![\"(L-R)](\"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0205-e1766110375844.jpg\")
<\/a>(L-R) John Schartze, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, Douglas Ladnier, and Mark Gagliardi. Photo by Josh Kaplan, as is the one above.<\/p><\/div>\n
It\u2019s yet another fabulous \u201cpanto\u201d from Kris and Becky Lythgoe. (He<\/em> wrote it and she<\/em> directed it\u2014what a couple!) I\u2019ve seen almost all of their pantos through the years, (this was my ninth one!,) but I hadn\u2019t been to one since before the pandemic, so, of course, I haven\u2019t told you about them for that long, which means it\u2019s now time for a refresher course in the concept. A \u201cpanto\u201d 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<\/em> of this<\/em> one,) but it\u2019s not the exact<\/em> story.\u00a0It includes many elements, including\u00a0singing, dancing, a very colorful basic set, modern popular songs, clever\u00a0and somewhat silly references, (in this<\/em> case, to old sitcoms,) and lots of audience participation\u2014we all love loudly booing the villain. And if done right, as it always is with the Lythgoes, it\u2019s tons of fun.<\/p>\n The lovely Lythgoe family–Kris, Leo, and Becky–on opening night of The Wonderful Winter of Oz. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n More on the story<\/em> in a minute, but first I must tell you about this incredible cast. The Wonderful Winter of Oz<\/em> is led by a few actors with whom many audiences may be\u00a0familiar, 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<\/em>, John O’Hurley had a recurring role, (as \u201cJ. Peterman,\u201d) on Seinfeld<\/em>, and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons played Lily on Modern Family<\/em>. That\u2019s a lot of star power. (More on each one a bit later.)<\/p>\n 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\u2019ve been lucky enough to see her work recently. She was excellent in La Cage aux Folles<\/em> at the Pasadena Playhouse a year ago, she was even better last month at Peter Pan Goes Wrong<\/em> at the La Mirada Theatre, and in this<\/em> one, she proves that she\u2019s 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\u2019s done a couple of episodes of a sitcom with Ellen Degeneres back in the day, I can verify that Nicole\u2019s impression of her is spot-on. And then she asks an audience member about themself, and\u2026makes-up an impromptu rhyme about them right away! It\u2019s truly jaw-dropping.<\/p>\n Add to all that the trio of guys playing Dorothy\u2019s new pals on the way to Oz. I loved all three\u2014Mark Gagliardi as Lion,\u00a0Douglas Ladnier as Tin Man,\u00a0John Shartzer as Scarecrow\u2014their humor and personalities cannot be beat! Mark and Douglas were new to me, but I had singled-out John in Clue<\/em> at the Ahmanson last year, for being \u201cGumby-esque,\u201d which he demonstrates again here. His phenomenal moves when he\u2019s 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\u2019ll tell you about in a minute.)<\/p>\n (L-R) Douglas Ladnier, Mark Gagliardi, John Schartzer, Nicole Parker, and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons. Photo by Josh Kaplan.<\/p><\/div>\n Getting back to the TV<\/em> 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\u2019s singing of\u00a0Rainbow Connection<\/em> in Act II is charming.<\/p>\n 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<\/em>\u00a0in the first act, I just welled-up. And she got even better for me when I met her at the after-party\u2014that girl has zero wrinkles! No lie. Not even one. She looks the same as she did on American Idol<\/em>, which was over twenty-five\u00a0years ago! I told her that she should have her own skincare line. She seriously looks twenty years younger than she is. I\u2019m not exaggerating even one little bit. I\u2019ve never seen anything like it.<\/p>\n 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, \u201cLook at her cute shirt!\u201d And she was correct about it! I had no idea she was Tamyra\u2019s daughter, but I was already a fan because she\u2019s smart as a whip!<\/p>\n And let\u2019s not forget Toto\u2014he\u2019s actually played by a real dog for much of the show! Fun.<\/p>\n Tamyra Gray and Nicole Parker. Photo by Josh Kaplan.<\/p><\/div>\n In the middle of the first act, my most discerning theater-going friend, Nina2, leaned over to me and whispered, \u201cThe choreography and dancing are really good!\u201d I agree\u2014choreographers Becca Sweitzer and Camal Pugh did an excellent job with all the hip and happening dance numbers.<\/p>\n The dancers are all<\/em> great, seriously, but I could not keep my eyes off Sydney Kinney. She\u2019s just about the most enthusiastic dancer I\u2019ve ever seen. (And not in the famous nutty Bob Banas Nitty Gritty<\/em> way!) That girl brings it!<\/p>\n 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!<\/p>\n 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\u2019 abilities.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n (L-R) Douglas Ladnier, John Schartzer, Mark Gagliardi, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, and John O\u2019Hurley. Photo by Josh Kaplan.<\/p><\/div>\n Speaking of that theatre, Thousand Oaks\u2019 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\u2019ve seen a Lythgoe Family Panto, and it just might be the best<\/em> one! They make use of more than just the stage<\/em>, which is fun. The intimate space allows the actors to really bring the audience into the action. And into each<\/em> other<\/em>! I\u2019ve never talked to more strangers in my life at any entertainment! Everyone seemed to be bonding over something or someone in the show.<\/p>\n The Wonderful Winter of Oz<\/em> is billed as an \u201cinteractive experience,\u201d and it really is. We\u2019re 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019t<\/em> sit in the last few rows of the front section of the orchestra. Just sayin\u2019. Trust me on this one.<\/p>\n 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 \u201clead\u201d the Jingle Bells<\/em> 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!!!)<\/p>\n The opening night curtain call. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n 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\u2019s a British pub. They weren\u2019t 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n 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<\/em> is not to be missed! With or without the kiddoes.<\/p>\n The Wonderful Winter of Oz<\/em>\u00a0running through December 28, 2025<\/strong> THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ If you see only one show this holiday season, I highly recommend that you make it\u00a0The Wonderful Winter of Oz at Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks.\u00a0 It\u2019s fun\u00a0for all ages. It\u2019s yet another fabulous \u201cpanto\u201d from Kris and Becky Lythgoe. (He wrote it and she directed<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>
\n Bank of America Performing Arts Center\u2013Scherr Forum<\/strong>
\n 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks<\/strong>
\n \u2028805-449-2787\u00a0www.TOpanto.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"