Charlie Brown Christmas is, perhaps, the most iconic Americana of the 20th century.
The special debuted in 1965 from cartoonist Charles Schulz, who would have turned 100 earlier this month. The first of what became several animated holiday specials, Charlie Brown Christmas has become an annual tradition in terms of both watching, and listening as the soundtrack from the Vince Guaraldi Trio is one of the most covered pieces of music in recent memory.
But all those hours watching. All those hours listening. One probably hasn’t seen the show done live.
That changes this Saturday when the traveling A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage stages a production at 7:30 p.m. at the Reynolds Performance Hall on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.
Tickets, $31.05 - $46, can be purchased by clicking here. That price includes the various fees that come buying tickets these days.
Connor Barr as Charlie Brown with Megan Mistretta as Lucy; Alex Polzun as Snoopy; Arturo Guadalupe Hernandez as Linus; Calvin Wakefield Kaleel as Pig Pen (and bassist); James Appleton Woods III as Schroeder; Kristen Amanda Vargas Smith as Patty; Marlina Brown as Sally Brown; Stephanie Craven as Violet and Hannah Roberts as Frieda; (Curtis Brown photo)
The show, produced by Gershwin Entertainment, stars Connor Barr as Charlie Brown with Megan Mistretta as Lucy; Alex Polzun as Snoopy; Arturo Guadalupe Hernandez as Linus; Calvin Wakefield Kaleel as Pig Pen (and bassist); James Appleton Woods III as Schroeder; Kristen Amanda Vargas Smith as Patty; Marlina Brown as Sally Brown; Stephanie Craven as Violet; Hannah Roberts as Frieda; Matt Rapiejko drummer; and, Kaitlyn Thomas and Carson Zoch are swings.
Robbie Simpson serves as Director with Charlotte Bydwell as Choreographer and Brent Mauldin as the Music Director.
The show is described as taking “each of your favorite scenes from the original animated show” but then adding “greater detail with more fun, more music, more finding the true Christmas spirit.”
Sounds like fun and a production
Barr agreed.
“We have a total of 22 traveling cast and crew members in addition to the awesome local crew and technicians at each venue we travel to,” he wrote in an email earlier this week.
This is the second year the show has been a traveling production, Barr added.
“We recreate the Christmas Special word for word with some extra Christmas surprises as the beginning and end of the show,” he wrote. “It’s the special everyone knows and loves brought to life on stage.”
The traveling production started in November and after leaving Conway, the show heads to Texas, Barr’s home state, and makes its way through the Midwest with a Christmas Eve show at the The Palladium Theatre in New York City.
It comes to a conclusion on Dec. 28 in New Orleans.
Q&A
What is A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage?
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage is an all-new live production of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning television special that has been charming viewers since it first aired in 1965. Featuring the classic Vince Guaraldi music score and the popular Peanuts comic strip characters by Charles M. Shulz, audiences discover the magic of the meaning of Christmas right along with the Peanuts gang, live on stage. At the end, the audience is also welcome to sing along while the cast performs a concert of classic holiday songs.
What is the running time of the show?
Total running time is approximately 90 minutes, including a 20 minute intermission.
What will Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the other characters look like?
The Peanuts characters, including Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, and Sally, are performed by actors who sing and dance on stage. They are not costumed characters.
Will there be music in the show?
Yes, A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage features all the classics from the Vince Guaraldi musical score, played live by a three-piece band on stage.
What is the recommended age?
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage is perfect for all ages, from the young to the young at heart. The average age of children who attend is between 4 and 12.
Will there be Peanuts merchandise for sale?
Yes, there will be merchandise available for purchase at the show.
In other arts news
North Little Rock High School is staging Holiday Highlights at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday night.
Purchase tickets by clicking here or the flier below
Arts report: Christmas Time is Here and in Conway
Arts report: Christmas Time is Here and in Conway
Arts report: Christmas Time is Here and in Conway
Charlie Brown Christmas is, perhaps, the most iconic Americana of the 20th century.
The special debuted in 1965 from cartoonist Charles Schulz, who would have turned 100 earlier this month. The first of what became several animated holiday specials, Charlie Brown Christmas has become an annual tradition in terms of both watching, and listening as the soundtrack from the Vince Guaraldi Trio is one of the most covered pieces of music in recent memory.
Norah Jones. Harry Connick Jr. Stone Temple Pilots. That’s just a smattering.
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But all those hours watching. All those hours listening. One probably hasn’t seen the show done live.
That changes this Saturday when the traveling A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage stages a production at 7:30 p.m. at the Reynolds Performance Hall on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.
Tickets, $31.05 - $46, can be purchased by clicking here. That price includes the various fees that come buying tickets these days.
The show, produced by Gershwin Entertainment, stars Connor Barr as Charlie Brown with Megan Mistretta as Lucy; Alex Polzun as Snoopy; Arturo Guadalupe Hernandez as Linus; Calvin Wakefield Kaleel as Pig Pen (and bassist); James Appleton Woods III as Schroeder; Kristen Amanda Vargas Smith as Patty; Marlina Brown as Sally Brown; Stephanie Craven as Violet; Hannah Roberts as Frieda; Matt Rapiejko drummer; and, Kaitlyn Thomas and Carson Zoch are swings.
Robbie Simpson serves as Director with Charlotte Bydwell as Choreographer and Brent Mauldin as the Music Director.
The show is described as taking “each of your favorite scenes from the original animated show” but then adding “greater detail with more fun, more music, more finding the true Christmas spirit.”
Sounds like fun and a production
Barr agreed.
“We have a total of 22 traveling cast and crew members in addition to the awesome local crew and technicians at each venue we travel to,” he wrote in an email earlier this week.
This is the second year the show has been a traveling production, Barr added.
“We recreate the Christmas Special word for word with some extra Christmas surprises as the beginning and end of the show,” he wrote. “It’s the special everyone knows and loves brought to life on stage.”
The traveling production started in November and after leaving Conway, the show heads to Texas, Barr’s home state, and makes its way through the Midwest with a Christmas Eve show at the The Palladium Theatre in New York City.
It comes to a conclusion on Dec. 28 in New Orleans.
In other arts news
North Little Rock High School is staging Holiday Highlights at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday night.
Purchase tickets by clicking here or the flier below