What 'American Idol,' Ariana Grande have to do with NC Theatre's new Christmas show, 'Aladdin and His Winter Wish'

Just about anybody who has watched "American Idol" or "So You Think You Can Dance" will recognize the last name that's behind North Carolina Theatre's new holiday series. It's Lythgoe. As in Nigel, the producer of "American Idol" and the creator, producer and judge on "So You Think You Can Dance."

But entertainment and show business is a family affair for the Lythgoes. And Nigel's son Kris was in Raleigh recently to ensure the stage is set for the Lythgoe family's collaboration with N.C. Theatre for "Aladdin and His Winter Wish." The show, which opens at the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts on Nov. 29, is part of a three-year deal between NC Theatre and Lythgoe Family Productions. In 2019, it will return with a "Snow White Christmas." In 2020, "Peter Pan and a Pirate's Christmas" is planned.

The musicals are told through the old tradition of panto, a popular English form of musical comedy that often pops up during the Christmas season. If you've seen Raleigh Little Theatre's annual Christmas production of "Cinderella," you've been to a panto production.

Kris Lythoge tells me that the intent behind the series, which started nine years ago and now is featured in theaters across the country, is to encourage more families to experience live theater.

"One of the things that my father always says is that he thinks 'American Idol' was so successful because it was the right time for a great family show where a grandparent, a parent and a child could all watch the show together," he said. "They would have different favorite singers, but they would be able to watch the show together. That's kind of what we are doing with live theater now."

These days, with so many of us focused on our screens, there are few opportunities, he said, for extended families to enjoy time and activities together.

"These shows are really multi-generational," he says.

So what makes it so family friendly? Here's more from Lythgoe.

It's interactive

"My mother always says, which is apt for this kind of theater, 'We worry for years about getting our kids to walk and talk, and then we tell them to sit down and shut up for the rest of their lives,'" he said. "This is totally the opposite."

In fact, the entire audience is encouraged to speak up at different points in the production.

"Panto is musical theater, in essence, with comedy throughout," Lythgoe said. "But it's also interactive. So we encourage kids and adults ... to boo the bad guy and cheer the good guy. And there's a narrator character within the show that constantly interacts with the audience."

Everybody will recognize the music

"It's not original music," he said. "The kids will know the story because it's fairy tales. And they know the music because it's pop music. We choose music for each generation."

So, for the grandparents, you'll hear "You Don't Know Me," by Ray Charles. For the parents, there's "Break My Stride," by Matthew Wilder from the 1980s. And for kids, there's some Bruno Mars.

"They know the songs and they know the story and you throw in the element of interaction and you really see the kids on the edge of their seats," he said.

They bring in some big talent

The shows include big talents and rising stars. Indeed, it's worth noting that the Lythgoe family first connected with Elizabeth Doran, now NC Theatre's CEO, when she was working in Pasadena, Calif., and they collaborated on a production of Snow White with singer and now superstar Ariana Grande.

In "Aladdin," you'll see:

• Broadway star Jason Gotay, who will lead the cast as Aladdin. Gotay, an actor and teaching artist, boasts previous Broadway credits including Bring It On: The Musical and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (Peter/Spider-Man). Gotay also starred in the television production of Peter Pan Live! (Tootles/Lost Boy) on NBC and the world premiere of Freaky Friday (original cast recording).
• Television personality, dancer and singer Nia Sioux, who will play the princess. Nia is best known for spending seven seasons on the unscripted Lifetime show Dance Moms and is a series regular on CBS’ Emmy Award-winning daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful. Some of Nia’s previous credits include Musical.ly’s correspondent for the 2018 Summer Olympic Games in South Korea.
• Ty Taylor, who is best known for being the lead singer of Los Angeles-based soul/rock band Vintage Trouble and will star in the role of the Genie. Taylor’s extensive music career has included roles on Broadway and touring with some of the biggest names in music including Tina Turner, Eric Clapton, Macy Gray, Fiona Apple and The Who.

There's a lobby party before each show

"What we also try to do with our shows is create more of an event as opposed to seeing theater," he said. "Theater is a strange word for some families. A lot of families have never been."

So they've created a winter wonderland event in the lobby, which will start an hour before the show, with Santa, arts, crafts, face painting and a shop.

They throw in a few local jokes

The production tailors each show to its location, so expect a few jokes about traffic on Interstate 40, the Beltline and ACC teams.

"We've worked on a script since March of this year with NC Theatre to bring in the local jokes," Lythgoe said.

"Aladdin and His Winter Wish" runs Nov. 29 to Nov. 30 at the Duke Energy Center for Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. Tickets start at $23 (and we have a ticket deal!). The show runs 1 hour and 40 minutes with a 15 minute intermission in the middle.

NC Theatre's website has more information and tickets.