Actually, in the US there is a panto tradition in places with strong ex-pat communities. I was in a panto in LA about 20 years ago, before I'd ever actually seen one. Which was very odd indeed. But there were several others taking place in the greater Los Angeles area that year...

It was Jack and the Beanstalk, BTW. Ans we had the campest Harp you're ever likely to encounter. Toga'd up and painted gold, he was...