A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS Comes to Life On Garden Theatre Stage

The Garden Theatre is pleased to announce the faithful stage adaptation of the classic animated television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, showing December 2 - 18, 2016. The presenting sponsor for A Charlie Brown Christmas is Florida Hospital Winter Garden. The media sponsor is Observer Media Group. A Charlie Brown Christmas is also sponsored in part by promotional sponsors Outdoor Living Products and Toole's Ace Hardware.

A Charlie Brown Christmas was first shown as an animated television special in 1965 and has been shown every year since. Prior to its premiere, the official sponsor, Coca-Cola, was concerned that the show was too slow and lacked interest. According toschulzmuseum.org, certain decisions by the creators helped contribute to its success. This included using real children's voices for the characters and a jazz music score. Schulz also insisted that Linus recite the scripture from the Gospel of Saint Luke, the heartwarming turning point in the story. The special went on to receive a Peabody and Emmy award, and become a fifty-year tradition.

Of course, the story of Charlie Brown as a character began much earlier. Charles M. Schulz's love of "the funnies" began at an early age as he and his father shared the Sunday morning ritual of reading them together. He knew early on that he wanted to be a professional cartoonist, and after completing a correspondence cartoon course and mild success with other cartoon strips, the first Peanuts strip appeared on October 2, 1950, in seven newspapers nationwide when Schulz was 27 years old. Little did he know at that point what a lasting popularity the characters would achieve. At the time of Schulz's retirement in 1999, the Peanuts comic strip was syndicated in over 2,600 newspapers worldwide with book collections translated in over 25 languages.

A veteran director of the Garden Theatre, Keith Smith, will serve as show director for this production. Smith was also director for the Garden's successful productions of Boeing Boeing and A Christmas Survival Guide. "I think we can relate to the Peanuts characters because they reflect parts of us as individuals," Smith says. "There is something we can identify with in one or more of these characters and the situations that are portrayed in the comic strip help us to see the world in a very connected way through the eyes of the Peanuts gang."

Charles Schulz once commented that Charlie Brown is "a caricature of the average person...most of us are more acquainted with losing than winning." Audiences have definitely related to Charlie Brown, but also find similarities with each of the other characters.

"While I can identify with many of the characters, I think Linus is the one I most connect with," says Smith. "His outward looks are deceiving, given the blanket he carries for security, but at his heart he is a philosopher and always has a kind word for everybody."

The 11-person professional cast of A Charlie Brown Christmas includes Logan Blake as Charlie Brown, Brandon Hofmann as Snoopy (previously on Garden Theatre stage in Singin' in the Rain), Kelley Mauro as Lucy (Trish in Bonnie & Clyde), Jake Rura as Linus (Buck Barrow in Bonnie & Clyde), Ben Campbell as Pig Pen, Amanda Decker as Frieda, Dan Ott as Schroeder, Holly Fuller as Violet, Emily Miraglia as Sally, Ashlee Ballew as Patty, and Justin Ortiz as Shermy.

As part of the A Charlie Brown Christmas experience, guests will also enjoy Christmas caroling, photo opportunities and other surprises at the Garden Theatre and throughout downtown Winter Garden. A sensory-friendly performance has also been scheduled for December 17 at 6pm. This performance will have special modifications to the show's lighting and sound effects, designed for children with autism, Asperger's or other sensory processing disorders and special needs.

A special cross-promotion with the Christmas at Gaylord Palms event is available to Garden Theatre audience members who attend A Charlie Brown Christmas. Christmas at Gaylord Palms features lavish holiday displays and shows, and includes ICE!, featuring the characters from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Tickets are $23 for adults and $19 for seniors and students, with special pricing for children 12 and under for opening night andThursday performances. Showtimes are Thursdays and Fridays at 6pm & 8pm, Saturdays at 1pm, 3pm, 6pm & 8pm, Sundays at 2pm & 4pm.

For tickets, visit gardentheatre.org or contact the Box Office at 407-877-GRDN (4736). Groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts of up to 25% by contacting group sales manager Jana Goupil at 407-877-4736 x208.

About the Garden Theatre

Located in the heart of historic downtown Winter Garden on Plant Street, the Garden Theatre is a nonprofit organization committed to enriching, engaging and entertaining through creative experiences. The 299-seat theatre, which re-opened in 2008, is an historic, atmospheric, professional performing arts venue in a Mediterranean Revival style. The Garden Theatre hosts live plays, concerts, movies and more to the residents of and visitors to the city of Winter Garden. For tickets or additional information, contact the Garden Theatre Box Office at 407-877-GRDN (4736) or visit gardentheatre.org.