Pasadena Playhouse announces cast for ‘Aladdin and his Winter Wish’

The Pasadena Playhouse has announced the cast for its family holiday show, “Aladdin and his Winter Wish.�

Ben Vereen of Broadway’s “Pippin� and “Jesus Christ Superstar� will star as the Genie in this updated version of the classic Arabian Nights tale.

Jordan Fisher (Disney’s “Teen Beach Movie�) will star as Aladdin, while Ashley Argota (Nickelodeon’s “True Jackson VP�) and Richard Karn (“Home Improvement�) will play the princess and sultan, respectively. Paul Vogt and Josh Adamson round out the cast.

PHOTOS: Arts and culture by The Times

The show, which brings British panto to L.A. audiences, will feature music from the film “Slumdog Millionaire� and pop star Bruno Mars.

The production is also a family affair backstage: Bonnie Lythgoe of “So You Think You Can Dance� (her former husband, Nigel, is the executive producer of the Fox series) will direct. And son, Kris, wrote the book.

Performances will run Dec. 11 to 29, with a winter carnival, complete with carolers, crafts and games, preceding the show.

The brainchild of Lythgoe Family Productions, “Aladdin� marks the company’s second holiday collaboration with the Pasadena Playhouse.

Last winter the two teamed up for “A Snow White Christmas.� The sitcom-style spin on the classic fairy tale was penned by Kris Lythgoe and directed by Bonnie. Patriarch Nigel made a video cameo.

ALSO:

k.d. lang to perform at Hammer Museum gala

Voyager 1 exits solar system, takes Bach with it

Sunshine Boys Danny DeVito and Judd Hirsch crack wise