A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS Comes to Redhouse This December

Redhouse is sure to get you in the holiday spirit with its upcoming production of A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz, which runs from December 6th - 16th at its theater complex at City Center. This Emmy and Peabody award-winning story by Charles M. Schulz has been a longstanding tradition, warming the hearts of millions of fans since it first aired on television over 50 years ago. This stage adaptation of the classic animated television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson, brings all your favorite characters to life - all set to the unforgettable sounds of the Vince Guaraldi musical score.

Everyone is giddy with Christmas cheer, but Charlie Brown has the Yuletide blues. Will directing the gang in the Christmas play help him get in the spirit of the season? Join Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang as they discover the true meaning of Christmas. When Charlie Brown becomes discouraged by the materialism of the season, Lucy convinces him to direct the neighborhood Christmas play. In typical Charlie Brown fashion, things go awry when he selects a tiny fir tree for the production. It's up to Linus to save the day and remind everyone of the real message of the holiday.

Broadway Actor and Director Jonathan Martin returns to Redhouse to Direct A Charlie Brown Christmas. He recently spoke about the upcoming production at Redhouse, "I think what will be really special for audiences coming to see A Charlie Brown Christmas will be the feeling that they are coming to see a story and characters that are so well beloved in way that has been created especially for them as a community. The show is both timeless and timely. I wanted to involve our community in a story that is all about people coming together and finding the true meaning of the holiday spirit in togetherness. To that end we're including a youth choir drawn from students in area schools to be part of the professional production". "The opportunity for audiences to see A Charlie Brown Christmas live in the theater brings the story to life in a really exciting way, he continued. I think the story and these characters are even funnier, surprising, human, and endearing as embodied by these amazing actors than the cartoon. (And the cartoon is one of my favorites!). Adapting A Charlie Brown Christmas into a work of theater gives us the opportunity to create a lot of fun surprises and spectacle for an audience that you can only get by seeing it live".

Jonathan, whose directing credits include Redhouse's recent production of Peter and the Starcatcher, also include The Tempest for Touchstone Theatre, his original play Facts of the Matter and Send 'Em in or Send 'Em Away for NYU Graduate Acting. Jonathan has been an assistant director for Martha Clarke on Angel Reapers, which premiered at the American Dance Festival, and assisted Jim Calder on his music-infused production of A Midsummer Nights Dream, Dream a Little Dream. Acting credits include Gutting at the National Black Theater, the JJ Abrams-Alfonso Cuaron series, "Believe," an appearance on "Unforgettable, " and a two-year run performing on Broadway as the title character in War Horse.

Regarding the cast Director Jonathan Martin commented "It was really important for me that our cast represented a diversity of backgrounds. Besides the benefit of having a range of artistic skills and experiences to draw from in making the show, the diversity of the cast mirrors the diversity of the community of Syracuse itself."

Redhouse has once again put together a very talented cast of out of town and local artists for this production. Our out of town cast includes returning Equity actor Napat Minkwanyuen (Disney's Little Mermaid) who will play the role of Schroeder and is also Music Director for the show. Other out of town actors will be in to make their Redhouse debuts including actress and physical comedian Mariko Iwasa as Snoopy. Hailing from Tokyo Japan her performance will include a tap, slapstick and juggling and more. Other out of town cast includes Makyra Alexander as Freida and Ari Cummings as Pig Pen. Redhouse will welcome back several local favorites as well. Returning to the Redhouse stage are, Maxwell Anderson (Six Degrees of Separation, A Midsummer Nights Dream) as Charlie Brown, Ryan Dunn (Snow Queen, Disney's A Little Mermaid, Ragtime) as Shermy, Chelsea Lembo (Snow Queen) as Patty and Addy Whitener (Snow Queen) as Sally. Making their Redhouse debuts are Carleena Manzi as Lucy, Joseph Buck as Linus, Gretchen Martino as Violet, and.

Production crew includes Production Technical Director Joshua Bergman, Lighting Designer Marie Yokoyama, Set Design by Shane Cinal, Sound Design by Anthony Vadala, Costume Designer Heather Jackson, Choreographer Stephfond Brunson, Stage Manager Margot Reed and Josh Reid, Master Electrician.

A Charlie Brown Christmas runs from November 6th-16th at the new Redhouse at City Center located at 400. South Salina Street. On site, paid parking is available in the attached garage on Clinton Street. For tickets and information on A Charlie Brown Christmas, call the Redhouse Arts Center box office at (315) 362-2785 or visit www.theredhouse.org. A Charlie Brown Christmas sponsors include Season Sponsor, Pathfinder Bank; Show Sponsor, Patricia Electric and Wells Fargo. Media Sponsor WAER Radio

Performance Dates/Times: Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 7:00PM - Preview Night Friday, December 7, 2018 at 7:00PM - Opening Night Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 7:00PM Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 2:00PM - ASL Interpretation Performance Thursday, December 13, 2018 at 7:00PM Friday, December 14, 2018 at 7:00PM Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 2:00PM and 7:00PM Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 2:00PM.

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