Presto Panto: Ashland's Oregon Cabaret Theatre will be home to the original pantomime Ali Baba until Dec. 31. Previews began Nov. 18 with an opening Nov. 20, 1998.

Subtitled "A Panto Tale of Arabian Nights," Baba was crafted by Jim Giancarlo (book and lyrics), Jim Malachi and Darcy Danielson (music).

Steven Nichols stars as Ali Baba with Oteka Ball (Scheherazade/Pearl), David Gabriel (Widow Twankey/Sinbad the Sailor), Curtis Jacobson (Fish), Wade McCollum (Chip) and Jon Bernard (Pasha Poobah/Genie).

Pantomime or "panto" is a traditional British holiday play usually based on a child's story or fairy tale and then expanded to include broad physical comedy, audience participation, cross-dressing, local jokes, puns, pop culture references and parodies.

Oregon Cabaret Theatre has also performed the original pantomimes Alice in Panto-Land and Panto-Monium: A Cindy Rella Story. For tickets ($20-$12) to Ali Baba, contact the Cabaret Theatre's box office at (541) 488-2902. The Oregon Cabaret Theatre is located at 1st and Hargadine.

-- By Christine Ehren