Hershey Area Playhouse to Present A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

Rounding out its 2017 season, Hershey Area Playhouse will present A Charlie Brown Christmas, a story about a boy searching for the real meaning of Christmas.

The stage adaptation of A Charlie Brown Christmas is based on the original television production that debuted in 1965, which has become a Christmas staple in homes across the country. When Charlie Brown complains about the materialism he sees at Christmas, Lucy suggests that he direct the school's Christmas pageant. He accepts, but it proves to be a frustrating effort. When an attempt to restore the proper holiday spirit with a neglected little Christmas tree fails, he needs Linus' help to discover the real meaning of Christmas.

"The expectations and obligations for the holiday are pressing. I have to buy that gift, I have to plan Christmas dinner, I have to get ready to travel. To balance the "have tos", one needs to take the time to remember. In the show, Linus reminds us to remember why we celebrate Christmas," said Jill Panyard, who is co-directing the show with Cory Wilkerson. "Cory and I, along with the production team and cast, have tried our best to remind people of the intangible, yet most important reasons we celebrate."

Bringing this holiday treasure to life, the kids-only cast members of A Charlie Brown Christmas, ranging in age from 7-12, include: Nyla Burston as Frieda, Charlotte Caples as Violet, Maddie Copeland as Snoopy, Jacob Felix as Charlie Brown, Ava Giorgione as Lucy, Ryan Hosenfeld as Shermy, PJ Paterno as Schroeder, Levi Snyder as Pig Pen, Sage Snyder as Sally, Nikolai Wagner as Linus, and Ella Yurick as Patty. Ensemble cast members include: Ruby Forr, Anastasia Rose Milunic, Hannah Neuschwander, Sally Paterno, Keira Pritchett, Luke Pritchett, and Molly Sargent.

In addition to Panyard and Wilkerson, production staff members for A Charlie Brown Christmas include: O. David Dietz, vocal coach; Tracey Ford, producer; Natalie DeSantis, stage manager; Carlton Hoke, Jeff Miller, and Cory Wilkerson, set designers; Carlton Hoke, scene designer; JoEllen Myers, costume designer; Matt Smoluk, sound designer; David Ebright, lighting designer; Renee Howard, props; Erin Austin, piano; Brydon Lidle, bass, and Shawn Vago, drums.

This timeless classic of A Charlie Brown Christmas is running Dec. 14-17, 2017. Thursday through Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; the Sunday performance begins at 2 p.m. Tickets for this show are sold out.

Hershey Area Playhouse (www.HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing residents of the community with an opportunity to participate in the creation and production of a theatrical experience. Since its inception in 1999, Hershey Area Playhouse has staged dozens of productions at numerous venues around the Hershey area. In April 2007, the Playhouse opened its new permanent home, Hershey Area Playhouse at Country Meadows.