This show is always one of the highlights of my holiday season. Even Mr. X won\u2019t miss it! It\u2019s rare for children and adults to be equally interested in a theatre piece, but that is the definition of a panto.<\/p>\n
Actually, in case you\u2019re not already familiar with the concept, here\u2019s a more\u00a0detailed definition of a \u201cpanto\u201d: It\u2019s a tradition from England, and is usually performed around the holidays. Each show is based on a well-known fairy tale, but it\u2019s not the exact<\/em> story.\u00a0 It has many different elements, including\u00a0singing, dancing, double entendres, a very colorful basic set, and lots of audience participation\u2014we all love loudly booing the villain.\u00a0 And if done right, as it always is with the Lythgoes, it\u2019s tons of fun.<\/p>\n Phil LaMarr, Mackenzie Ziegler, Juan Pablo Di Pace, and Jared Gertner. Photo by Philicia Endelman, as is the one at the top of this page.<\/p><\/div>\n This year we were treated to their rendition of The Wizard of Oz<\/em>. Yes, I know that\u2019s not exactly a fairy tale<\/em>, but it\u2019s close enough for these purposes. And, as the re-worked title states, it\u2019s wonderful<\/em>!<\/p>\n As always with these pantos, The Wonderful Winter of Oz<\/em> features world-class talent, such as the most working person in show business, Musical Director Michael Orland; prolific voice actor Phil LaMarr, who showed off several of those awesome character voices in this show, as Tin Woodman; and Tony Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur, who plays a role that I assume would usually be done by a man in drag in a panto, so that they cast her instead means a lot. To see such talents, along with choreography by Emmy winner Nappytabs, is a privilege.<\/p>\n And as usual with the Lythgoes, there are surprises. This time one of them is that The Wizard is played by none other than…Kermit the Frog!!! I actually cried when he came on. I hadn\u2019t even realized that I love him so much, even though my very first Christmas ornament from Mr. X is Kermit. It\u2019s quite the coup for the Lythgoes to scoop him up (with his uber-busy puppet master, Matt Vogel,) for this show. Disney is very protective of their properties, so they must believe in these pantos as much as I<\/em> do! [Note: I adore the last line of Matt\u2019s bio in the program. It reads: \u201cIn his spare time, he\u2019s exhausted.\u201d I hear ya, pal\u2014it\u2019s taking me longer to write<\/em> this review than to see<\/em> the actual show!]<\/p>\n Marissa Jaret Winokur and Kermit The Frog. Photo by Philicia Endelman.<\/p><\/div>\n And I needed double tissues when Kermit and Marissa, (as the good witch Glinda,) broke into Rainbow Connection<\/em> near the end of the show. My favorite rendition ever of that now-iconic song was Kermit\u2019s duet with Justin Timberlake eight years ago on SNL<\/em>, (except for the comic violence at the end, which I\u2019ve blocked-out,) but this version was close.<\/p>\n Speaking of the cast, Mr. X pointed-out that great care is taken by this company to bring in Broadway, and Broadway-quality, performers. Everyone<\/em> is good in The Wonderful Winter of Oz<\/em>, but there\u2019s a trio of stand-outs for me.<\/p>\n First is the absolutely adorbs Jared Gertner. What you see is what you get with him. I went-out in the pouring rain for the Press Day for this show just to see his ever-smiling face again. I love that guy. And he can sing<\/em>!\u00a0 I was so charmed by his total performance in last year\u2019s Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose<\/em> that I didn\u2019t listen to his singing voice per se. But I did this<\/em> time, and I was wowed that someone can be that talented, on so many levels. He told me that his favorite part of the pantos is when he gets to interview a few kids from the audience near the end. And guess what? It\u2019s mine<\/em>, too! He really knows how to make that section of the show amusing for everybody.<\/p>\n Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer in the center. Photo by Philicia Endelman.<\/p><\/div>\n Mr. X was most impressed with Yvette-Gonzalez-Nacer, who plays the Wicked Witch. That is one talented woman. She even accompanies herself on violin at one point! Mr. X made the great observation that she gives the audience confidence. I feel bad that I didn\u2019t have time to interview her on Press Day, but, as usual, I had eyes for only the boys.<\/p>\n Juan Pablo Di Pace and Karen Salkin. Photo by Karen Salkin. (Glad to see that her selfie skills are improving a bit.)<\/p><\/div>\n Speaking of the boys, the real revelation of The Wonderful Winter of Oz<\/em> is Juan Pablo Di Pace, as the The Lion. That guy is a star.\u00a0 He actually became one on this season’s Dancing With<\/em> The Stars<\/em>, but he’s even moreso here.\u00a0 Not only can Juan Pablo dance<\/em>, (which we learned on that show,) but he can also sing<\/em>! Who knew?!\u00a0 And he’s funny.\u00a0 And, even more importantly, when I met him at the after-party, I was struck by just how present a person he is.\u00a0 He really paid exact attention the entire time we were talking, which is a rarity. (Paying attention to me<\/em> is not the rarity, except for Mr. X, of course. It\u2019s that anyone<\/em> is kind enough to do that at an event feting them<\/em>, especially after the high of a successful opening performance!) [Note: Juan Pablo is not in the show on Dec. 29th and 30th, so plan accordingly. But I saw Philip Anthony-Rodriguez, who fills in for him on those dates, in The Fantasticks<\/em> two years ago, and he\u2019s fabulous, as well. So you\u2019ll win either way.]<\/p>\n The happy curtain call. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n All the pantos are written by Kris Lythgoe, one of the nicest, most pleasant people I’ve ever met in show business. His writing shows that he truly loves what he does. I don’t know how he comes up with continually good panto scripts. The one for The Wonderful Winter of Oz<\/em> is very clever, and as always, brings in fun local geographical references, which makes everyone in the audience extra-happy.<\/p>\n I love all of the panto\u2019s corny jokes. I\u2019m proud of myself for getting every single one of them.<\/p>\n I\u2019m also a fan of the colorful scenery. And that there’s a real<\/em> dog, (albeit a pretty shaggy one,) playing Toto. That\u2019s a risky proposition, but it definitely adds to the merriment. Audiences love a real dog! But I enjoyed the crow puppets<\/em> just as much.<\/p>\n Part of the lobby Winter Wonderland. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n There\u2019s even a pre-show organ concert, followed by them giving a local girl a shot at singing a holiday song in front of a big crowd, so The Wonderful Winter of Oz<\/em> is the perfect all-around holiday entertainment. And on select days, there\u2019s a Winter Wonderland in the lobby with Santa, many beautiful decorations, face-painting, and other activities. (Check their website below for all that info.)<\/p>\n Mackenzie Ziegler (holding Pickle C. Irwin, who plays Toto!) Photo by Philicia Endelman.<\/p><\/div>\n The only disappointment I had with this show at all is that, with so many principles who can really<\/em> dance, they weren’t given much in that department. With Nappytabs choreographing, and not one but three Dancing With The Stars<\/em> alumni, (including recent Juniors<\/em> finalist Mackenzie Ziegler, who stars as Dorothy here,) I was expecting big things.\u00a0 As Mr. X said–give that girl a big dance number! Let her strut her stuff!<\/p>\n Karen Salkin and her new bestie, the Snowman, in the Winter Wonderland. Fabulous sweater courtesy of Mr. X!<\/p><\/div>\n Speaking of dancing, I want to give a shout-out to my favorite dancer in this show, young Josh Guerrero. That kid gives it his all and then<\/em> some! I can\u2019t wait to follow his career.<\/p>\n On a personal note, I want to say that The Wonderful Winter of Oz<\/em> is exactly what we needed that night.\u00a0 Mr. X had hurt his back pretty badly, and I had burnt my finger on my flatiron that day.\u00a0 (Yes, I hate to disillusion you guys, but my locks are not naturally stick straight. I have to work hard for these tresses!) But we were not going to miss the Panto.\u00a0 And, as the evening went on, our afflictions melted into the background.<\/p>\n So, no matter what your<\/em> situation is this season, get over to the Pasadena Civic, and enjoy all this holiday fun before it\u2019s gone in a couple of weeks!<\/p>\n The Wonderful Winter of Oz<\/em>\u00a0running through December 30, 2018<\/strong> THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ PANTO Now that the Lythgoe Family Pantos have branched out beyond their original Pasadena Playhouse location to not only other cities in California, but around the whole country now, we Angelenos are lucky to still have one here every December. And we get them first! Yay, us! This show is<\/p>\n![\"Phil](\"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/thumbnail_DSC_4469-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Pasadena Civic Auditorium 300 East Green Street, Pasadena 626-449-7360 www.americanpanto.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"