Hairspray Tony winner (and champion of Celebrity Big Brother) Marissa Jaret Winokur will play Glinda in the Pasadena Playhouse production of The Winter of Oz playing alongside Kermit the Frog as the Wizard of Oz.
The holiday production runs December 14–30, presented by Lythgoe Family Panto and the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Bonnie Lythgoe directs the panto, choreographed by Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo (NappyTabs), with a book by Kris Lythgoe and Michael Orland (American Idol) serving as musical arranger nd supervisor.
"I have taken my son Zev to the Pasadena Panto for years as it’s the perfect introduction to theatre for children, keeping the whole family entertained with comedy and pop songs,” Winokur said in a statement. “It’s also been a dream to perform alongside Kermit the Frog; only the Lythgoes could make that happen, and I am looking forward to creating some magic with them—somewhere over the rainbow!”
A tradition of British theatre, panto is a fairy tale complete with songs, dances, jokes, exaggerated characters, and audience participation. The Lythgoe Family has brought panto across the U.S. with multiple productions including Aladdin and His Winter Wish and Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose.
Winokur won her Tony for originating the role of Tracy Turnblad on Broadway. She has since worked mostly in television guest-starring on Melissa & Joey and Playing House.
Read: WHERE ARE THE STARS OF BROADWAY’S ORIGINAL HAIRSPRAY NOW?
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