People's Light Continues Holiday Show Tradition with ALADDIN: A MUSICAL PANTO

People's Light invites you to level up your holiday at our annual panto, now the Main Line's favorite family celebration. This year, Aladdin: A Musical Panto, an adventure story infused with the adrenaline of video gaming, follows a young ne'er-do-well and his animal pals as they discover a mysterious lamp, rescue a princess, pilot a magic carpet, and save their village from an evil villain. Written by Samantha Reading and Pete Pryor, with music and lyrics by Michael Ogborn, Aladdin conquers the Leonard C. Haas Stage in Malvern from November 15, 2017-January 7, 2018. People's Light is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355. For tickets, call 610.644.3500 or visit peopleslight.org.

"We had so much fun letting this genie out of the bottle!" says director Pete Pryor. "This season's Aladdin is sure to delight with new adventures, fresh faces, and those company stalwarts who have made our own brand of holiday hilarity a family tradition."

"Families all over the area have made our annual panto their go-to holiday experience," says Artistic Director Abigail Adams. "That inspires us to continue to connect these productions to people's everyday interests."

This year, it struck us how many features the panto shares with multi-player video gaming. Both offer intense, interactive experiences. Both immerse us in imagined worlds of high-energy adventure. Both invite us to care about the characters, and help them travel successfully toward their ultimate goals. And like gaming, the panto invites us to take a meaningful journey in community. We can share laughs and thrills and surprises with one another along the way.

Aladdin features panto veterans from the resident ensemble at People's Light. Mark Lazar continues as the Theatre's celebrated Dame, portraying Aladdin's mother, the Widow Twankey. Susan McKey plays the Nurse, and Christopher Patrick Mullen appears as the scheming Fu. Tom Teti plays the Genius of the Ring.

They're joined by returning guests and new talents. Frequent panto guest Kim Carson plays the Sultan. Camilo Estrada portrays Aladdin, and Samantha Funk appears as Princess Mai Tai. Zack Aguilar plays Morris the Mantis, and Peter Danelski is Manny the Monkey. Nicholas L. Parker plays the Genie of the Lamp. Melissa Barnathan, Mike Dorsey, and Emily Kaye Lynn play Fu's three interns, while Adam Howard and Tori Lewis serve as swings, understudying all major roles in the production.

Co-author Pete Pryor directs. Co-author Samantha Reading assistant directs and choreographs. Thomas Fosnocht III serves as Music Director, aided by drummer Kanako Omae Neale. People's Light's Director of Design James F. Pyne, Jr. designs the set, and frequent guest Rosemarie McKelvey creates costumes. Company member Kate McSorley Fossner stage manages and Gina Pisasale dramaturgs.

Aladdin: A Musical Panto previews begin on Wednesday, November 15 at 7pm and run through November 17 at 7 pm. The play opens on Saturday, November 18 and runs through Sunday, January 7.

Standard single tickets start at $42. For tickets, call the Box Office at 610.644.3500. Special discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. For more information or to purchase group tickets, call 610.647.1900 x111 or email benedict@peopleslight.org.

$29 Community Night tickets are available to the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday preview performances on November 15, 16, and 17 at 7pm.

1/2 price tickets are available to select Access Nights. To purchase these discount tickets, you must call the Box Office at 610.644.3500 or purchase online and provide the promo code PLTACCESS. If you are ordering tickets over the phone, you must mention the promotion for the discount to be applied. Aladdin: A Musical Panto Access Nights are Sunday, November 19 at 7pm, Tuesday, November 21 at 7pm, Thursday, November 30 at 7pm, Sunday, December 17 at 7pm, Friday, January 5 at 7pm, and Sunday, January 7 at 7pm.

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