CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF PANTO!
LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE presents A NEWLY REVISED VERSION of
A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS
Produced by LYTHGOE FAMILY PRODUCTIONS
Written by Kris Lythgoe
Directed by Bonnie Lythgoe
Musical Direction by Michael Sobie
Choreography by Clarice Ordaz
Laguna Playhouse presents Lythgoe Family Productions newly revised version of A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS, as they celebrate their 10-year anniversary at the Playhouse with the return of the panto show that started it all!
A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will feature: Marcelle LeBlanc (“Stranger Things,”, “Cobra Kai”) as “Snow White,” Nick Delzompo (“Melchior” in Spring Awakening, Laguna Playhouse debut) as “The Prince,” Kimberly Locke (“American Idol,” “Dr. and the Diva”) as “The Queen,” Barry Pearl (“Doody” in Grease, The Wonderful Winter of Oz at the Laguna Playhouse, Bye, Bye, Birdie and The Producers on Broadway) as “Herman,” Jonathan Meza (A Snow White Christmas, “Armed Forces Entertainment” ) as “Muddles,” and John O’Hurley (“Seinfeld,” Peter Pan and Tinker Bell; A Pirate’s Christmas) as the voice of the “Magic Mirror.”
A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS is written by Kris Lythgoe, directed by Bonnie Lythgoe, with musical direction by Michael Sobie, and choreography by Clarice Ordaz. A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will begin performances on Saturday, December 6; (with a press opening on Sunday, December 7 at 5:30 pm); and runs through Sunday, December 28 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
Experience the magic of A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS! This festive panto from the Lythgoe Family blends timeless fairy-tale charm with dazzling pop tunes – from Lady Gaga to Bruno Mars – in a laughter-packed, interactive journey. With Muddles the jester guiding the fun – complete with zany audience banter – and a wicked Queen to boo and hiss, every moment is a riot of song, slapstick, and sparkle. Add in awe-inspiring dancing, the playful puppetry of the dwarfs, and sing-along moments perfect for all ages, and you’ve got a joyous holiday treat. Don’t miss the mirth, magic, and merry-making—grab your tickets now for a Christmas full of enchantment!
The cast of A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will also feature the ensemble of (in alphabetical order): Mia Alvarez, Addison Chang, Becca Lind, Rae Martinez, Brandon Maxwell, Rasha Willes Samaha, and Jarod H Smith.
BONNIE LYTHGOE (Director) With a career spanning more than 30 years, Bonnie’s achievements as a dancer, choreographer, director, TV presenter, TV producer and Broadway producer are second to none. Starting her dancing career in the feature film To Sir, With Love, starring Sidney Poitier, she followed up with a variety of choreography and directing roles including the world premieres of Robin Hood and Maid Marion: A Holiday Panto,Snow White, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Grease, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Full Monty, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Aladdin, West Side Story and Royal Variety for HRH Queen Elizabeth. With ongoing success in musical theatre, Bonnie served as a judge for a BBC singing reality series S Club Juniors created by Simon Fuller. She joined the next Simon Fuller venture, “American Idol,” where she served as a producer on the first three series before moving on to another new project, “So You Think You Can Dance,” for which she was both a judge and a producer for the first two series. Bonnie then headed Down Under for “So You Think You Can Dance Australia.” In 2011, Bonnie created Lythgoe Family Productions in Los Angeles with her son Kristopher. Together they have brought musical “Panto” to Los Angeles. The first production was Cinderella, followed by Snow White with Neil Patrick Harris. Well-known for her creativity and involvement in global television hits, Bonnie is dedicated to bringing affordable theatre to families across the world through fun, laughter and music. affordable theatre to families across the world through fun, laughter and music.
CLARICE ORDAZ (Choreographer) is a native of Los Angeles, is a dynamic dancer, choreographer, and educator known for her impeccable ear for rhythm and musicality. With her ability to transform sound into movement, Clarice crafts visually captivating and emotionally resonant choreography. Her diverse portfolio includes choreography for One Day at a Time on Netflix, Hairspray and Cabaret at 5 Star Theatricals, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and Peter Pan and Tinkerbell: A Pirate’s Christmas with the Lythgoe Family, in addition to numerous television and commercial projects.
MICHAEL SOBIE (Musical Direction) started his professional career playing keyboards for the first national tour of Aida, a position that not only fed his love for musical theatre but also his admiration for Sir Elton John. His Broadway career continued with roles as conductor and keyboardist for shows including Wicked, Les Miserables, Xanadu, and Altar Boyz. Michael made the move to LA where he has been fortunate enough to work not only on the big and small screen, but in arenas around the world. Emmy-winning composer Ramin Djawadi invited him to perform as keyboardist on three international “Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience tours” before handing the baton to Michael and asking him to conduct the final tour in 2019. Djawadi has also showcased Michael on the soundtracks to Reminiscence, The Mountain Between Us, A Wrinkle in Time, and “Amazing Stories,” as well as “Surreal,” the composer’s album which accompanies the water feature at the World Expo in Dubai. Michael’s other screen credits include Noah Baumbach’s Oscar-winning Marriage Story, “Grace and Frankie,” “Why Women Kill,” “A Christmas Story: Live,” “Alter Ego,” “Locke and Key”, “PBS’ Great Performances: Movies for Grownups Awards,” “Memory Games,” and an upcoming HBO comedy series starring Steve Carell. Michael has been a music director for Lythgoe Family Productions since joining them in 2015. He has worked with artists including Meryl Streep, Ariana Grande, Scarlett Johansson, Alan Cumming, Carole Cook, and Cole Escola.Michael composed the music for Hell on Earth: A New Musical (About Middle School) with Shawn Ryan and in January 2020, featured Anthony Rosenthal and Tony Award-winning Laurie Metcalf in the show’s NYC premiere. Other notable credits include composing the original score to Gods and Monsters (2024 Chicago stage adaptation). The Andaz Hotel in West Hollywood will host Michael’s first art exhibition in their gallery beginning in March 2026.
KRISTOPHER LYTHGOE (Writer/Producer) is so grateful to be back with Panto in Laguna. TV credits include: “So You Think You Can Dance” (Fox), “Corkscrewed: The Wrath of Grapes” (Fox Reality), “Who Are You” (Fox), “On The Nose” (Tvg), “My Beautiful Game” (Fox Soccer), “Soccer Superstar” (Nickelodeon), “Ellen’s Game Of Games” and “True Story” (NBC). Theatre credits: Footloose, The Wedding Singer and many American Pantos across the country.
ABOUT LYTHGOE FAMILY PANTO
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.
A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS marks Lythgoe Family Panto’s 10-year anniversary at the historic Laguna Playhouse. Past Pantos at Laguna Playhouse include the world premiere of Rapunzel and Her Holiday Wish, A Cinderella Christmas starring Joely Fisher and Veronica Dunne, The Wonderful Winter of Oz starring Olivia Sanabia and Barry Pearl; Robin Hood & Maid Marion: A Holiday Panto starring Michael James Ryan and Sohm Kapila; Peter Pan & Tinker Bell: A Pirates’ Christmas, starring John O’Hurley, Lincoln Klauss and Ashley Argota;Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose starring Ashley Argota and Thomas Hobson; Aladdin and His Winter Wish starring Kira Kosarin and Barry Pearl; Sleeping Beauty and her Winter Knight starring Cozi Zuehlsdorff and Joely Fisher & A Snow White Christmas starring Marina Sirtis and Lindsay Pearce. As part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to develop theatre for young audiences, Lythgoe Family Panto together with Laguna Playhouse will bring the magic of Panto to hundreds of underserved children who attend school in Orange County.
ABOUT THE SCHEDULE AND PRICING
A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will preview on Saturday, December 6 at 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm (with a press opening on Sunday,
December 7 at 5:30 pm) and runs through Sunday, December 28 at 4:00 pm at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
Performances will be Thursdays & Fridays at 7:00 pm; Saturdays & Sundays at 12:00pm & 4:00 pm. There will no performances on Thursday, December 28 or Friday, December 29 at 7:00pm.
There will be added performances on Wednesday, December 17 at 7:00 pm; Saturday, December 20 will perform at 11:00 am; 3:00 pm and 7:00pm; Monday, December 22 at 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm; Tuesday, December 23 at 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm; Friday, December 26 at 3:00pm and 7:00 pm.
Tickets range from $39 – $89. There is a $50 “Golden Ticket” add-on available for children ages 4-12 that includes a special onstage sing-along experience during the performance and a gift bag with special surprises! Golden Tickets are limited and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-2787. Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229. Prices subject to change.
The box office is open Tuesdays – Sundays: 12pm to 4pm; Mondays open 2 hours prior to show time and until 15 minutes after curtain. Open until showtime on all performance days. For more information on all shows and programming visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com. LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
Founded in 1920, the historic Laguna Playhouse (David Ellenstein, Artistic Director/Adele Adkins, Managing Director) is one of the oldest continuously operating not-for-profit theatres on the West Coast and is proud to be an active participant in the celebrated Laguna Beach arts community. From classic plays and musical comedies to the current off-Broadway smash, cutting edge and traditional music exhibitions, dance festivals and stand-up comedy performances, Laguna Playhouse brings the magical experience of the performing arts direct to over 80,000 patrons each season.
Laguna Playhouse educational programming includes year-round classes, productions by and for children and teens (Youth Theatre) and is one of the few companies in the region that offer a curriculum-based professional theatre-touring program, TheatreReach, which aligns with the California State Standards for literature, history and performing arts curriculum.
Laguna Playhouse has been recognized for the past five years as one of Orange County Register’s “Best of OC” in the category of Live Theatre. The Laguna Playhouse has featured many talented performers on stage, including Ed Asner, Leslie Caron, Hershey Felder, Harrison Ford, Melanie Griffith, Val Kilmer, Gregory Harrison, Dan Lauria, Hal Linden, Wendie Malick, Rita Rudner, Peter Strauss, Jobeth Williams, Joely Fisher, Charles Shaughnessy, French Stewart, Loretta Swit, and Bette Davis.
Learn What’s Going On at www.lagunaplayhouse.com.
Opens: Sunday, December 7 at 5:30 pm
Runs: Sunday, December 7 – Sunday, December 28, 2025
Performances will be Thursdays & Fridays at 7:00 pm; Saturdays & Sundays at 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm
There will be added performances on Wednesday, December 17 at 7:00 pm; Saturday, December 20 at 11:00 am; 3:00 pm and 7:00pm;
Monday, December 22 at 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm;
Tuesday, December 23 at 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm;
Friday, December 26 at 3:00pm and 7:00 pm
There will no performances on Thursday, December 28 or Friday, December 29 at 7:00pm.
LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE
606 Laguna Canyon Rd. in Laguna Beach, CA
Tickets range from $39 – $89; and a special “Golden Ticket” add-on for an additional $50.00 which includes a special onstage sing-along experience during the performance and a gift bag with special surprises! Tickets can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229.
