THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ
If you see only one show this holiday season, I highly recommend that you make it The Wonderful Winter of Oz at Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks. It’s fun for all ages.
(L-R) John Schartze, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, Douglas Ladnier, and Mark Gagliardi. Photo by Josh Kaplan, as is the one above.
It’s yet another fabulous “panto” from Kris and Becky Lythgoe. (He wrote it and she directed it—what a couple!) I’ve seen almost all of their pantos through the years, (this was my ninth one!,) but I hadn’t been to one since before the pandemic, so, of course, I haven’t told you about them for that long, which means it’s now time for a refresher course in the concept. A “panto” is a tradition from England, which is usually performed around the holidays. Each show is based on a well-known fairy tale or other kind of popular classic story, (such as The Wizard of Oz of this one,) but it’s not the exact story. It includes many elements, including singing, dancing, a very colorful basic set, modern popular songs, clever and somewhat silly references, (in this case, to old sitcoms,) and lots of audience participation—we all love loudly booing the villain. And if done right, as it always is with the Lythgoes, it’s tons of fun.
More on the story in a minute, but first I must tell you about this incredible cast. The Wonderful Winter of Oz is led by a few actors with whom many audiences may be familiar, having seem them on popular TV shows: Tamyra Gray, who plays the good witch Glinda here, was a finalist on the very first American Idol, John O’Hurley had a recurring role, (as “J. Peterman,”) on Seinfeld, and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons played Lily on Modern Family. That’s a lot of star power. (More on each one a bit later.)
They are all excellent, but Nicole Parker absolutely steals the show as the Wicked Witch of the West. This is the third time that I’ve been lucky enough to see her work recently. She was excellent in La Cage aux Folles at the Pasadena Playhouse a year ago, she was even better last month at Peter Pan Goes Wrong at the La Mirada Theatre, and in this one, she proves that she’s the most talented female on the stage today! She augments her acting performance here with two other bits that are just incredible! One is that she does a few impressions of famous people. As someone who’s done a couple of episodes of a sitcom with Ellen Degeneres back in the day, I can verify that Nicole’s impression of her is spot-on. And then she asks an audience member about themself, and…makes-up an impromptu rhyme about them right away! It’s truly jaw-dropping.
(L-R) Douglas Ladnier, Mark Gagliardi, John Schartzer, Nicole Parker, and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons. Photo by Josh Kaplan.
Add to all that the trio of guys playing Dorothy’s new pals on the way to Oz. I loved all three—Mark Gagliardi as Lion, Douglas Ladnier as Tin Man, John Shartzer as Scarecrow—their humor and personalities cannot be beat! Mark and Douglas were new to me, but I had singled-out John in Clue at the Ahmanson last year, for being “Gumby-esque,” which he demonstrates again here. His phenomenal moves when he’s freed from his scarecrow stand are something I wish I could see over and over. And he and Mark are adorbs with the children they interview during that bit in the show, (which I’ll tell you about in a minute.)
Getting back to the TV personalities, it was a tad shocking to see Aubrey all grown up now. She does a great job of anchoring the action, and she brings a quiet confidence to the pivotal role of Dorothy. And John’s singing of Rainbow Connection in Act II is charming.
But the one who made me cry is Tamyra. I was surprised by that myself, but when she sang I Believe in You and Me in the first act, I just welled-up. And she got even better for me when I met her at the after-party—that girl has zero wrinkles! No lie. Not even one. She looks the same as she did on American Idol, which was over twenty-five years ago! I told her that she should have her own skincare line. She seriously looks twenty years younger than she is. I’m not exaggerating even one little bit. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Tamyra Gray and Nicole Parker. Photo by Josh Kaplan.
And she has an absolutely adorable little daughter, whom I met in the Ladies Room at intermission. I was rocking my famous Christmas fireplace sweater, and the little girl kept pointing it out to her auntie, saying, “Look at her cute shirt!” And she was correct about it! I had no idea she was Tamyra’s daughter, but I was already a fan because she’s smart as a whip!
And let’s not forget Toto—he’s actually played by a real dog for much of the show! Fun.
In the middle of the first act, my most discerning theater-going friend, Nina2, leaned over to me and whispered, “The choreography and dancing are really good!” I agree—choreographers Becca Sweitzer and Camal Pugh did an excellent job with all the hip and happening dance numbers.
The dancers are all great, seriously, but I could not keep my eyes off Sydney Kinney. She’s just about the most enthusiastic dancer I’ve ever seen. (And not in the famous nutty Bob Banas Nitty Gritty way!) That girl brings it!
This is a musical, after all, so I must make mention of the darling Musical Director, Jesse Vargas, who I got to know a bit at the afterparty, and now want to make my New Best Friend. With his very many credits, he and I have sooo much to continue discussing!
As to the story itself, Kris Lythgoe re-wrote almost the entire script since I first saw this same panto from him seven years ago. I love that he works the narrative to suit his actors’ abilities.
I also adored the many fabulous and vibrant ever-changing projections and the colorful munchkin costumes. All the visuals were mouthwatering to me, especially to see them so close-up in that theatre.
(L-R) Douglas Ladnier, John Schartzer, Mark Gagliardi, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, and John O’Hurley. Photo by Josh Kaplan.
Speaking of that theatre, Thousand Oaks’ Scherr Forum at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center is the perfect venue for this panto! This is the fourth theatre at which I’ve seen a Lythgoe Family Panto, and it just might be the best one! They make use of more than just the stage, which is fun. The intimate space allows the actors to really bring the audience into the action. And into each other! I’ve never talked to more strangers in my life at any entertainment! Everyone seemed to be bonding over something or someone in the show.
The Wonderful Winter of Oz is billed as an “interactive experience,” and it really is. We’re told to boo the Witch, and help warn the characters about lurking dangers, such as the notorious Flying Monkeys. And we all get to do the sing-along near the end. And, as is de rigueur for a panto, several audience members get involved in other fun ways as the show goes along.
I do have to give you one amusing warning, though: If you just had your hair done, or are wearing suede or leather, make sure you don’t sit in the last few rows of the front section of the orchestra. Just sayin’. Trust me on this one.
As always with a Lythgoe Family Panto, there are some fun extras with this show. I suggest getting to the theatre a half hour early because there are pre-show holiday-themed activities that are free to everyone! Also, the parents of up to ten children (aged four-twelve) per performance can purchase a Golden Ticket for their child to be one of the kids to go on stage near the end and be interviewed by one of the funny performers, and then “lead” the Jingle Bells sing-along. And exit with a goodie bag, to boot! (I just may disguise myself as a kid with pigtails and a lollipop when I inevitably see it again!!!)
The opening night curtain call. Photo by Karen Salkin.
I was privileged to be invited to the opening night afterparty, at the Crown and Anchor, which was just perfect for a panto celebration because it’s a British pub. They weren’t serving afternoon tea, of course, but the crowd was very happy with fish & chips and sausage rolls. That fare is not my cup of tea, (see what I did there?,) so I didn’t indulge, but I was actually happy to not partake in the food because that gave me more time to congratulate everyone on the superb job they did! And wish them all well for the rest of the run.
So I recommend that everyone in SoCal, (and even beyond,) get over toThousand Oaks in the next two weeks because The Wonderful Winter of Oz is not to be missed! With or without the kiddoes.
The Wonderful Winter of Oz running through December 28, 2025
Bank of America Performing Arts Center–Scherr Forum
2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks
805-449-2787 www.TOpanto.com
