Thursday, December 20, 2012
Happy Holidays from Musicals in LA
HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Musicals in LA
Merry Christmas and the Happiest of Holidays to you and yours this holiday season!
In 2013, let us take the time to SING more songs, find more JOY, and remember to be a little KINDER to each other.
Thank you for a wonderful year of Los Angeles MUSICALS. See you at the theatre!
Thank you for a wonderful year of Los Angeles MUSICALS. See you at the theatre!
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Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN Lands at the Pantages in January
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| Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan. Photo by Michael Lamont. |
Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan returns to the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood for two weeks only, January 15 – 27, 2013, and take it from me, this is one wonderful show you don’t want to miss. This current tour of Peter Pan originated at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in June and it is terrific! [Click Here to see the review]
Cathy Rigby made her professional debut as ‘Dorothy’ in The Wizard of Oz twenty-nine years ago. Since then, she has starred in the national tour of Annie Get Your Gun, Meet Me in St. Louis, Paint Your Wagon, They’re Playing Our Song and as the ‘Cat in the Hat” in Seussical both on Broadway and on tour. However, Peter Pan remains Cathy’s favorite. “One of the greatest gifts of my theatrical career has been the opportunity to play ‘Peter Pan’. The thrill of seeing the faces of children as I fly over their heads sprinkling fairy dust and having the chance (eight times a week) to relive the adventure of a perfect “make believe” childhood.” Her greatest joy is the reaction, letters and emails that she receives from countless children and adults alike.
Joining Cathy is Broadway’s Brent Barrett as Mr. Darling/Hook. Brent has entertained millions of fans around the world from Broadway to the West End, concerts halls, recording studios, film and television. Kim Crosby (Cinderella in the original Into the Woods, Guys and Dolls, Jerry’s Girls) returns to play Mrs. Darling.
Peter Pan recounts the adventures of the three Darling children as they fly away from their nursery into the magic and wonder of Never Land. It is in Never Land that they encounter the cunning and evil Captain Hook, villainous pirates, a crafty crocodile and a sprightly fairy, Tinker Bell. The score, a joint effort by Moose Charlap, Carolyn Leigh, Jule Styne and Betty Comden and Adolph Green remains a favorite of children and adults alike and features such classics as “I Gotta Crow,” “Neverland” and “I’m Flying.”
The production is directed by Glenn Casale who directed the 1999 Tony® Award nominated and Emmy winning Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan. The flying sequence choreographer is Paul Rubin, "The Fly Guy", who has choreographed some of the most memorable flying sequences from the Tony® Award winning Broadway production of Wicked to Cathy Rigby's Emmy Award winning DVD of Peter Pan. The creative team includes Patti Columbo (Choreographer), Bruce Barnes (Musical Director), Michael Gilliam (Lighting Design), Julie Ferrin (Sound Design), Sean Boyd (Fight Director) and Julia Flores (Casting Director).
Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan has a running time of 2 hours and 15 Minutes including intermission and is recommended for All Ages. (Please note that in consideration of audiences, no one under 3 will be admitted to the theatre.) Orchestra level tickets start at just $25. Tickets may be purchased at the Pantages Box Office, at all Ticketmaster outlets, or online at www.BroadwayLA.org. The Pantages Theatre is located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, just east of Vine Street.
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Labels: pantages
Sunday, December 16, 2012
A Snow White Christmas - Pasadena Playhouse's New Holiday Tradition
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| L to R: Blitzen, Jonathan Meza, Ariana Grande. Photos by Philicia Endelman. |
Mirror, Mirror on the wall – whose is the loveliest Panto of them all? Well, in Pasadena it’s the Playhouse, which has begun a new holiday tradition with this year’s debut of Lythgoe Productions’ A Snow White Christmas. By combining the best of the genre’s British elements and refashioning them for an American audience, writer Kris Lythgoe and director Bonnie Lythgoe have created a sparkling new family entertainment that will put a smile on the face of even the Grinchiest uncle.
You know the story: Hated by the Wicked Queen (Charlene Tilton) because of her beauty, Snow White (Ariana Grande) is taken to the woods to be killed by the Queen’s court jester, Muddles (Jonathan Meza) and her Huntsman, Herman (David Figlioli). Unable to perform the task, they tell her to run away to the miners’ cottage in the woods where she will be safe but she must never return to the palace. When the Queen consults her Magic Mirror (pre-recorded by Neil Patrick Harris) and finds that Snow White is still alive, she poisons her with an apple. Snow White falls into a deep sleep, is eventually awakened by true love’s kiss, and she and Prince Harry (Curt Hansen) live happily ever after.
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| Ariana Grande and Curt Hansen |
Grande is as sweet and lovely a Snow White as there ever could be and breathes life into a pop song like nobody’s business. Screams from the audience are an obvious sign of the television star’s popularity among the teens and younger set, and she rewards them with dazzling vocals throughout the show. Hansen makes a roguish prince with dashing good looks, perfect diction, and a comical array of princely poses that includes some serious raised eyebrow choreography.
As the Queen, Tilton puts on her best smoky-throated villainess persona, whom the audience takes great pleasure in booing, and her interactions with Harris – perfectly wry and nuanced as her Magic Mirror – only fuel her anger. Figlioli gives a rich performance as Herman the Huntsman and Meza charms everyone with Muddles’ quick wit, rubbery moves, and easygoing audience banter. It’s the seven dwarves, however, who steal the show with their long-awaited entrance. Played by local children cast from a rigorous audition, they embody the individual personalities of the costumed characters and are absolutely delightful.
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| David Figlioli and Curt Hansen with Drowsy Dwarf |
Vivid backdrops, bright crayon-colored costumes, and fascinating lighting effects that come and go like magic help create the fairytale world. The score consists of pop songs that enhance the traditional story. Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” becomes Snow White’s answer for why the Wicked Queen hates her; Huey Lewis and the News’ “Power of Love” marks Prince Harry’s search for one particular princess, and Bruno Mars’ “Lazy Song” is a charming introduction for the dwarves who sing about taking a day off from mining. “YMCA,” “Thriller,” and “Toxic,” plus six other chart-topping hits, make up the rest of the score, plus there’s a special sing-a-long for the audience too. Musical director Michael Orland puts it all together beautifully. Add a live miniature pony onstage, Spencer Liff’s Dancers, and more topical jokes than you can imagine, and you’ve got a classic in the making.
A Snow White Christmas also comes with a pre-show Winter Wonderland of family activities, games, and photos with Santa Claus, making Pasadena Playhouse the hot holiday destination this Christmas. Actually, with snow flurries inside the theatre and out, make that a frosty destination. It’s lively, fun, and a perfect way to celebrate the season. And once you’ve taken your kids to a Panto at the Playhouse, you can bet they’ll never let you miss another.
A Snow White Christmas
December 12 – 30, 2012
Lythgoe Family Productions @ Pasadena Playhouse
39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
Tickets: (626) 356-7529
www.pasadenaplayhouse.org
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Labels: pasadena playhouse
Friday, December 14, 2012
What's Happening Around Town For December 14, 2012
Teatro Nuevos Horizontes is presenting the west coast regional premiere of In The Heights now through December 22 at Casa 0101 in Boyle Heights, 2102 East 1st. Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033. The story explores three days in the characters’ lives in the New York City Dominican-American neighborhood of Washington Heights. In the Heights is directed by Rigo Tejeda and produced by Olga Durazo, with choreography by Daniel Lazareno and musical direction by Olga Durazo. It features Michael Torrenueva (Usnavi), Parissa Koo (Nina Rosario), Benjamin Perez (Kevin Rosario), Graciela Valderrama (Camilla), James Oronoz (Benny), Melissa Anjose (Vanessa), Phillip Garcia (Sonny), Carole Ann Salerno (Abuela Claudia), Vivian Lamolli (Daniela), Chrissi Erickson (Carla), Chris Marcos (Graffiti Pete), Felix Sotelo (Piragua Guy), and ensemble members Marissa Herrera, Daniel Ferguson, Andy Eubanks, April Sheets, Brittany Freeth, Shafik Wahhab, Michael Gallardo, Yvonne Senat, Fernando Nunez, and Brenda Perez. www.tnhcompany.com.
Borderlight Records is proud to present Eden Espinosa’s Debut Album Release Party on Monday, December 17 at Dim Mak Studios in Hollywood. Come join Eden and her friends and celebrate the release of her highly anticipated debut album, Look Around, available December 18. Espinosa and the same amazing musicians who performed on her album will perform the entire CD tracklist. The event will last all night, so come prepared to experience an epic night of music. Joining Eden and her band will be Tracie Thoms and Ty Taylor, with additional performances by Paul David, Sarah Mears, and Stefanie Sidler. Paul David is master of ceremonies. Dim Mak Studios, 6356 Hollywood Blvd. 2nd Floor, Hollywood, CA 90028. Showtime is 8:00 pm. Click Here for tickets. Look Around is scheduled for release on December 18 on all major online retailers including Cd Baby, iTunes, and Amazon. Eden will also host a live chat on her website www.edenespinosa.com on December 14, 9pm EST.
ALBUM TRACK LIST:
1. I’m Not That Girl, Wicked
2. Stone Cold Sober, The Existents
3. Petrified, Taboo
4. I Know The Truth, Aida
5. I Miss The Mountains, Next To Normal
6. With You, Ghost
7. Once Upon A Time, Brooklyn
8. One Song Glory, Rent
9. Look Around, Will Rogers Follies
Ryan O’Connor and Musical Mondays Los Angeles has announced a list of scheduled performers for A West Hollywood Holiday at Musical Mondays LA Monday, December 17 at 10:00 pm. Performers scheduled to appear include Deborah Craig, Curt Hansen, Frankie Grande, Jen Malenke, Haviland Stillwell, Sarah Wolter, Craig Taggart, Joe Donohoe, and The Tinsletone Carolers. The show will also feature a special ticket giveaway for New Year’s Eve with Idina Menzel at Walt Disney Concert Hall with the LA Philharmonic. Musical Mondays Los Angeles is a weekly celebration of musical theatre in West Hollywood co-produced and hosted by Ryan O’Connor and Scott Nevins and featuring VJ Keith Jacobson. Jacobson plays videos from Broadway and movie musicals followed by a LIVE show at 10pm. Admission is always FREE. Eleven Nightclub is located at 8811 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069. For more information visit www.eleven.la or www.facebook.com/groups/musicalmondaysla.
Legendary Manhattan-based singer/pianist Steve Ross brings his critically acclaimed Puttin’ on the Ritz… The Music of Fred Astaire to Vitello’s Upstairs Jazz and Supper Club for two performances only, Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13, 2013. Ross’ show weaves together a string of over two dozen songs from Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, Kern and Arthur Schwartz, along with anecdotes and/or observations about Astaire, the songwriters, and the dance partners; especially Astaire’s sister Adele, who was initially thought to be the star of Astaire’s act. Ross sings from the heart on such songs as “Fascinating Rhythm,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “They All Laughed,” and “Cheek to Cheek.” Tickets are $35 on Saturday, January 12 at 8:00 pm with the dinner seating beginning at 7:00 pm; and $25 on Sunday, January 13 at 7:00 pm with the dinner seating beginning at 5:30 pm. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ticketweb.com or www.vitellosjazz.com. For more information, call Vitello’s at (818) 769-0905. Vitello’s Upstairs Jazz and Supper Club is located at 4339 Tujunga Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604.
Belz! A Jewish Vaudeville Musical, written and directed by Pavel Cerny, opens March 2, 2013 at the Whitefire Theatre. The show depicts 50 years (1918- 1968) in the life and career of fictional Jewish stand-up comic Hugo Schwartz as he emerges from Ukraine to Prague, Vienna, the Catskills, and finally to Broadway. It follows both the momentous world events of the turbulent early to mid- 20th Century, as well as the history of Cabaret entertainment during that period. The show is filled with songs and Jewish jokes. Cerny has directed and produced works from every genre in Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria and the United States. His most recent local stage credits include Circus Welt, Komitas, Nathan the Wise, A Lovely Place for a Picnic, Love, Sex, Violence, etc. and Three Sisters or Perestroika. Belz! Runs March 2 – April 14, 2013 at the Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. For reservations call (800) 838-3006 or go to www.brownpapertickets.com/event/276015.
The Circus is Coming to Town
Storybook Theatre’s The Circus is Coming to Town is set to open at Theatre West on March 22, 2013. It’s the ultimate interactive musical with the kids in the audience joining the ringmaster, animal trainer and clown to become the acts in the circus. The show features lots of songs as the kids learn that they have talents of their own as they put on their own show. It’s a happy, original show with a huge amount of opportunities for audience participation and perfect entertainment for kids aged 3 to 9. Book & lyrics are by Lloyd J. Schwartz; music is by Brian Feinstein. The show is directed by Elliot Kevin Schwartz and produced by Barbara Mallory Schwartz. Storybook Theatre has presented musicals for children at Theatre West for over 25 years. The Circus is Coming to Town runs Saturdays at 1:00 pm March 22 – July 6, 2013 at Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, in Los Angeles, 90068 (near Universal City and Studio City). There is free parking in a lot across the street. For reservations and information call (818) 761-2203 or visit www.theatrewest.org.
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Thursday, December 13, 2012
Cortes Alexander's Have A Swell Holiday Show was...Swell!
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| Cortes Alexander. Photos by Eric Schneider |
There’s no denying it was a Swell night at Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal on December 10th, thanks to Cortes Alexander and his Have a Swell Holiday Show. It was my first introduction to the charming performer, and it was also my first time at Sterling’s new supper club, where producer Michael Sterling has continued his tradition of presenting some of the finest musical theatre artists and nightclub entertainers L.A. has to offer.
Sterling moved to his present location in April, following a successful six year run at his original venue, Upstairs at Vitello’s in Studio City. The Federal’s sophisticated ambience offers a cool, uptown vibe and an intimate setting that highlights an ever-changing array of artists and music, perfect for a historic building in the NoHo Arts District that has itself had many different lives.
Alexander’s set list featured an eclectic mix of styles, from jazz to musical theatre to pop, with holiday favorites that slipped between his original songs like twinkling lights peeking out from a Christmas tree. He began the show with his own arrangement of Bricusse & Newly’s “Pure Imagination,” setting the tone for the evening with an enchanting invitation to travel in a world of his creation. Entertaining stories followed to introduce some of his original compositions. Among them were “Driving Song,” a smooth, slow composition about his first car, “LA to Paris,” a touching ode to love, and “Marguerite,” inspired by the cow in Hal Prince’s backyard.
He talked about touring the world with Liza Minnelli, good and bad reviews he’s received, and how you can see his mother – well, her back at least – in the rain scene of Singing in the Rain. She was responsible for instilling in Alexander a joy for music and an ever-optimistic love of life as they tooled down the open road in their VW bus singing at the top of their lungs. His heartfelt remembrances were moving, and often humorous.
In the spirit of the season, Alexander included several luscious holiday songs including a jazzy version of “Winter Wonderland” arranged by Jason Robert Brown, Kay Thompson’s arrangement of “Jingle Bells,” and his own arrangement of “The Christmas Song.” It doesn’t matter how many times I hear that song, I love it every time and his version is quite special.
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| Cortes Alexander and The Swell Girls, (L-R) Julie Garnye and Melissa Bailey. |
Back-up was provided by the outstanding Swell Girls, Melissa Bailey and Julie Garnye, each featured in a big way; Bailey on a terrific arrangement she and Alexander created for “Slow Boat to China/Shanghai” by Frank Loesser and Garnye on the beautiful “Any Day Now.” The band was first-rate, led by musical director John Boswell on piano and included Norman Ludwin on bass, Terry Schoenig on percussion, and Paul Landry on guitar. Landry’s feature on the charming “Love on a Greyhound Bus” was a highlight.
A nice guy with a big personality and a charming way with a song – that’s Cortes Alexander. Spend an evening with him the next time he appears in L.A.
Cortes Alexander’s Have a Swell Holiday, Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal, 5303 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood. You can check out upcoming shows at Sterling’s Upstairs online at www.msapr.net. For reservations call (818) 754-8700.
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Labels: sterling's
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
A Troubie Reinvention: Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReinDOORS
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| Molly Alvarez (Clarice), Matt Walker (Donner), Steven Booth (Rudolph), Beth Kennedy (Blitzen), Rick Batalla (Santa) & Lisa Valenzuela (Mrs. Claus). Photos by Chelsea Sutton. |
Tickets for the annual Troubadour Theatre Company holiday shows are consistently some of the most sought after in L.A. and loyal Troubie fans know to get them early. Each show delivers the company’s unique brand of theatre magic wrapped up in circus ribbons, physical theatrics, dazzling music, and that trademark fearless swan dive into the depths of improvised comedy. All that to say that it’s one crazy good time for both audience and actors.
This year’s holiday treat takes the famous story of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and mixes it with the music of Jim Morrison and the Doors to create a new Christmas one-of-a-kind favorite, Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReinDOORS. Picture Rick Batalla reinventing the lizard king as Santa Claus, bare-chested, without his Ho Hos (they’re hard to get right now), in red spandex and plenty of attitude, and then picture him later in an ‘80s purple unitard as Moonracer, the Lion King on the Island of Misfit Toys and you’ll get the idea. He’s a smart retort just waiting to happen and, as you’d expect, he happens all over the stage.
Sharon McGunigle’s costumes give the players the visual liftoff that helps these characters jump off the page. Hermey’s (Kyle Nudo) bright yellow larger than life comb over wave, Sam the Snowman’s (Paul C. Vogt) dropped crotch snow suit, Blitzen’s (Beth Kennedy) fluorescent green pillow baby bump, and Mrs. Claus’s (Lisa Valenzuela) Paula Dean wig all provide opportunity for comedy just by existing onstage. And if you give this gang an opening for a joke, you can be certain they’ll go after it with everything they’ve got.
It’s a tall order trying to top last year’s wildly successful A Christmas Westside Story, which featured unparalleled production numbers (choreographed by Molly Alvarez, who also provides the great dance moves in Rudolph) and a perfect marriage of story and humor like no Troubie show before. But each show has its own distinctive style and director Matt Walker and the gang have taken a sweeter, more intimate direction with Rudolph that accentuates the storytelling while still delivering the Troubies’ high-energy ability to delight the senses. Plus, the regulars are in fine form and don’t disappoint.
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| Dan Waskom and Paul C. Vogt |
Donner’s psychedelic trip is one of the two sensational big scenes in the show. This one comes complete with an all-out circus rendezvous featuring a lovely aerial hoop sequence by Caroline Gross and a myriad of circus tricks, juggling sequences, and magic tricks that even includes Walker doing some plate spinning with the audience.
The other is the climactic scene in which Rudolph takes to the skies with his glowing red nose to save Christmas. Blitzen’s Tab addiction almost does Kennedy in but she rallies in time to set up ground control (with a little help from a member of the audience) and goes in for the assist to make sure we have a happy ending. Even Dan Waskom as Bomi, the Abominable Snow Monster, gets his shining moments. On tall stilts, and covered head to toe in white furry fleece that must have taken an entire bolt of fabric, he quite literally commands the stage. There are a few larger than life Abominable gags that are fun and unexpected, just like you’d hope to see from the Troubies, and if you haven’t already heard about them, I’m not going to spoil the surprise here.
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| Steven Booth and Molly Alvarez |
Candy-coated stage designs and whimsical lighting effects by Jeffrey McLaughlin and Jeremy Pivnick, respectively, make Rudolph glow like a winter wonderland. Eric Heinly's house band also never disappoints, rocking out on re-imagined songs by The Doors that include “Hello I Love You,” “Touch Me,” “Riders on the Storm,” “Don’t You Love Her Madly,” “Light My Fire,” and “Break on Through (To The Other Side).”
There is one non-DOORS tune that makes an appearance in the show, and well it should. As the finale joins cast and audience in a “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” sing-along, it’s one more holiday show in the books for Walker and his comedy commandos of Toluca Lake. An annual holiday tradition for locals anywhere in a 50-mile radius, make sure you get your tickets and get in on the jokes now…before these ReinDOORS go down in history.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed ReinDOORS
The Troubies @ the Falcon Theatre
Tickets: (818) 955-9101
4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA
www.falconTheatre.com
www.troubie.com
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Labels: falcon theatre, troubies
Friday, December 7, 2012
New Musical LITTLE MISS SCROOGE in Development at Rubicon Theatre
Little Miss Scrooge is a modern musical version of A Christmas Carol with added characters and plot elements from “Great Expectations,” “Nicholas Nickleby,” “The Old Curiosity Shop,” and other great Dickens novels. The story follows Estella Scrooge, a direct descendent of Ebenezer -- a cool and calculating Wall Street whiz who runs a mortgage and lending company (Bleak House). Essie can’t convince Betty Cratchit or other employees to work on Christmas Eve, so she is forced to go to Pickwick, Ohio personally to shut down the Harthouse Hotel, a poorly run (in her estimation) haven for the lost, lonely and dispossessed.
Her intentions to foreclose, however, are forestalled by her childhood history with the attractive proprietor Phillip (Pip) Nickleby, and by the arrival of a snowstorm. Trapped for the night, Essie is visited by three eccentric ghosts representing the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future who, well…give her the Dickens. Part love story, part ghost story – Little Miss Scrooge is a testament to Charles Dickens’ passionate commitment to social reform and his belief in the power of human kindness and generosity.
The cast will star Rebecca Ann Johnson as Estella Scrooge and Stuart Ambrose as Pip Nickleby, Jeff Edgerton (Paul Dombey & Bob Cratchit), Ted Neeley (Magwitch), Amanda McBroom (Molly & Miss Havisham), Sarah Litzinger (Betty Cratchit & Cissy Jupe), Alexandra Frohlinger (Jenny Trent), Daniel Stewart (Smike), Juliette Goglia (Tiny Tammy), Rubicon Artistic Director James O’Neil (Jaggers & Merdle), along with ensemble members Alyson Lindsay and Elliott David. The staged concert is backed by a five-piece musical ensemble lead by music arranger and supervisor, music director and conductor Brad Haak.
All performances are at Rubicon Theatre Company, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura’s Downtown Cultural District. A talkback with the actors will be held after the 7:00 p.m. Wednesday performance on December 19. For tickets call (805) 667-2900 or go to www.rubicontheatre.org.
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Labels: rubicon theatre
Thursday, December 6, 2012
A Snow White Interview with Kris and Bonnie Lythgoe
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| Kris Lythgoe and Bonnie Lythgoe |
Beginning December 12th, Pasadena Playhouse will transform its courtyard into a Winter Wonderland as families gather to celebrate the joy of the holidays. Family members from 1 to 91 will then experience A Snow White Christmas, a traditional British Panto produced by Lythgoe Family Productions that debuts this month at the Playhouse. Filled with magic, comedy, music and audience participation, it is the kind of show that director Bonnie Lythgoe and her son, Kris (who wrote the show), grew up with in England. Putting up a show at any time of the year is hectic but it can be especially crazy with the extra demands December brings. Still, between rehearsals, production meetings, costume calls, and even picking cast members up at the airport, Bonnie and Kris were able to take time to tell us about their new production.
Thank you both for allowing us to see into your magical world today. Let’s start with the basics. What is a panto and how is it different from what we know as musical theatre?
Bonnie: A panto is a fairy story; the kind we all read when we are kids and now, when we are grown up, it’s our fairy stories coming to life. A musical is a different kind of story, like Les Misérables, which isn’t quite for children. It’s more intense. A panto is much more lighthearted and is really more of a family event. And the very big difference is that in musicals you go in and you sit and you watch the musical. In a panto we involve the audience in the show.
In what way do you involve them?
Bonnie: For example, the first thing that happens in A Snow White Christmas is that Muggles, (he’s a kind of comedy character), will come out and look at the kids and say, “Hi gang, do you want to be on my team?” and they’ll answer and he’ll say, “I didn’t hear you.” All of a sudden the kids will chime in louder and say, “Yes we do!” It’s like that all the way through the show. We get them to do things like boo the wicked queen, which they would never do in a musical. Without them we can’t do panto.
It’s truly what we think of as an interactive experience then.
Bonnie: Absolutely. We also use today’s music; songs that are current – like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry – so the kids can sing along. At the end we have a song sheet and we introduce the kids to the characters. Muggles will come out and ask them if they had a good time? Did mummy and daddy come with you? Who did you like the best? We actually make sure that the children feel really part of the whole show.
It sounds like great fun.
Bonnie: Yes, in the UK it’s tradition as we go into the Christmas holiday time that you go to the panto, and every show in the UK is nearly sold out. It’s something we all do with our families and then after that we have Christmas and celebrate our holiday. I used to drag my two sons with me while I was working and I’d sit them in the orchestra pit and then I’d go and choreograph or direct a show and they grew up loving it.
Kris, as one of those kids in the orchestra pit, what was it like for you being part of it as a child?
Kris: It was wonderful growing up around the theatre. My father actually wrote pantos as a hobby so it was very much a whole family involvement. My dad would write them and my mum would direct them. I would sit in the meetings and experience it from my dad’s point of view; then I would sit in the theatre every day either in the orchestra pit playing with the pianist or with the musical director, and watch it all come to life. It was unbelievable for me.
At what point did you decide to begin writing your own pantos?
Kris: I think it was when my son, George, was born. He was born 5 years ago and we’ve been in Los Angeles for 8 years now. I love everything about L.A. and Pasadena but, for me, after I finished taking my son to places like the Petersen Museum and Travel Town and Kidspace Children’s Museum, there wasn’t something that the family could go and enjoy in the way of theatre. And I missed it. I always had a passion inside me to write but I didn’t know where that passion would take me. So the inspiration definitely came from my son.
What was the first panto you wrote?
Kris: It was Cinderella, which is kind of known as the golden egg. It’s the rags to riches story and the most popular fairy tale amongst panto people in the UK so we went with the Cinderella story to see if it would catch on. Then last year we did Snow White and we actually did Cinderella again so all in all this is going to be our 4th production.
Is this a tradition that you hope to continue in Pasadena?
Kris: Absolutely. We signed a 10-year deal with the Pasadena Playhouse to bring panto to the Playhouse every Christmas and next year we’re already planning to do Aladdin. As mum said, pantos are always based on fairy tales everybody knows and loves. Peter Pan is another one.
Bonnie: Peter Pan was my very first panto that I saw when I was 3 years old. I can still remember how magical it was.
Are your versions based on the same stories we know?
Kris: We stick to something like JM Barrie’s book and script for Peter Pan and it’s the same for Aladdin as well. Everyone knows Aladdin from a Disney perspective and they do an amazing job, but the panto is very different from the point of view of characters. In the panto version Aladdin has a brother, which of course isn’t in the Disney version. So there’s quite a bit of difference in the fairy tales.
Pantos also often have celebrities in the cast too, don’t they?
You also auditioned children to play the seven dwarfs in this production. What kind of an audition process did they go through?
Bonnie: It was really interesting. Hundreds of children came along and one of the things I noticed is that the difference between British kids and American kids is that here talent is readily available. You have more confident kids here. And it’s not an easy audition. I make them dance first, and then I make them read, and I am really professional with them. I make them all have their scripts and they go home and learn them. I quite like the thought of having kids as dwarfs. I think it’s good for young people to understand theatre and work with professional people. If you use children in shows you have to adapt them to what the show is all about. I work with them before the rest of the cast even comes in to get them up to scratch so that they are believable. I don’t let them get away with anything. They’re playing the part of a dwarf so they’ve got to be really real. I want the children who come to watch Snow White to really believe in the characters they’re playing.
In a way it’s a little bit like a So You Think You Can Dance audition isn’t it?
Bonnie: [Laughing] Yes, well you know I do that in Australia. It’s very much like that and I think really because I’ve always taken auditions and booked people into shows, I want them to be good. And these kids are really good. They’re really fun.
Your company is all about providing family entertainment. What do you hope to accomplish with projects like these?
Kris: Our biggest drive really is to introduce families to theatre. There’s great theatre obviously here and the talent is unbelievable in L.A., but a lot of it is not affordable theatre. We do $99 tickets for a whole family and that makes it affordable for them to come.
It was very evident to me years ago, and it actually stems from television. When American Idol first came over, my father used to say the reason he believed the show was so successful was because it’s one of the few television shows where three generations could watch it together and get different aspects from it. You’ll see a young kid sixteen years old who used to flip burgers on the show singing a Peggy Lee song that the grandmother still likes and everyone can watch it together – grandparents, parents and children. That’s something we’re trying to replicate in theatre. We’re trying to open up theatre doors so that families can come together. It’s a safe environment for grandparents to be able to take their grandkids for a Christmas present,
Why do you think it’s so important to introduce children to theatre at a young age?
Kris: I think you’ve got to establish with kids that theatre is not a strange place. It’s something that they can come to and enjoy. And hopefully it will benefit theatre in the long term because when they’re older they will think, let’s go see Anything Goes or Grease because they’ve already been to the theatrical environment and it’s not foreign to them. They’ve already seen what can be offered in the theatre.
Do you think it also stimulates their own personal creativity?
Kris: 100%. I’m on the board of Save the Arts in LAUSD. We do a big concert performance every year where we basically strive to stop the budget cuts in the arts across the school district. We all know that money is tight but it’s so frustrating when you hear that the arts are the first to be cut because not every child will become a scientist or a mathematician. Kids need the ability to express themselves in other avenues. I can’t tell you how important it is.
One of the things my mum didn’t tell you is that she was also head of a stage school when I was growing up. She was kind of like the equivalent of Julliard so I grew up seeing kids coming through that school that wouldn’t go to a normal school. It was almost like the Fame academy. You would see these kids growing up from 7 or 8 years old to 18 and they would develop these skills that if there were no arts they would just be lost souls. So I think it’s imperative that kids are introduced to theatre.
Your new partnership with Pasadena Playhouse seems to be a good fit for you.
Bonnie: When you do a panto you want the right theater. We all fell in love with the Playhouse the minute we saw it. I think it’s the most beautiful place.
Kris: And the people are great here. Sheldon Epps and Charles and the whole team have been so supportive. We invited Sheldon to come and see Snow White last year at the El Portal. He did and within a week he came back to us and said, “I want this show at the Pasadena Playhouse.” He believes, like we believe, that families need theatre. And it really is a beautiful theater. It’s got such a magical feel to it and it’s an absolute honor and a privilege to be here. It truly is.
A Snow White Christmas
December 12 – 30, 2012
Lythgoe Family Productions @ Pasadena Playhouse
39 S. El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
Tickets: (626) 356-7529
www.pasadenaplayhouse.org
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Labels: lythgoe productions, pasadena playhouse