Mackenzie Ziegler & More Join Lythgoe Family Panto OZ at Pasadena Civic

Breaking News! Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, announce additional 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. Singer, actress and dancer Mackenzie Ziegler (Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, Dance Moms) as Dorothy, Phil LaMarr ("Mad TV" and "Pulp Fiction") as The Tin Man, Jared Gertner (Broadway's The Book of Mormon) as The Scarecrow, and Hailee Payne and Valerie Rockey of So You Think You Can Dance join previously announced Kermit the Frog as the Wizard of Oz and Tony-Award winner Marissa Jaret Winokur (Celebrity Big Brother Winner and Broadway's Hairspray) as Glinda. 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 Michael Orland (American Idol) serving as musical arranger and supervisor. 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 Journey to Wham!, THE WONDERFUL WINTER OF OZ is the perfect family experience at the Holiday time. No rainbows will be hurt in this production.

"With dance so close to the Lythgoe family's heart we have followed Mackenzie from her first days on Dance Moms to her blossoming pop career. We are so excited to be finally working with her and to be able to show another facet to this multi talented lady" said LFP Producer Mark Stewart.

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.

Mackenzie Ziegler has become one of the most influential rising stars of Generation Z. At just fourteen-years-old, Mackenzie has made a splash in the entertainment industry as an award-winning dancer, singer-songwriter, actress, author, and model. She performed and competed on Lifetime's hit reality series, "Dance Moms," before launching her solo career and garnering a massive social media presence of over 25 million followers across several platforms.

Mackenzie can also be seen starring in the YouTube series "Total Eclipse" for the digital network Brat, on which she also serves as Executive Producer. Just this year her first book, "Kenzie's Rules for Life," was released, offering inspirational, upbeat advice on friendship, family, fitness, style, and positivity, and her makeup line, "Love, Kenzie," launched in September offering affordable and functional beauty products celebrating individuality and feminine power. Mackenzie can currently be seen competing on "Dancing With the Stars: Juniors" for ABC.

A Los Angeles native, Phil LaMarr is an alumnus of Yale University and The Groundlings Theater and perhaps is best known as one of the original cast members of "Mad TV" and as "Marvin" in "Pulp Fiction." In addition to numerous appearances in films like Jason Reitman's "Men," "Women & Children," "Step Brothers," "Free Enterprise," and "Real Steel," and TV shows such as "NYPD Blue," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Veep", and Epix's "Get Shorty," Phil has been profiled for his extensive voice-over work, which includes regular roles on the animated series "Samurai Jack," "Futurama," and "Justice League," recurring roles on "Family Guy," "Young Justice" and "Star Wars: Rebels" and video games including "Shadow of Mordor,"(for which he won the NAVGTR award for best supporting actor), "Metal Gear Solid" 2 & 4, "Mercenaries," "Darksiders," "Infamous," "Dead Island," "Injustice: Gods Among Us," and "Mortal Kombat X."

His stage work includes productions with The Actor's Gang, South Coast Repertory and Sacred Fools Theatre, and the award-winning production of We Are Proud To Present... at The Matrix Theatre. Phil also portrayed "Cowboy Curtis" in The Pee-Wee Herman Show both on Broadway and in the Emmy-nominated HBO special. Currently, In addition to writing and producing the web series "Inside The Legend" (https://www.youtube.com/user/InsideTheLegend)" and the animated series "Goblins,"(goblinsanimated.com) Phil is performing monthly with "The Black Version" (www.theblackversion.com), appearing in Netflix's "Kulipari", the record-setting "Incredibles 2" and starring in Tyler The Creator's animated series, "The Jellies" for Adult Swim.

Jared Gertner is best known for playing Elder Cunningham in The Book of Mormon on Broadway, on the 1st National tour, and in London (Olivier Nomination- Best Lead Actor). He's also appeared on Broadway in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barfee), in the Off-Broadway premiere of Ordinary Days (Warren), and in regional theatres across the country. In LA, Jared created the roles of Al Dubin in the new musical, I Only Have Eyes For You, and Sidowsky in the premiere of the play, The Dodgers, as well as playing Frank Lippencott in Wonderful Town at LA Opera (opposite Faith Prince and Roger Bart), and Pierre in Lythgoe Family Panto's Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose.

Television credits include: "Mom," "Modern Family," "2 Broke Girls," "Supernatural," "Superior Donuts," "How I Met Your Mother," "Marvel's Agent Carter," "Ugly Betty," "The Good Wife," "American Dad," "Family Guy" and the popular Broadway themed web series, "Submissions Only." Jared also starred in a television pilot for NBC called "How We Live," and appears in the upcoming film, "Nightmare Cinema." His voice can be heard as an adorable pug dog in the film, "Pup Star," and in many TV and radio commercials. Jared grew up at The Jersey shore (the place, not the TV show), and he is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.

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.