Panto Cinderella

In honor of the 10th anniversary of its highly acclaimed Panto series, Stages Repertory Theatre proudly presents a new production of Panto Cinderella, with music and lyrics by Gregg Coffin (Five Course Love) and book by Paul Witworth.  Running November 29 – December 31, 2017.

Stages was the first theatre to introduce the Panto form to Houston with the original Panto Cinderella in 2008, and has continued each holiday season to produce a Panto variation. Several of the original 2008 cast return for this production, including Genevieve Allenbury, Ryan Schabach, Tom Prior, and Calvin Hudson, and they are joined by Stages’ favorites Holland Vavra, Kay Allmand, Zachary Reeves, Jeremy Gee (Winner of a 2017 Houston Press Theatre Award), and Joe Daniels.  This production is directed by Josh Morrison.

Traditionally performed during the holiday season for family audiences, British Pantomine, or Panto, traces its roots all the way back to Greek and Roman Times, incorporating elements of commedia dell’arte, harlequinade and vaudeville. Panto has long been a holiday staple throughout the UK, characterized by a combination of song, dance, buffoonery, slapstick, cross-dressing, topical reference and audience participation.

Stages is only one of a handful of theatres in the US that produce Panto productions during the holidays, and audiences can expect to come ready to laugh, cheer and boo along with a crazy cast of fairy tale favorites (and Buttons, of course!), tailored to be enjoyable for the whole family. For this year’s production, Panto’s madcap storytelling style breathes new life into the familiar tale of humble Cinderella, her fairy godmother, her prince charming, and her hideous (and hilarious) stepsisters.

“Panto is a grounded, classic tradition that is incredibly accessible for audiences,” Stages Artistic Director Kenn McLaughlin said. “It allows us to keep our adult audiences engaged in rather high-end, sophisticated humor with their kids in the room. We have families who come back every year to take pictures with certain actors, and now some of those who were kids in the beginning are bringing their kids. It’s not just children’s theatre but theatre as a communal event with their families. It’s exactly why we do theatre; it’s the core of it. It breaks so many barriers.”

Performance times are Wednesdays through Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 2:00pm and 7pm, and Sundays at 2:00pm.

Additional matinee performances are available on December 21, 22, 28, and 29.

Panto Family Fun Days, which include activities and refreshments with the cast following the matinee performances, are offered December 2, 9, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30, and 31.