Columbia Children's Theatre YouTheatre Presents A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS for Charity, Now thru 12/9

The holidays are upon us and what a better time to help a "boy and his dog" as Columbia Children's Theatre presents a benefit production of A Charlie Brown Christmas. A CCT YouTheatre production, A Charlie Brown Christmas runs today, December 6-9 with shows Thursday and Friday at 7:00 PM, Saturday at 11:00, 3:00 & 7:00 and Sunday at 3:00. Two dollars of the $10.00 ticket price will go to support Epworth Children's Home and Pets Inc. All shows take place at Columbia Children's Theatre on the second floor of Richland Mall, 3400 Forest Drive in beautiful Forest Acres. Advance ticket purchases are strongly recommended and may be purchased securely on-line at www.columbiachildrenstheatre.com.

Directed and choreographed by veteran actor/singer/dancer Dedra Daniels Mount the production will also feature performances by The Greater Columbia Children's Choir, Broadway Bound Musical Theatre Company, and The Workshop Theatre Flappers. A Charlie Brown Christmas cast features more than 50 young performers from the Midlands including Addie Anders, Sarah Atkinson, Alex Avila, Henry Barry, Leila Barwick, Courtney Hope Diveley , Taylor Diveley Rose DuBard, Terra Enloe, Briar Esterline, Megan Esterline, Abby Frye, Dionté Gibson, Rachel Glowacki , Anthony Harvey, Marion Jones, Catherine Kelley, Aaryn Li-Jenkins, Jules Lynch, Sofia Lynch, Taylor Marks, Brennan McCort, Haley McCort , Morgan Miller, Ally Montgomery, Hannah Montgomery, Baker Morrison, Henry Moses, Sallie Moses, Hannah Mount, Mattie Mount , Olivia Nix, Piper Phipps, Saba Pontens Alemu, David Quay, Joshua Quay, Imani Ross-Jackson, Keenan Shealy , Samantha Shuler, Elizabeth Stancik, Jadon Stanek, Haley Starnes, Kara Suggs, Grayson Taylor, Olivia Timmerman, Savannah Tomlin, and Vision Wilkes-Davis.

A Charlie Brown Christmas was the first primetime animated TV special based upon the comic strip Peanuts and first aired on CBS in 1965. It has been telecast on one of the three major networks every year since and has won both the Emmy and Peabody awards. Appalled by the commercialization of the holidays, Charlie Brown seeks to find the true meaning of Christmas. When Lucy suggests he direct the annual holiday Christmas pageant, the frustration just continues until Linus and a forlorn little fir tree help Charlie Brown find meaning in the season.

As part of its mission to enhance and bring vibrancy to the community, Columbia Children's Theatre believes firmly that using one's talents to bring that about is a vital and important facet to its programming.

"That's precisely why we chose this project," said CCT Artistic Director Jerry Stevenson. "What better time to search for the true meaning of the season and who doesn't want to help a boy (or girl!) and his dog (or cat!) at this festive time of year?"

Since 1896, Epworth Children's Home has provided group residential care for children and youth from all of South Carolina. The organization provides child care, counseling and related services to families and children without regard to race, religion, national origin or ability to pay. Pets Inc. established in 1992 is dedicated to reversing the overpopulation of pets through rehabilitation and adoption, in addition to addressing training and emotional need of animals.

"If we in the arts can do just a small part," says Stevenson, "to help further these missions and support these worthy causes, it will go a long way in making our community, our state and our world a better place to live."

A Charlie Brown Christmas runs December today, December 6-9 with shows Thursday and Friday at 7:00 PM, Saturday at 11:00, 3:00 & 7:00 and Sunday at 3:00. Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased securely on-line at www.columbiachildrenstheatre.com. Advanced ticket purchases are strongly recommended.

Columbia Children's Theatre is a professional resident not-for-profit theatre dedicated to providing quality live theatre experiences for families and young audiences.

Pictured: Anthony Harvey as Charlie Brown and Hannah Mount as Snoopy. Photo by Shelby Sessler.