Latest Casting Announced For LYTHGOE FAMILY PANTO'S OZ at Pasadena Civic

Casting News! Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, announced the latest casting for their newest production, the world premiere of THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, (300 East Green Street, Pasadena CA 91101) which will play a strictly limited engagement from December 15 through December 30.

Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer (Nickelodeon's The Fresh Beat Band, "Cha Cha" on FOX's Grease: Live!, National Tour of In the Heights) joins the cast as The Wicked Witch of the West, and will have Rescue Dog Pickle C. Irwin nipping at her heels in the role of Toto.

THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ stars previously announced singer, actress and dancer Mackenzie Ziegler (Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, Dance Moms) as Dorothy, Tony Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (Celebrity Big Brother Winner and Broadway's Hairspray) as Glinda, and features Kermit the Frog as the Wizard of Oz, Jared Gertner (Broadway's The Book of Mormon) as The Scarecrow, Phil LaMarr ("Mad TV" and "Pulp Fiction") as The Tin Man, and Hailee Payne and Valerie Rockey of So You Think You Can Dance.

The official press opening will be held on December 14, 2018 at GIVE KIDS PANTO, a benefit to raise monies for the student matinee performance serving Title One schools in the PUSD and LAUSD.

The production will be directed by Bonnie Lythgoe and choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D'umo (NappyTabs), with book by Kris Lythgoe and musical direction and arrangements by Michael Orland (American Idol). Casting is by executive producer Becky Lythgoe. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ is a Holiday version of America's favorite modern fairy tale, in the style of a traditional British Family Panto. On Christmas Eve, Dorothy gets swept away by a 'freak' Kansas blizzard and lands in a world of munchkins and witches. With songs from Imagine Dragons to Earth, Wind and Fire, THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ is the perfect family experience at the Holiday time. No rainbows will be hurt in this production.

There will also be a special student matinee on December 14, 2018, servicing over 2,000 Title One school children who will be introduced to the magic of live theatre for the very first time.

Tickets start at $40 and Family Four Packs for just $99 can be purchased at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, online at www.thepasadenacivic.com or by calling 626-449-7362. Golden Tickets, which allow the ticket holder (children ages 4 - 12 only) a special on-stage experience during the production, are available for an additional $75.00 each. This will be the seventh holiday season of Lythgoe Family Panto in Pasadena, and the second at the Pasadena Civic.

Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer is an actress, singer, songwriter, & producer, best known for playing the role of Kiki on the Emmy Award-winning series, "The Fresh Beat Band," where she received two Imagen Award nominations for Best Actress in a TV Series. Other credits include: Cha Cha in FOX's "Grease: Live," Vanessa in Broadway's 1st National Tour of In the Heights, 3 Mo' Divas, Phyllis on Disney's "Goldie & Bear," Soledad on "Madam Secretary," Gina on "Criminal Minds," Rosa on "Guiding Light," Much Ado About Nothing, West Side Story and she won a Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Female Lead. Her music can be heard on various films and TV shows, and she's performed with Jason Mraz, Ne-Yo, Justin Bieber and Engelbert Humperdinck, among others. www.yvettenacer.com

Pickle C. Irwin (Toto) will do anything for bacon. He is thrilled to be working with Kermit the Frog (his hero) and being in a Lythgoe Panto (his favorite holiday tradition). Thank you to the Burbank Animal Shelter for taking such good care of him and finding him his forever lap. Please consider adopting a furry friend for your family, we rescue dogs rule! Previous: The Wizard of Oz (Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre), A Christmas Memory (Laguna Playhouse).

Lythgoe Family Panto Across America

This season Lythgoe Family Panto will also present three additional productions across America:

ALADDIN AND HIS WINTER WISH - Directed by David F.M. Vaughn with Supervising Direction by Bonnie Lythgoe will be presented in partnership with North Carolina Theatre at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium from November 29- December 2. Tickets starting at $23 are on sale at nctheatre.com.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: A CHRISTMAS ROSE will mark the fourth year of the partnership between Lythgoe Family Panto and Laguna Playhouse, and plays December 7 - December 30. The production will be directed by Sheldon Epps with choreography by Mandy Moore. Tickets starting at $20 for children and $30 for adults are on sale at www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

PETER PAN AND TINKER BELL - A PIRATES CHRISTMAS will star John O'Hurley as Captain Hook and will be presented in partnership with Tennessee Performing Arts Center at the James K. Polk Theatre in Nashville from December 13-23. Tickets starting at $35 are on sale at www.theatrenashville.com.

Previously Lythgoe Family Panto established their reputation with productions including Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose starring Kellie Berglund, James Snyder and Gedde Watanabe, A Cinderella Christmas starring Lauren Taylor, Alex Newell and Morgan Fairchild, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell - A Pirates Christmas starring Sabrina Carpenter and John O'Hurley, Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight starring Olivia Holt and Lucy Lawless, Aladdin and His Winter Wish starring Ben Vereen, Jordan Fisher, and Ashley Argota - and A Snow White Christmas starring Ariana Grande and Neil Patrick Harris.

Lythgoe Family Panto produces fun, musical theatre the whole family can enjoy. Known for their creativity and involvement in television hits "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance," the Lythgoes are dedicated to bringing affordable theatre to families across America. Based on the Grimm fairytales and others, each story has been modernized with topical scripts for parents and well known pop songs for kids. The Lythgoes pride themselves on creating a memorable experience a family can share together. In 2017 over 6000 title 1 students were introduced by the Lythgoe's to live theatre, through the medium of Panto.

About the Pasadena Civic Auditorium
Built in 1932, during the Great Depression, the Pasadena Civic Auditorium has welcomed millions of patrons across Southern California. Inspired by Mediterranean Revival architecture, the 3,000 seat theatre has hosted countless concerts and plays, including but not limited to the Daytime Emmy Awards,

NAACP Image Awards and in 1983, Motown 25 where Michael Jackson debuted the Moonwalk. The venue has also been used for film and television shows such as "Alias," "American Idol," "America's Got Talent," "So You Think You Can Dance," "Scandal" and "NCIS."

For more information about the Civic Auditorium, visit https://pasadenacivic.visitpasadena.com