Tony Award nominee Sam Pinkleton, one of the creative minds behind 2021’s “Head Over Heels,” returns to the Pasadena Playhouse in December for the much-anticipated “Holiday Spectacular.”
Pinkleton is not only directing but also co-created this festive extravaganza alongside fellow Broadway luminary Randy Blair. Promising an evening filled with the magic of the season and a delightful dose of festive cheer, “Holiday Spectacular” invites families to immerse themselves in the most joyous Christmas celebration of the year.
“Holiday Spectacular” opens Thursday, Dec. 14, and runs daily through Dec. 23.
Originally hailing from Virginia, Pinkleton’s artistic prowess has graced Broadway stages, notably with his choreography in “Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812.” A graduate of NYU, Pinkleton’s journey traversed musical theater studies before delving into the realm of directing. His distinguished career includes a Lucille Lortel award nomination for his contributions to David Henry Hwang’s acclaimed production, Soft Power.
“Holiday Spectacular” includes MaryAnn Hu, whose Broadway credits include Queen Iduna in Disney’s “Frozen,” The Queen of Transylvania in “My Fair Lady,” “Sunday In The Park With George,” Lincoln Center’s “The King and I” where she played Lady Thiang, and “South Pacific” among others. Off Broadway, she has appeared in “The Audience,” and “Falsettoland” at Signature Theatre and the Vineyard Theatre. She also appeared in film as Elanore in the indie film “Wilde Wedding,” “DeLoba,” and “Falling for Grace.
Hu’s TV credits include the HBO Max mini-series “The Flight Attendant,” “Elementary,” “Madam Secretary,” “Nurse Jackie,” “Law & Order” and also recurred on the NBC sitcom “WHOOPI” as SooLin.
Lesli Margherita is back after having last been seen virtually in the Playhouse’s production of “You I Like.” She won the Laurence Olivier Award for her West End debut in “Zorro: The Musical,” and originated the roles of Mrs. Wormwood in “Matilda the Musical” and Mona Kent in “Dames at Sea” on Broadway. Off-Broadway she received Drama Desk, Lortel, and Outer Critics Circle nominations for “Who’s Holiday!,” “Emojiland,” and “A Scythe of Time.”
Margherita’s select TV credits include recurring and guest starring roles on “Minx,” “The Fairly OddParents,” “The Rookie,” “The Crew,” “Raven’s Home,” “Homeland,” “Instinct,” “Seven Seconds,” and “Elementary.” On film she can currently be seen on HBO in “The Many Saints of Newark,” and on Netflix in “Opening Night.”
George Salazar is also thrilled to return this winter. His past Playhouse credits include Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors” and Musidorus in “Head Over Heels.” On Broadway, Salazar has been in “Be More Chill” and “Godspell.” TV credits include “Superstore,” “American Crime Story: Impeachment,” “Nancy Drew,” and “Alice’s Wonderland Bakery.”
Jason Michael Snow is also on the cast. He has appeared on Showtime’s “Black Monday,” “The Big Leap” on Fox, NBC’s “This Is Us,” and Netflix’s “One Day at a Time.” He’s also been on “The Book of Mormon” with the original Broadway cast, “Sunday in the Park with George” at Pasadena Playhouse, “The Spongebob Musical,” “South Pacific,” a Lincoln Center PBS broadcast, and “Xanadu.” He has done voice overs for “Frozen,” “South Park,” and “You’re Not Yelping.”
For tickets and more information about “Holiday Spectacular,” visit https://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/event/holiday-spectacular/ or call (626) 356-7259.
Tickets will also be available at the box office at 39 South El Molino Ave.
