Fans of the 1965 animated TV special “A Charlie Brown Christmas” can see those characters come to life on the stage in Valparaiso thanks to a theater group that showcases young talent.
Regional Performing Arts Company, which is dedicated to serving youth in and around Porter County, presents the stage show of the same name Dec. 15-16 at Faith Church.
“What’s been really neat is the kids we’re working with have really brought it to life, not only to give it what audiences will expect from how they are so familiar with the TV special but they also brought it to life with their own voices,” said Amy Stepanek, director of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
“They definitely have embodied the characters. It’s truly its own piece of theater. I really wanted to go with the young ages for the show. We’ve been able to find really good actors from the young age of 9 to 13 and they are able to handle the material.
“It’s a brief show but there’s a lot going on in that 30 minutes. There’s a lot to master and learn and they have to stay in character. They’re really handling it well.”
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” is by Charles M. Schulz and based on the TV special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson with a stage adaptation by Eric Schaeffer.
The cast features residents of Lake and Porter counties including the towns of Hobart, Portage and Valparaiso.
“It’s definitely regional community theater, which is neat instead of just one town or a one-school kind of thing,” said Stepanek, a DeMotte native who now lives in Valparaiso.
“Almost half the cast is home-schooled so that’s a neat feature because they don’t have the opportunity at school to do theater. It’s a neat way for them to be involved.”
The cast includes Jett Bensing as Charlie Brown, Jayna Quick as Snoopy, Kaelyn Wallin as Lucy, Alasdair Trusty as Linus, Noah Johnson as Pig Pen, Shannon Winter as Frieda and John Eenigenburg as Schroeder.
Emmy Dashiell as Violet, Grace Wells as Sally, Carly Rodrick as Patty, Gabriel Amidon as Shermy and Bradley Goben as Woodstock also are part of the cast.
“What’s nice about this show is it is very succinct. It gives you the messages and the themes and all of that is very clear, but it’s still very engaging and warm and fun,” said Stepanek, who is working on “A Charlie Brown Christmas” with her sister Joy Reyes of Wheatfield, who serves as assistant director.
“It’s just amazing how quickly the scenes move but, yet, you have gotten so much about personality type and about the spirit of Christmas and friendship and all of that. It comes across so clear so it is a really neat opportunity to come see something that will warm your heart and entertain you.
“It’s family-friendly, which is nice. It’s very comforting.”
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Produced by Benjamin Leonard-White, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is paired with Regional Performing Arts Company’s inaugural Christmas Revue, which is coordinated by Leonard-White’s wife, Katelyn, and features singers.
“It’s going to be a neat package,” Stepanek said.
“I feel like these opportunities to see community members and young people perform and put something special together is a nice way to take your family, your friends and your loved ones out for a night. It’s a little moment to get away and have a fun evening.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 15; 4:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 16
Where: Faith Church, 1155 S. Sturdy Road, Valparaiso
Tickets: $7; free ages younger than 5
Information: www.facebook.com/regionalperformingarts