Opening Night Benefit Announced For Lythgoe Family Panto's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: THE CHRISTMAS ROSE

Lythgoe Family Panto (LFP), in association with Pasadena Playhouse, announced today that the opening night celebration of the world premiere of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - A CHRISTMAS ROSE at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on Wednesday, December 13 will benefit Give Kids Panto, a non-profit educational program, serving yearly over 5,000 Title 1 students across America, many of whom will see theatre for the first time through this program. All funds raised that evening will go to support the Panto student matinees for LAUSD and PUSD students.

Live theatre Pantos are produced across the country and Give Kids Panto raises funds so that theatre production companies can add a student matinee to their performance schedule. Give Kids Panto supply the bus, organize the bus and buy the tickets to the performance for these shows.

The benefit will be co-chaired by Teena Hostovich and Darrell Brooke. Benefit Committee members include Lesley Brander-Epps, Sheila Grether-Marion, Nigel Lythgoe, Michael Martinet, Noor Events, Julietta Perez, Robert & Maggie Shahnazarian, and Summit Funding.

The benefit includes a VIP pre-show reception at Noor, located in Paseo Colorado, including delicious hors d' oeuvres, desserts and beverages.

Teena Hostovich and Darrell Brooke, Give Kids Panto Benefit Co-Chairs, said, "A tale as old as time is transformed into something entirely new to our youngest generation. If Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then we are all beholders to BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - A CHRISTMAS ROSE! Please join us as we celebrate theater as it was originally intended -- one big, happy sing-a-long, shout-a-long experience to be enjoyed and remembered by our children for the rest of their lives. To quote our heroine, Belle, 'I want adventure in the great wide somewhere! I want it more than I can tell.' Please join us for such an adventure! Your participation will bring a smile to many young faces this holiday season. All of us at any age can relate to the lesson of this beautiful production: 'Do not be deceived by appearances, for beauty is within.'"

Kris and Becky Lythgoe, Lythgoe Family Panto Producers, said, "We are so excited to be able to offer over 5000 students across America the opportunity to see live theatre, many for the very first time. With the help of our generous sponsors and passionate board, we are afforded the opportunity to introduce kids from underserved communities and beyond to experience the arts."

This year Lythgoe Family Panto is also partnering with several non profits in the Los Angeles and Pasadena area that are dedicated to children and family causes, including: Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Five Acres, Foothill Family, Hathaway Sycamores, Kidspace Children's Museum, LA's BEST, Levitt Pavilion, SoCal Women's Health / Beauty and Empowerment Conference & Expo, and UKares. LFP has gifted each of these organizations tickets to attend opening night.

The Give Kids Panto Benefit will coincide with the opening night of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - A CHRISTMAS ROSE, starring Kelli Berglund (Disney XD's "Lab Rats") as Belle, Jonah Platt (Broadway's Wicked) as The Beast; James Snyder (Broadway's If/Then) as Gus, and Gedde Watanabe (Broadway's Pacific Overtures, John Hughes' Sixteen Candles) as Marcel. The production also stars John Tartaglia (Broadway's Shrek The Musical), as Louis Vuitton, Jared Gertner (Broadway's The Book Of Mormon) as Pierre and Harrison White (Broadway's The Lion King) as Dame Chanel.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - A CHRISTMAS ROSE opens December 13, 2017 and plays through December 24 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - A CHRISTMAS ROSE will be directed by Sheldon Epps and choreographed by Mandy Moore (La La Land), with book by Kris Lythgoe and music direction and arrangements by Michael Orland (American Idol). Bonnie Lythgoe will serve as Executive Director and oversee the production. Casting is led by Producer Becky Lythgoe. Kelli Berglund is represented by Industry Entertainment.

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 fairy tales 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.

Previously Lythgoe Family Panto established their reputation with productions including 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 (the original of this production) starring Ariana Grande and Neil Patrick Harris.

This December, Lythgoe Family Panto will offer their largest season yet, with four different productions playing concurrently in Laguna, Pasadena, San Diego and Houston.

• The Give Kids Panto benefit will take place on Opening Night of

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - A CHRISTMAS ROSE, Wednesday, December 13, 2017.

• Pre?show reception begins at 6:00 p.m. at Noor, located in Paseo Colorado.

• Curtain is at 7:30 p.m.

• Opening Night Benefit tickets are $100

• Purchased Benefit tickets directly send elementary school students to the PANTO Student Matinee and gives the gift of theatre to a child.

To post a comment, you must register and login.