Last year's production of Aladdin was a wonder for us, and an introduction to the uniquely British art form of Christmas panto. For the uninitiated, these seasonal productions use a mix of pop and classic songs to retell classic fairy tales. Archetypical characters abound (princess, prince, villain), and audience participation is a must.

This Sleeping Beauty is a seriously good time, with high caliber, name brand talent, backed up by first class production values. The familiar tale unfolds, with Princess Aurora cursed by a wicked fairy to die on her 18th birthday, unless she can be rescued by a true love's kiss. These productions are strictly for fun: plot takes a back seat to humor, as the cast leaps at every opportunity for a gag or one-liner. Cultural references abound, from Game of Thrones to parkour to Amazon Prime; and no opportunity to mock Glendale is missed.

Don't let the exceptional beauty of the cast fool you: if there's one thing Lythgoe Family Productions takes seriously, it's talent. From the leads to the comic relief to the dance corps, they are to a one tremendously talented.

The beautiful sleeper of the title is played by Olivia Holt (Disney's I Didn't Do It). She captivates with seemingly effortless renditions of hits such as Jessie J's Domino. Her prince (Garret Clayton, Disney's Teen Beach Movie) was born to deliver clever one liners and knowing looks, but he also shines as a singer, taking on challenging numbers including John Legend's All of Me.

Tamyra Gray (American Idol) as the Good Fairy stuns with her renditions of Hero and O Holy Night.  Seriously. I had chills. Time stopped.

For the Mommas in the audience, Patrick Cassidy (in my estimation the handsomest of the Cassidy clan) plays Aurora's dad, the king. In addition to the Cassidy looks, Patrick inherited the family vocal talents, with a rich and commanding voice honed during his many years on Broadway. 

Lucy Lawless takes utter delight in her role as Carabosse, the wicked fairy who curses Aurora.  (Though she's not Maleficent, she does name drop Angelina Jolie.) The warrior princess is also a powerhouse singer, who rules the stage whenever she appears. Lawless is deliciously wicked and is having such a good time that it's hard to be too frightened of her.

The length of the show may prove to be a challenge for younger kids; at about 2 hours (with a 15 minute intermission), the show felt a little bit long for my kindergartner and me. (We saw the show on a school night, so that may have been a factor.)

For an extra $50, your child can get a Golden Ticket and go up onstage for a sing-along. (The lyrics are written on a board, so pre-readers might be at a loss for words.) These tickets are purchased in advance, so it's a good idea to explain to kids that they're not asking for volunteers. A Golden Ticket also includes a gift bag.

Arrive early if you can. About an hour before show time, a Winter Wonderland opens in the courtyard. Kids can play with oversized games, do craft projects, view a movie (we saw Frozen), write letters to Santa, and pose at photo ops. Santa Claus makes an appearance on select days. Various crowns and light-up wands are offered for sale, in about the $5 range. (The props don't feature as heavily in this year's production, though kids are invited to wave their wands near the end.)

Our favorite extra was the snowman-produced post-show snow in the courtyard. Good no doubt for hours of entertainment, though we tried to cap it at 15 minutes.

New this year: optional character breakfasts before the noon shows on weekends. Special guests are either Elsa and Olaf or Ariel and Prince Eric (see schedule for details). Character breakfast packages start at $48 for kids and $66 for adults, and include show tickets.

The theater is located just south of Colorado Blvd., on El Molino Avenue (about halfway between Arroyo Parkway and  Lake). Parking is convenient, with an automated lot behind the theater and several other lots nearby. If you come for a Saturday evening or Sunday show, you can find free street parking.

Pasadena Playhouse
39 S. El Molino Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101

Production Photos: Philicia Endelman