The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director, Danny Feldman, Producing Artistic Director) and Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP) announces Broadway’s Shoshana Bean (Wicked, Hairspray) starring as The Fairy Godmother in this year’s Panto at The Playhouse A Cinderella Christmas for 4 performances only December 24 (at 12:00pm and 4:00pm) and December 31 (at 12:00pm and 4:00pm). The role of The Fairy Godmother is played by Alex Newell (Fox’s “Glee”) at all other performances. A Cinderella Christmas, which opened to rave reviews December 8, continues at The Pasadena Playhouse through January 8, 2017.
The Pasadena Star-News called A Cinderella Christmas “The Perfect Holiday Outing.” Broadway World said, “Good fun with a superb cast…fine pop singing and fast paced dancing…A Christmas blast!” and Stage Scene LA said, “Wow! You’ll have a Panto-rrific Time!”
Shoshana Bean’s independent solo releases have topped the iTunes R&B and Blues charts in the US and UK in peak positions including #1, and her latest release earned her a hot shot debut at #10 on the Billboard Blues charts. Shoshana is a veteran of the Broadway stage having made her debut in the original cast of Hairspray and starring as the very first replacement for Elphaba, the green-skinned witch, in Wicked. Most recently she appeared as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl and in the pre-Broadway production of the new musical Beaches as CeeCee Bloom, for which she earned a Jeff Award Nomination for best lead actress in a musical. She has sold out solo concerts around the globe, lent her voice to countless films and television shows, (including the new animated feature ‘SING’) amassed millions of views on YouTube, toured with Postmodern Jukebox, performed alongside Brian McKnight, Bebe Winans and sang back up for Michael Jackson for his 30th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden. Shoshana arranged vocals for Jennifer Lopez’s American Idol performance of “I Luh Ya Papi” and her music has been featured in television shows on NBC, MTV, Oxygen, Bravo and Showtime.
Returning from last year’s hugely successful Panto at The Playhouse production of Peter Pan and Tinker Bell – A Pirates Christmas for A Cinderella Christmas is director Bonnie Lythgoe (“So You Think You Can Dance”), choreographer Spencer Liff (Emmy nominee “So You Think You Can Dance”) and musical director Michael Orland (“American Idol”). The book is by Kris Lythgoe, costume design by Lythgoe Family Panto, and casting by Becky Lythgoe.
The cast stars Lauren Taylor as “Cinderella” (Disney Channel’s “Best Friends Whenever,” Netflix’s “Richie Rich”), Alex Newell as “The Fairy Godmother” (Fox’s “Glee,” HBO’s “Vinyl,” Opener for Adam Lambert’s “Original High” tour) {Please note Broadway’s Shoshana Bean (Wicked, Hairspray) will be starring as The Fairy Godmother for 4 performances only December 24 (at 12:00pm and 4:00pm) and December 31 (at 12:00pm and 4:00pm}, Morgan Fairchild as “Baroness Hardup” (NBC’s “Flamingo Road,” CBS’s “Falcon Crest”), Kenton Duty as “The Prince” (Disney Channel’s “Shake It Up,” ABC’s “Lost”), and Davi Santos (Nickelodeon’s “Power Rangers Dino Charge,” CW’s “Mr. Box Office”) as Dandini.
In addition, A Cinderella Christmas includes Matthew Patrick Davis as “Buttons” (Broadway revival of Side Show), and returning Panto at The Playhouse favorites Josh Adamson (ABC Family’s “First Landing,” U.S. National Tour of 360 London’s Peter Pan,) and Ben Giroux (Nickelodeon’s “Henry Danger,” CW’s “Hart of Dixie”), as “The Ugly Stepsisters.”
Before every performance, all Playhouse guests and their families are invited to enjoy a “Winter Wonderland”event in The Playhouse’s Engemann Family Courtyard free of charge, complete with crafts, activities, games, Santa Claus (on selected dates) photo opportunities and a Princess/Prince salon by Rock Your Hair – Get the latest Royal style before the show! (nominal fee applies.)
A Cinderella Christmas plays now through January 8, 2017 at The Pasadena Playhouse. The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena. Tickets for A Cinderella Christmas range from $25.00 – $125.00. Tickets are required for admission to the production by everyone with the exception of children under the age of 2 who can attend the show without a ticket if they sit on a parent or guardian’s lap throughout the performance. Tickets are available by calling The Pasadena Playhouse at (626) 356-7529, and online 24 hours a day at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.