The holiday season isn't complete without Charlie Brown, the Peanuts and their sad excuse for a Christmas tree.
This weekend, the Outlaws are bringing A Charlie Brown Christmas a little closer to home at the Playhouse Theatre.
A Charlie Brown Christmas tells the story of Charlie Brown's search for the meaning of Christmas. Along the way, he manages to ruin the school play and chooses the ugliest Christmas tree. But in the end, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts learn there may be more to Christmas.
"We definitely stay faithful to the style of the cartoon. But we tried to heighten the humanity aspects particularly in Charlie because these are trained actors, not 5-year-old kids doing the voices of the characters," Mark Schroeder (senior-theatre), director of the show, said.
Sally Hanson (senior-theatre arts), who plays Lucy, said she knew the Peanuts cartoon as a young girl, but never appreciated it like she does now.
"When I was a little girl I was familiar with the cartoon. As a 21-year-old, I have fallen in love with the simplicity and sweetness of the Peanuts," Hanson said. "The beauty of live theater enables the cast to bring this famous cartoon to life with a sense of charm, humor and truthfulness."
The movement of the characters in the cartoon is not unlike the movement the actors are used to onstage.
"The movement has been the process of the actors studying the video and translating the characters' actions," Schroeder said. "It's been homework for the actors to develop the style."
Michael Viola (junior-theatre and secondary education), who plays Snoopy, said playing the beloved cartoon dog was surprisingly difficult.
"You think it'd be easy, but it's not," he said. "It's something I never really thought I'd be doing but now that I am, I'm ecstatic."
Tom Pogue (senior-theatre) plays Charlie Brown. He said it has been an honor to play such a well-known character.
"It's been a lot of fun playing such an iconic character," Pogue said. "I've had to take a look at the old cartoon and get a feel for the underdog, tap into his innocence. He is a character that is easy to relate to."
The performance has been held at the Pavilion Theatre in the past. This year it has moved to the Playhouse Theatre, presenting the biggest challenge for Schroeder.
"My biggest challenge has easily been translating the show into the Playhouse Theatre," Schroeder said. "It's a large space with 300 to 400 seats and a cavernous space to fill with only 13 to 14 actors."
Schroeder said when the show was first performed, the scenic department built all the set pieces and they have been passed down from year to year.
"All the set pieces -- from the wall, Lucy's psychiatrist office, Snoopy's house, the tree -- they were all built and have been used for years," he said.
Schroeder said he thinks every student should come to see the show whether it's their first time or fourth.
"For those who haven't seen it before, I would say to you, get ready for one of the most unique experiences of the holiday season," Schroeder said. "For those who've seen it before, I would say you ain't seen anything done like this before. This year, it's going to be bigger, brighter and classier."
