Families in Federal Way won't have to travel very far this holiday season to enjoy one of the most popular forms of British entertainment - the Pantomime.

For those unfamiliar with this classic theatrical experience, Pantomime, or "Panto" as it is affectionately called, dates back to the Middle Ages, and is presented by theater companies large and small across the British Isles every year in December. Panto combines the elements of Italian "Commedia dell'Arte," Italian Night Scenes and British Music Hall traditions, centered around the retelling of a fairy tale or folk legend.

For children growing up in England, an excursion to the local theater to watch this magical performance is on par with a visit from Santa Clause. In Panto there is a high level of audience interaction with the performers and children of all ages get to loudly shout out advice and warnings to the characters, making for a boisterous and exciting evening to remember.

This year, Centerstage, Federal Way's own theater company, is presenting 4 Christmases, a world premier Panto play by John Forster. 4 Christmases runs from November 18 through December 11th at the Knutzen Family Theater. Shows are at 8 PM on Friday and Saturday nights, and 2 PM on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Centerstage's artistic director, Allen Bryce, is responsible for bringing a British institution to Federal Way. He commissioned John Forster, a veteran writer of musical theater and an award-winning writer and producer of children's albums, to create a holiday show to introduce Northwest audiences to the thrill of Panto.

4 Christmases tells the story of a regional English theater company and the Christmas show they present every year between 1937 and 1940. The "play-within-a-play" is familiar only by name to American audiences - Pinocchio.

For a smaller theatre company, the cast of 24 with over 100 costumes and several sets presents many challenges. But Bryce and Forster are confidant Centerstage will pull it off fantastically.

Forster, on a recent visit to meet the cast, enthused about the talent of Centerstage's acting troupe.

"I'm impressed to find a theater of this quality in the Northwest, " Forster said.

Forster wrote the music and lyrics for How To Eat Like A Child, one of the most performed shows in the country. His satirical revue Both Barrels had a long run in Los Angeles, where it received an LA Times' "Best of the Best" citation for 1998. Forster's other musicals include Pretzels (music & lyrics) Off Broadway and Into The Light (lyrics) on Broadway. As a record producer he has received three Grammy nominations, writing and producing over a dozen acclaimed albums for children, with such artists as Tom Chapin and Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Forster's 1994 debut album, a recording artist of his own satirical songs, "Entering Marion", on Philo/Rounder Records won an Indie Award for Comedy Album.