Stages Rep Presents PANTO MOTHER GOOSE, Now thru Jan 6

Stages continues its new holiday tradition with this whimsical all-ages spin on the beloved nursery rhymes of Mother Goose. When Mother Goose decides to divide the kingdom of Goose Island among her children, a turf war begins that threatens to eliminate poetry from the whole world! But never fear, young Jack and his beloved Jill are about to save the day. Come ready to laugh, cheer and boo along with a zany cast of fairy tale favorites, and enjoy local humor, improvisation, original music, audience participation, and spectacular fun for grownups and kids alike!

Directed by Ryan Schabach ("Buttons", Panto Red Riding Hood, Panto Pinocchio, Panto Sleeping Beauty, Panto Cinderella), the show stars Genevieve Allenbury as "Mother Goose", Cameron Bautsch, Kyle Curry, Cameron Davis, Danny Dyer, Josh Estrada, Hunter Frederick, Mitchell Greco, Andy Ingalls, Mark Ivy, Jessica Janes, Carolyn Johnson, Beth Lazarou, Sarah Myers, Jimmy Phillips, Ryan Schabach, and Teresa Zimmerman.

The creative team features Musical Direction by Steven Jones, Choreography by Rob Flebbe, Set & Properties Design by Jodi Bobrovsky, Sound Design by Chris Bakos, Costume Design by Tiffani Fuller, Lighting Design by Devlin Browning, Stage Manager Todd Molesky, Assistant Stage Manager Michael Madro and Stage Management Intern Ashley Ginn.

The show begins previews tonight, November 20, 10am* (Grady Middle School performance) and continues Friday, November 23, 7pm, Saturday, November 24, 2pm and Saturday, November 24, 7pm, with the press opening set for Sunday, November 25, 2pm. The show runs through Sunday, January 6, 2013, Tuesday - Saturday evenings 7:00pm and Saturday & Sunday matinees 2:00pm.

Special Events

Panto Family Fun Days: Sundays, November 25 & December 2 - 2:00pm - See the show and enjoy fun crafts and refreshements afterward! Perfect for families with young children. Bring a toy to donate and get a souvenir Panto Mother Goose poster! SPECIAL FAMILY PRICING! FOUR-PACK OF TICKETS JUST $80

The Panto Project: Sunday, December 23 - 7:30pm FREE PERFORMANCE - Enjoy a free, mini-Panto created by the Young Actors Conservatory! Our winter training program for high school students takes place Friday December 21 - Sunday December 23, and after hours of dance, writing, singing and improv classes, culminates in an original 30-minute Panto! Performance is free and open to the public. Donations are accepted to benefit the Young Actors Conservatory.

To register your student for the Winter YAC: The Panto Project, contact director of education Eva Laporte at elaporte@stagestheatre.com. It runs December 21 - 23, 2012. Students will learn dancing, singing, acting and writing skills as they create their own mini-Panto and perform on the Real Panto Set! Students will attend Panto Mother Goose, meet cast and crew, hear from Stages Producing Artistic Director (and Panto Mother Goose co-creator!) Kenn McLaughlin about writing a brand new musical, and write their own 30-minute Panto based on a fairy tale of their choice. All in a few days! It’s Project Runway+YAC+Panto…all in one!

Registration for Winter YAC is open now through December 15, 2012 Click here to download the application. Tuition - $125. (A value of $340 per student. Stages is generously underwriting a portion of the cost to keep student tuition as low as possible.) Registration fee includes a Panto Mother Goose ticket for 1 student on Friday, Dec. 21; lunch on Saturday; and dinner on Sunday.

Panto Christmas Eve Celebration: Monday, December 24 - 2:00pm - Start your Christmas festivities a little early with a special matinee performance, then join the cast for punch and cookies after the show! REGULAR SEATS $35, VIP SEATS $45.

New Year's Eve Naughty Panto: Monday, December 31 - 9:00pm FOR ADULTS ONLY - This time we take the jokes all the way! One night only, with champagne toast and dessert at midnight. REGULAR SEATS $75, VIP SEATS $100.

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