What’s a Panto?

Panto is an outrageously loving, anarchic, full-blown theatrical explosion of good cheer!

A super-fun, fast-paced family show, the Panto celebrates the strength of community with a story of good triumphing over evil. Spectacular sets, kooky costumes, irreverent comedy, and an all-singing, all-dancing cast promise a low-brow, high-quality holiday extravaganza that will delight everyone from Grandma to Gay Uncle Bob.

There will be jokes, spectacle, pop songs, dancing, jokes, slapstick, puppets, food-flinging, cross-dressing, fourth wall-smashing, belly laughing, sing-alongs, and, oh! More jokes. 

The Panto Project heralds a new approach to inclusive and progressive American theater by redefining how we celebrate the holiday season. In creating a utopia in the Abrons Arts Center, we celebrate our neighborhood's resilience, open-mindedness, and beauty. This fully accessible, all-ages form of theater is created for the community, by the community, when we need it most.

Pantos were first performed in Britain 300 years ago. Since then, they’ve been adapted, re-adapted, and re-re-adapted from commedia dell’arte, through Music Hall (The UK’s Vaudeville), to the modern mega-musical phenomenon, and remain the most anticipated and highest-grossing theatrical events in the UK.

Interested in learning more? Check out these books:

Pantomime: A Practical Guide
Colin Winslow, Ruth Staines, and Tina Bicât

British Pantomime Performance
Millie Taylor