A Cinderella Christmas
A Cinderella Christmas is a pantomime version of the fairytale Cinderella, with a book by Kris Lythgoe, using for its score a pastiche of well known pop tunes. It was first produced in 2010 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, California. The music includes songs by Lady Gaga, Michael Bublé, Katy Perry, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Kelly Clarkson, among others. Like other pantomimes, the show includes magic, dancing, singing, acting, audience interactivity and sing-a-long segments.[1][2]
Plot
A Cinderella Christmas retells the classic fairytale, Cinderella, in the style of a British holiday pantomime, combining family-oriented comedy with contemporary pop music and audience interaction.[3] Cinderella lives at "Hardup Hall" under the authority of her stepmother, Baroness Hardup. Her two stepsisters, Hollywood and Vine, are portrayed by male actors dressed as women for comic effect.[4] Her friend Buttons works as the household's servant and serves as a guide for the audience, inviting them to participate by cheering for Cinderella and booing the villains.[3]
Prince Charming arrives in town to host a Christmas ball and briefly exchanges roles with his aide, Dandini, leading to a case of mistaken identity when he meets Cinderella.[3] With assistance from her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella is magically transformed and attends the ball, where she and the Prince dance and fall in love. She departs at midnight, leaving behind her glass slipper.[4]
Buttons supports the Prince in his search for Cinderella, despite his own unreturned romantic affection for her. Cinderella’s identity is revealed, she reunites with the Prince, and the stepfamily learns the consequences of their behavior. [3][4]
Songs
Act 1
- "Let's Get Loud" – Ensemble[5]
- "California Gurls" – The Step-Sisters
- "Just Haven’t Met You Yet" – Prince Charming[5]
- "Just Dance" – Company[5]
- "Taking Chances" – Cinderella
- "Breakaway" – Cinderella[5]
- "When You Believe" – Fairy Godmother
Act 2
- "Low" – Ensemble
- "Need You Now" – Prince Charming and Cinderella
- "Somewhere over the Rainbow" – Cinderella and Buttons
- "All I Want For Christmas" – Ensemble
Productions
El Portal Theatre
The show premiered in 2010 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood, California,[2] starring Freddie Stroma, Jerry Mathers and Jennifer Leigh Warren. A nationwide search in conjunction with Westfield Corporation was carried out to cast the title role. Celebrity judges included Neil Patrick Harris.[6] This was the first pantomime seen in California for some time and received positive reviews from the press.[1][7][8]
The show was repeated in 2011, again at the El Portal Theatre, starring Fred Willard, with Shoshana Bean as the Fairy Godmother.[9][5] It again received positive reviews.[10]
Pasadena Playhouse
Pasadena Playhouse produced the show in 2016.[11] It was directed by Bonnie Lythgoe and choreographed by Spencer Liff, with sets by Ian Wilson and costumes by Florencia M. Carrizo.[11]
Roles and principal cast
| Role | 2010 | 2011 | 2016[11] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinderella | Veronica Dunne
|
Lauren Taylor | |
| Fairy Godmother | Jennifer Leigh Warren | Shoshana Bean | Alex Newell/Shoshana Bean* |
| Charming | Freddie Stroma | Nico Evers-Swindell | Kenton Duty |
| Baroness Hardup | Morgan Fairchild | ||
| Buttons | Benny Harris | Todd Buonopane | Matthew Patrick Davis |
| Baron | Jerry Mathers | Fred Willard | |
| Stepsister | Mark Stephens | Eddie Driscoll | Ben Giroux |
| Stepsister | Jeff Sumner | Josh Adamson | |
| Dandini | Davi Santos[12] | ||
*Bean played the Fairy Godmother for the December 24 and December 31 performances[13]
References
- ^ a b Mentor, Toms. "Taking panto to La la land". The Stage. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ a b Marks, Lisa. "Panto casts its spell on Hollywood". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ a b c d Feldman, Pauline Adamek (2016-12-13). "Review: A Cinderella Christmas at Pasadena Playhouse". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
- ^ a b c Simon, Eric Marchese (2023-12-07). "At Laguna Playhouse, Cinderella Christmas is as good as panto gets". Newport Beach Independent. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
- ^ a b c d e Gans, Andrew (22 December 2011). "Shoshana Bean and David Hernandez Enjoy A Cinderella Christmas, Beginning Dec. 22". Playbill.
- ^ "Neil Patrick Harris and judges announce Cinderella Talent Search winner", BroadwayWorld, October 9, 2010
- ^ Spindle, Les. "Cinderella (review)". Backstage. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ Foley, F. Kathleen. "Theater review: Cinderella Christmas at the El Portal". LA Times. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
- ^ "Wicked Witch Shoshana Bean to Star in Cinderella Christmas at California's El Portal Theatre". Broadway.com. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
- ^ "Theater review: Cinderella Christmas at the El Portal". LA Times. December 23, 2011.
- ^ a b c Schwartz, Jonas (14 December 2016). "A Cinderella Christmas". TheaterMania. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ Grigware, Don. "Review: A CINDERELLA CHRISTMAS Lythgoe Family Panto Scores Big". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
- ^ "Shoshana Bean to Join Pasadena Playhouse's A Cinderella Christmas". TheaterMania. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 2023-02-03.