Theater News

Panto at the Playhouse Adds Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Rose

Lythgoe Family Panto moves into a larger venue this holiday season.

Sheldon Epps will direct Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Rose at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Sheldon Epps will direct Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Rose at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
(© David Gordon)

Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP) in association with the Pasadena Playhouse expands this holiday season at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium with their newest production, Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Rose (December 15-24).

The holiday show will be directed by Sheldon Epps and choreographed by Mandy Moore (La La Land), with a book by Kris Lythgoe and musical arrangements and supervision by Michael Orland (American Idol). Bonnie Lythgoe will serve as executive director and oversee the production, with casting by Becky Lythgoe.

This will be the sixth holiday season of Lythgoe Family Panto in Pasadena, and their first in this larger venue. As part of this expansion, a portion of the LFP proceeds from the production will be donated to the Pasadena Playhouse outreach and education programs.

An updated version of the classic tale, Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Rose is told in the style of a traditional British family panto with family-friendly magic, a comedic twist, dancing, contemporary music, and more.

Previously Lythgoe Family Panto productions include 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.

Casting for Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Rose will be announced at a later date.

For tickets and more information, click here.