American pantomime

American pantomime, panto for short, refers to works of theatrical entertainment that have been presented in the United States of America since 1876.

The entertainments, aimed at families, are based on nursery stories and fairy tales, and they incorporate songs (traditional, popular and new), slapstick comedy, often topical jokes, magic, some cross-dressing, local references, audience participation, and mild adult innuendo.

[2] Humpty Dumpty, starring and co-written by George L. Fox, premiered at Olympic Theatre in New York in 1868; it was frequently revived and eventually played for over 1,200 performances, becoming one of the most successful American pantomimes.

[6] Since 2004, People's Light and Theatre Company, in Malvern, Pennsylvania, has been presenting an annual Christmas pantomime season.

[7] This was followed in 2011 by A Snow White Christmas, starring Marina Sirtis as The Wicked Queen and Neil Patrick Harris as The Magic Mirror,[8] and A Cinderella Christmas, starring Fred Willard as Baron Hardup, Cinderella's father.