The most wonderful time of the year will be here before we know it, and the magic of the holiday season will be even more dazzling for kids and adults in the Middle Tennessee community by way of participating in a family show at TPAC.
Lythgoe Family Panto returns to TPAC's Polk Theater this season with another holiday panto production, Aladdin and His Winter Wish, running Dec. 12 – 22. Ernie Nolan, executive artistic director of Nashville Children's Theatre, is directing Aladdin and His Winter Wish, and Chase Benz serves as choreographer (currently on tour with Carrie Underwood). Previously announced casting includes Kira Kosarin (Nickelodeon's The Thundermans) as the Princess and Emmy Award-winning writer and comedic actor Bruce Vilanch as Widow Twanky (Aladdin's mom). More casting announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
The production seeks Nashville-area dancers of all ethnicities to be in the show — ages 7 – 16 and ages 18 – 30.
ABOUT THE SHOW
The Los Angeles Times calls it "magic for the holidays, a fun family ride!" Aladdin and His Winter Wish is a star-led production blending fairytales, comedy, the holidays, dancing, contemporary songs, and local and regional references to create a unique theater experience. If you saw last year's holiday panto at TPAC, Peter Pan & Tinker Bell: A Pirate's Christmas, then you're sure to remember the side-splitting comedy and how much fun it was for kids (and their parents!) in the audience to interact with the show. Aladdin will be a similar experience. The age-old fairytale is given a modern twist with pop music, comedy and magic. Among the pop songs in the show are "Treasure" (Bruno Mars), "Call Me Maybe" (Carly Rae Jepsen), "Break My Stride" (Matthew Wilder), "I'm Too Sexy" (Right Said Fred), "Old Time Rock and Roll" (Bob Seger) and "Walking on Sunshine" (Katrina and the Waves).
Here's a little bit about the plot: A magical genie helps Aladdin meet and fall in love with the Princess whom he later has to save from the clutches of the evil magician Abanazar. With his hopeless brother Wishee Washee alongside him, Aladdin sets out to defeat the evil magician and make all of his dreams come true.
ALADDIN AND HIS WINTER WISH DANCE AUDITION DETAILS
The dance auditions take place on Saturday, Sept. 21 at CoolSprings Galleria (1800 Galleria Blvd., Frranklin), which coincides with National Dance Day (NDD), the annual celebration aiming to promote dance as a valuable form of exercise and artistic expression. There's NDD fun on the Sept. 21 itinerary — even if you're not auditioning for Aladdin, you can still come out for the NDD experience, and it's open to all ages. Here's the schedule:
10 a.m. — Registration opens for NDD (all ages)
10:30 a.m. — Choreographer Chase Benz teaches the NDD routine
11:30 a.m. — Registration opens for Aladdin kids' auditions (ages 7 – 16)
12 p.m. — Kids' auditions begin
3 p.m. — Registration opens for Aladdin adult auditions (ages 18 – 30)
3:30 p.m. — Adult auditions begin
If you are auditioning, come prepared to dance. Wear comfortable clothes and soft-sole shoes or jazz shoes, and bring water. Kids' auditions will end by 2 p.m., and adult auditions will end by 5 p.m. A rehearsal schedule and performance dates (there will be two casts for locals) will be provided later.
Got questions about the auditions? E-mail lfp@americanpanto.com.
ALADDIN TICKETS ON SALE NOW
You don't have to wait until the holiday season to get your tickets to the show; they're on sale now! Running Dec. 12 – 22, show times are Thu – Fri 7 p.m. (plus a 3 p.m. show on Friday, Dec. 20); Sat 3 & 7 p.m.; Sun 12 & 5 p.m.; and Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.
Single tickets are $35 – $55. On select dates, you can get four tickets for $99 at the website when you add four or more tickets located in Orchestra Row P or farther back on to the following performances:
• Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 20 at 3 p.m.
Once you select at least four seats, the site will automatically unlock the Family Four Pack offer at $99 ($24.75 per ticket for four or more up to eight tickets).
In addition, you can treat your child to the $50 Golden Token add-on. The Golden Ticket is available to any child ages 12 and younger with seats in the orchestra level; it allows the child to go onstage for a special sing-along during the show, and the child receives a goody bag, too. There is a limit of 10 Golden Tickets per performance.
To get tickets, call 615-782-4040 or go to tpac.org. You can also buy tickets in person at the TPAC Box Office, located at 505 Deaderick St., Nashville. The Box Office is open Mon – Fri 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (by phone 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.).
