Ariana Grande, Charlene Tilton and Neil Patrick Harris Headline A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS at Pasadena Playhouse, 12/13-23

The Pasadena Playhouse and Lythgoe Family Productions announced today casting and the creative team for A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS, featuring Ariana Grande (Nickelodeon's "Victorious") as "Snow White," an on-screen appearance by Neil Patrick Harris as "The Magic Mirror" and Charlene Tilton ("Dallas") as "The Wicked Queen."

This inaugural "Panto at The Playhouse" production of A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will be directed by Bonnie Lythgoe ("So You Think You Can Dance") with choreography by Spencer Liff (Emmy nominee "So You Think You Can Dance") and musical direction by Michael Orland ("American Idol"). Performances will begin December 13 through December 23, with a gala press opening night on Wednesday, December 12, 2012, at 7:00 p.m. at The Pasadena Playhouse.

"It brings me great delight to welcome Lythgoe Family Productions and their wonderful Panto productions into our Playhouse family, said Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director of The Playhouse. "Their family-friendly, interactive shows are a perfect fit to our season and our community. We look forward to a very long partnership in bringing a new holiday tradition of live theatre to our patrons."

"We are truly honored to be working with the prestigious Pasadena Playhouse in continuing the introduction of American Panto to families," said writer/producer Kris Lythgoe. "It has always been a goal of the Lythgoe family to work with a theatre that shares in our ambition of encouraging young audiences to attend theatre and to bring families together at the holiday season. We believe The Playhouse is the perfect LA home for Panto and we look forward to "Panto at The Playhouse" for many seasons to come!"

An updated version of the classic tale, in the style of a traditional British family Panto, A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS features family-friendly magic, with a comedic twist, dancing (with "So You Think You Can Dance" alumni), a live miniature pony and contemporary music from Katy Perry's "Firework" to Huey Lewis and the News' "Power of Love" to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and more. A Panto is known for its interactive style and humor that appeals to everyone from ages 2 – 102! Before every performance, guests and their families are invited to enjoy a "Winter Wonderland" event sponsored by Parenting Magazine in The Playhouse's Engemann Family Courtyard, complete with holiday carolers, crafts, activities, games and photo opportunities.

The full cast for A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS features Ariana Grande as "Snow White" (Nickelodeon's "Victorious"); Neil Patrick Harris as "The Magic Mirror" ("How I Met Your Mother"); Charlene Tilton as "The Wicked Queen" ("Dallas"); JoNathan Scott Meza as "Muddles" ("The Jumpitz"); David Figoli as "Herman the Huntsman"; and "Snow White's Prince" to be announced soon.

The "Seven Dwarfs" will be cast from local children and auditions will be held on October 6 – 7, 2012, at a location to be announced.

In addition to director Bonnie Lythgoe, the creative team for A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS includes choreography by Spencer Liff (Emmy nominee for "So You Think You Can Dance"), musical direction by Michael Orland ("American Idol"), book by Kris Lythgoe, scenic and costume design by Lythgoe Family Productions creative department with additional costume design by designer Julia Clancy, Donna Maas and Kleev Guessford, additional scenic design by J.J. Wickham (LFP producers include Kris Lythgoe, Bonnie Lythgoe, Becky Baeling and Jason Haigh-Ellery).

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