HomePublicationPasadenaLythgoe Family Panto Casts ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Production

Lythgoe Family Panto Casts ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Production

Photo courtesy Kareem Cervantes / lowerkace media “Beauty and the Beast” cast members and producers include (front row, from left) Garrett Clayton, Becky Lythgoe and Riley Costello. Middle row: Gedde Watanabe, Lauren Taylor, Ben Giroux, Jared Gertner and Josh Adams. Back: John Tartaglia, Jonah Platt and Kris Lythgoe.
Photo courtesy Kareem Cervantes / lowerkace media
“Beauty and the Beast” cast members and producers include (front row, from left) Garrett Clayton, Becky Lythgoe and Riley Costello. Middle row: Gedde Watanabe, Lauren Taylor, Ben Giroux, Jared Gertner and Josh Adams. Back: John Tartaglia, Jonah Platt and Kris Lythgoe.

Lythgoe Family Panto, in association with Pasadena Playhouse, has announced Jonah Platt (Broadway’s “Wicked”) as The Beast; Gedde Watanabe (Broadway’s “Pacific Overtures”, John Hughes’ “Sixteen Candles”) as Maurice; Jared Gertner (Broadway’s “The Book Of Mormon”) as Pierre; and John Tartaglia (Broadway’s “Shrek the Musical”), as Bistro in “Beauty and the Beast – A Christmas Rose” which expands this winter at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium for 15 performances, from Dec. 13-24, with the official press opening on Wednesday, Dec. 13.
The production 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. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
An updated version of the classic tale, in the style of a traditional British family Panto, “Beauty and the Beast — A Christmas Rose” features family-friendly magic with a comedic twist, dancing with “So You Think You Can Dance” alumni, contemporary music and more.
“I am thrilled to know that this impressive quartet of versatile actors will join the full company of artists that is coming together to create yet another dazzling Panto in Pasadena,” director Sheldon Epps said in a statement. “It’s fortunate that this year’s production will take place at the Civic, as I believe it will take this larger space to encompass the huge talents of such a wonderful cast. I very much look forward to this exciting collaboration.”
This December, Lythgoe Family Panto will offer their largest season yet, with four different productions playing concurrently in Laguna, Pasadena, San Diego and Houston.
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. As part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to develop theatre for young audiences, a portion of Lythgoe Family Panto’s proceeds from the production will be donated to Pasadena Playhouse’s outreach and education programs.
Tickets start at $28 and can be purchased online at BeautyAndTheBeastPanto.com, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium or by calling (800) 982-2787. Golden Tickets, which allow the ticketholder (children ages 4–12 only) a special on-stage experience during the production, are available for an additional $60 each.

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