New York’s only British-Style Panto, a Queer Premier of The Wizard of Oz, plays from Saturday, November 22 – Monday, December 20 at Parkside Lounge. A series of cameo guest stars for each performance will appear as the Mayor of Munchkinland, including Marti Cummings and celeb chef Francis Legge. The show was written by Robert K. Benson and is directed by Madeline Wall. Original music is by Gabriel Spector and Lily Ali-Oshatz, with music director and accompaniment by Kendall Perry.
Featuring Matt Mastromatteo, Regan Sims, Lily Ali-Oshatz, Rachel McPhee, David Hernandez, Stephanie Marrow, Diego Velásquez, Jonathan Nathaniel Dingle-El & Blake Williams, Dorothy’s tornado has never looked this fabulous. In this outrageously queer adult-only, production, the Land of Oz is re-imagined with a drag queen Glinda, a gloriously camp Wicked Witch and a Wizard who feels suspiciously like a tech-bro billionaire with more ego than magic. Flying Labubus, savage satire, and brand-new original music collide in a send up of The Wizard of Oz, Wicked and The Wiz that’s as raunchy as it is riotous. In these times, the fiercest protest might just be a belly laugh, a little glitter, and a trip over the rainbow.
Bold and bawdy, the pantomime, or Panto, has been a holiday tradition in Great Britain since 1717. With roots in Commedia dell’arte, the genre takes classic fairy tales and imbues them with a broad and comedic twist. While Pantos are traditionally considered family-friendly entertainment, The Wizard of Oz is strictly for grown-ups.
For more information and tickets ($35 general admission in advance, $40 at the door, premium seats range from $45-$75) click here.
Parkside Lounge is located at 317 E. Houston, NYC
