Click your heels three times because The Lythgoe Family Panto announces additional casting for the world premiere of THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ which will run at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium December 15 through 30, 2018. The production will star 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, Hailee Payne and Valerie Rockey of So You Think You Can Dance join previously announced Kermit The Frog® as the Wizard of Oz, and Marissa Jaret Winokur (Celebrity Big Brother Winner and Broadway’s Hairspray) as Glinda.
THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ 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, with additional casting to be announced at a later date.
The press release describes THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ as “a Holiday version of America’s favorite modern fairy tale, in the style of a traditional British Family Panto. On Christmas Eve, Dorothy gets swept away by a ‘freak’ Kansas blizzard and lands in a world of munchkins and witches. With songs from Journey to Wham!, THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ is the perfect family experience at the Holiday time. No rainbows will be hurt in this production.”
The Lythgoe Family are best known for producing hit Television shows such as American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, but they are also known for productions: 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.
Mackenzie Ziegler – Photo by Glenn Nutley
At just fourteen-years-old, Mackenzie Ziegler has made a splash in the entertainment industry as an award-winning dancer, singer-songwriter, actress, author, and model. She performed and competed on Lifetime’s hit reality series, “Dance Moms,” before launching her solo career and garnering a massive social media presence of over 25 million followers across several platforms. Mackenzie can also be seen starring in the YouTube series “Total Eclipse” for the digital network Brat and just this year her first book, “Kenzie’s Rules for Life,” was released, offering inspirational, upbeat advice on friendship, family, fitness, style, and positivity, and her makeup line, “Love, Kenzie,” launched in September offering affordable and functional beauty products celebrating individuality and feminine power. Mackenzie can currently be seen competing on “Dancing With the Stars: Juniors” for ABC.
Phil LaMarr
A Los Angeles native, Phil LaMarr is an alumnus of Yale University and The Groundlings Theater and perhaps is best known as one of the original cast members of “Mad TV” and as “Marvin” in “Pulp Fiction.” His stage work includes productions with The Actor’s Gang, South Coast Repertory and Sacred Fools Theatre, and the award-winning production of We Are Proud To Present… at The Matrix Theatre. Phil also portrayed “Cowboy Curtis” in The Pee-wee Herman Show both on Broadway and in the Emmy-nominated HBO special. Currently, In addition to writing and producing the web series “Inside The Legend” (http://www.youtube.com/user/InsideTheLegend)” and the animated series “Goblins,”(goblinsanimated.com) Phil is performing monthly with “The Black Version” (www.theblackversion.com), appearing in Netflix’s “Kulipari”, the record-setting “Incredibles 2” and starring in Tyler The Creator’s animated series, “The Jellies” for Adult Swim.
Jared Gertner
Jared Gertner is best known for playing Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon on Broadway, on the 1st National tour, and in London (Olivier Nomination- Best Lead Actor). He’s also appeared on Broadway in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barfee), in the Off-Broadway premiere of Ordinary Days (Warren), and in regional theatres across the country. In LA, Jared created the roles of Al Dubin in the new musical, I Only Have Eyes For You, and Sidowsky in the premiere of the play, The Dodgers, as well as playing Frank Lippencott in Wonderful Town at LA Opera (opposite Faith Prince and Roger Bart), and Pierre in Lythgoe Family Panto’s Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose.
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 Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) and Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
What: LYTHGOE FAMILY PANTO Presents THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ
When: December 15 – 30, 2018
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
Where: Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 East Green Street, Pasadena, CA 91101
Tickets: Prices start at $40 – Golden Ticket (Premium, children ages 4 – 12 only) — special on-stage experience during the production – additional $75 per child.
Tickets and Information, click here or by calling 626-449-7362. Golden Tickets, which allow the ticket holder (children ages 4 – 12 only) a special on-stage experience during the production, are available for an additional $75.00 each. This will be the seventh holiday season of Lythgoe Family Panto in Pasadena, and the second at the Pasadena Civic.
Winter Wonderland: Audience members can enjoy this FREE pre-show celebration featuring crafts, games, Santa Claus (on select days), photo opportunities, and more! Starts one hour prior to curtain time.
