.
PASADENA, CA (June 14, 2018) – 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.
LYTHGOE FAMILY PANTO
THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ
Calendar Listing
Dates: December 14 - 30, 2018
Friday, December 14 at 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 15 at 1:00 PM and 6:00PM
Sunday, December 16 at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
Thursday, December 20 at 7:30 PM
Friday, December 21 at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 22 at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 23 at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
Thursday, December 27 at 7:30 PM
Friday, December 28 at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 29 at 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 30 at 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM
Venue: Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
Tickets: Tickets start at $40
Golden Ticket (Premium, children ages 4 – 12 only) -- special on-stage experience during the production – additional $60 per child.
Information: https://americanpanto.com/wonderful-winter-of-oz
Napoleon and Tabitha D'Umo
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