'Snow White' Opening Night Gala Benefitting LA’s BEST

's latest production, A Snow White Christmas, is having an opening night gala Tuesday to benefit LA’s BEST After School Enrichment Program.

The benefit show is presented by Parenting magazine and is a Lythgoe Family Production of the holiday panto-style British re-telling of the classic tale through the use of modern music and comical vaudeville. 

Last year, the Lythgoe Family Productions put on a, which featured . The opening night of that production . A Cinderella Christmas will be returning to El Portal this year on Dec. 22.

This year's Snow White show runs from Nov. 30-Dec. 18 and stars Glee’s Lindsay Pearce in the title role, Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Marina Sirtis as The Wicked Queen, Neil Patrick Harris in the onscreen special guest role of "The Magic Mirror," and Erich Bergen from Jersey Boys as the Prince. .

The show will be directed by Bonnie Lythgoe from So You Think You Can Dance and choreographed by So You Think You Can Dance’s Spencer Liff with American Idol’s Michael Orland serving as Musical Director.

“Whether you are 2 years old or 102, ‘A Snow White Christmas’ is the perfect present for the family this holiday season,” said Magic Pictures International President Kris Lythgoe in a press release. “We are so excited to be back at the El Portal this holiday season.”

The opening night gala will feature a VIP reception and meet-and-greet with cast members. All proceeds will benefit LA’s BEST After School Enrichment Program.

“We’re thrilled to join forces with Lythgoe Family Productions to introduce the tradition of holiday Panto to modern families,” said Mark Wildman, VP/Group Publisher of The Parenting Group, in a press release. “Lythgoe’s clever, unique way of storytelling – and their work to give back to the community – support Parenting’s efforts to help parents and children create new ways to experience the magic of the holidays together.”

According to Sirtis, panto-style theater is a funny, family-friendly experience.

"Well, trying to get as many laughs as possible is usually the idea, in any which way you can. That’s what panto is about," Sirtis told Patch. "It’s not something you Americans are familiar with. It’s something that’s ingrained into the DNA of all British people. We’ll try and get it started here because it really is a fun thing to do at Christmas, go and see a panto, even if you’re not a kid."

For more information and for tickets to the opening night gala or for the run of shows, visit www.mpient.com.