Jetpack Jones and the Prison Planet of Peril - Final Weekend!

We are SUPER EXCITED for you see our new panto this January...

Rajeena and her daughter Hera are prisoners of the evil Emperor Zoltan on the Planet Peril where children are sent to mine its precious ores. Their lives are turned upside down when space heroes Jetpack Jones and his trusty alien friend Mitch Meridian on their space ship, the VHS Betamax, are captured by Zoltan and sentenced to join them on Peril. Immediately Jetpack, Mitch and the prisoners hatch an escape plan, but will it succeed? Will Zoltan’s secret evil scheme be thwarted? Who’s side is Princess Velyana on, anyway?


All will be revealed in a brand new hilarious family adventure that’s out of this world!

In January 2019, Suburban Legend presents Jetpack Jones and the Prison Planet of Peril: a family comedy in the British Pantomime tradition written, directed, produced by and starring talented local residents, with profits benefiting local charities. Get ready to boo the villains, cheer for the heroes, shout “It’s behind you!” and join in the fun! Sing along to some catchy silly songs and be ready to laugh at some of the best worst jokes ever told in Maplewood.

Jetpack Jones is the seventh British Pantomime in six years at the The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts. “I can’t imagine Maplewood without a panto now,” Suburban Legend producer Kathleen Ash-Milby told us.

Formed by Ridley and Chrissy McIntyre in 2014, Suburban Legend welcomes everyone. The company includes a mix of amateur and semi-professional performers who want to work as a collaborative team to create good fun for everyone, young and old, cast and crew and audience.
"Every year we come across people who have never heard of British Pantomime, or who upon hearing the term, immediately think of French men fighting their way out of imaginary boxes," says writer and director, Ridley McIntyre. Panto, as it is affectionately known, is actually a boisterous, family-friendly show filled with slapstick, witty dialogue and a few wink-wink jokes for the adults. "It's the kind of show where you can bring your kids and you don't have to shush them," says writer and producer Chrissy McIntyre. "In fact it's the opposite. Be loud! We want you to be loud!"

Performances for Jetpack Jones and the Prison Planet of Peril are at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts in Maplewood on January 5, 11-13 and 18-20 2019. Tickets are on sale now at njpanto.com.


Tickets are selling out fast. Get yours now! Also makes a great holiday gift!

njpanto.com


There's quite a bit of expert dancing in it, too, from what I understand.


Ridski! Thanks again for agreeing to let me be in the show!  oh oh 

Break a leg.


Happy New Year Earthlings!

Jetpack Jones and the Prison Planet of Peril opens this Saturday, January 5, for our preview show! Tickets are half-price at only $10, so grab them early at njpanto.com


Can't wait to read all the reviews!

(Are there panto Cows in space, ridski?) 


joanne said:
Can't wait to read all the reviews!
(Are there panto Cows in space, ridski?) 

I can neither confirm nor deny at this stage, but there definitely are at least 3 aliens.


bub said:

Show runs until?

 January 5, 11-13 and 18-20, 2019!

njpanto.com


Bump! Opening night tomorrow! Tickets are going fast, so get yours today!

njpanto.com


we are so excited for you all, to be able to see this world premiere in person, in your own town! 

It’s already Saturday, 5 January here, and I’m downloading old Jet Jackson episodes to watch as a poor substitute :/ 

Woo-hoo!


ridski said:


joanne said:
Can't wait to read all the reviews!
(Are there panto Cows in space, ridski?) 
I can neither confirm nor deny at this stage, but there definitely are at least 3 aliens.

 Tabby has gotten us tickets, so there will be at least 4 aliens (counting yours truly).


Dress rehearsal was a blast last night. We can’t wait for you all to see it! (njpanto.com)


Opening show was fantastic! So much fun, you were such a great audience, thank you to all who came out.

We have 6 more shows over the next 2 weekends and tickets are selling out fast. Please get yours early to avoid disappointment! njpanto.com


Next show is this Friday, Jan 11. Doors open 7pm, show starts at 7.30. Tonight is Family Friday, which means tickets are half-price! 

Unable to make it out on Friday? We also have Saturday night and Sunday matinee performance this weekend and next! This really is the hottest show in town right now and we sell out quickly, so get your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment. 

njpanto.com

Want to know more? Read this: 

What is a Panto anyway?

It’s just one Dame thing after another

Every year we come across people who have never heard of British Pantomime, or who upon hearing the term, immediately think of French men fighting their way out of imaginary boxes. British Pantomime is nothing like that (quite the opposite, actually), at once it breaks all the rules of theater, and at the same time adheres to a set of rules all of its own. I could go on about its roots in commedia dell’arte and its rebirth in the ribaldry of Victorian music halls, and its over 150 years of built-in traditions… but let’s just say it’s a show for all the family which is part Monty Python, part Vaudeville, part old-fashioned variety show and part fairy tale, all held together by the thinnest semblance of a plot.

The Rules

Rule Number One

Everyone has fun. We aren’t kidding about that one.

The Dame

The Dame is usually a highly flamboyant mother or aunt figure in the story played by a man. We’re not entirely sure when this tradition began, and there are many conflicting stories as to its origins, but considering there was a time when men played all parts regardless of whether they were male or female, we have a feeling it began there.

The Principal Boy

The Principal Boy, or hero of the story, is traditionally played by a woman. This goes back to Peter Pan and even further to mid-19th century productions of Jack and the Beanstalk. Unless, of course, the hero IS a woman, in which case it is also played by a woman and no one considers this unfair.

Panto Animals

Nearly every panto has some kind or person/people dressed up as an animal. Dick Whittington has a cat, Mother Goose has a Goose, and Goldilocks has Bears. Our shows to date have had 4 cows, a cat, 2 horses, a magical deer and this year a very furry alien. Not all Panto Animals can talk, but every Panto Animal knows how to party.

Dad Jokes

British Panto is peppered with the kind of jokes you can find on the inside of a candy wrapper or in a big book of really bad jokes, the kind that kids learn before they go through their sullen phase and then remember years later when they have children of their own. We at Suburban Legend love Dad Jokes. Like “Why do you never see elephants hiding in trees? Because they’re so good at it.” That’s comedy.

British panto is also big on bawdy humor, double-entendres, and things which might sound a little risque. We often tone down that sort of thing for American audiences, but if something slips out, we just carry on like it didn’t happen, and if you notice it then feel free to laugh at it.

Audience Participation

Panto is nothing without its audience getting involved. The secret behind every successful panto show? WE WANT YOU TO BE LOUD! There are greetings to be repeated, calls of “It’s behind you!”, “Oh no it isn’t, Oh yes it is!” and a constant breaking of the 4th wall. If a joke falls flat, we make sure to tell it again until it gets a proper laugh.

The Silly Song

Every Panto has at least one song where the audience is required to join in. Sometimes the words are printed in the playbill, most of the time they are written in huge letters on boards for the audience to follow.

Anything Else You Want To Know?

If there’s anything else you want to know about British Panto, our shows or how you can get involved, Get In Touch!



Huge thank you to everyone who came out last night to see the show! What an amazing audience! We’re all psyched up to do it again tonight, so make sure to get your tickets now before we sell out!


Sunday's crowd was magical. So loud - we loved you guys!

We're gearing up for take-off on our final weekend starting this Friday. Remember, Friday nights are Family Fridays, with tickets at half-price. No need for babysitters, no need to leave your gran at home - we'll keep everyone entertained!

Get your tickets now before they sell out!

njpanto.com


There's something magical about it snowing and the Panto. It feels even more special. It has happened a few times and despite the snow, unexpectedly large crowds show up to see the show. And what a labor of love it is. A bunch of neighborhood people dressing up, getting silly on stage, singing and dancing and trying to make our family and friends laugh. Three more shows, everyone! Slow it down and check out the Panto! Lots of great performances and funny moments. Fun for the whole family!


It's true. Show will go on: rain, snow or shine! njpanto.com


I’m not counting on shine.


DaveSchmidt said:
I’m not counting on shine.

 Ground might be very shiny.


We saw it on the preview night-it was hilarious!


Break a tentacle, guys!


I know it's far too late, but as I drifted off to sleep the other night I came up with some sf panto names  of droids. I won't regale you with them all, but my favourites were Police Droid L0-L0, villain droid I0-T1 ("I-Nought - T- 1"), the droid panto horse 2B-GG, and my favourite of all - 0S-UR. When his name is announced, someone shouts "Oh no, I'm not!". Conversely, if anyone starts up the "Oh yes you are" chant, he wheels on and says "Did you call, master?" 



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