Dublin Community Theatre staging another ‘Charlie Brown Christmas’

The Peanuts gang is returning to the Theatre Dublin stage next week.

Dublin Community Theatre will present “A Charlie Brown Christmas – Live on Stage” which will be performed at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 21. People can pick up tickets by going to PurplePass or call Theatre Dublin (478) 277-5074. They can also purchase tickets at the door. The cost is $10.

Berry said the decision to return with this holiday classic was due to its popularity last year.

“We always want more people to come see theater,” she said. “Charlie Brown was a show that people seemed to have enjoyed so much. The actors enjoyed it, and we will be looking at some things to make it interactive with the audience. We’ll do some things a little different with the costumes just to make it funnier. If people enjoyed it last year, I think they can expect the same fun, lively show with some new surprises.”

The show is based on “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” which premiered on CBS on Dec. 9, 1965.

“People have loved this show for years and years,” Berry said. “After that portion of the show, it goes into the Christmas play, which features the Peanuts characters in costumes and really performing various Christmas carols with their own styles and twists as only they can do.”  

Parks Baird returns to play Charlie Brown, while R.J. Allen is coming back to act out as Snoopy. 

“It’s really a blessing to be back playing Snoopy,” Allen said. “Peanuts, Charlie Brown and Snoopy have always been a part of my life. To have my name associated with anything Charles Schulz created is really a blessing.”

He has no lines, but Allen tries to make the same Snoopy sounds that Bill Melendez did in the TV specials.

“I have to communicate through body movement,” Allen said. “It’s something I love doing. I grew up watching every single Charlie Brown holiday specials. There is a lot out there. People are still watching and talking about Charlie Brown today. I know it means something to a lot of people. There are probably a lot of people coming to the show who saw this
special when they were kids.”  

Baird did not know if he would be returning to play Brown again.

“I’ll take the chance to be able to do this again anytime,” Baird said. “I wish when I was a kid that we had as much live entertainment as we do now. I’m just a big fan of the Peanuts. I think we all grew up with the specials coming on TV. I’ve always liked Charlie Brown as this pessimistic kid who is looking for some hope thrown into his life in every one of these shows.”

Elinor Mullis will star as Lucy, while her sister, Lorelei Mullis, will be back as Sally. For both of these sisters, this will make the third time they have played these characters on stage.

“This is amazing,” Elinor said. “I am so thankful for everything Mrs. Glenda does, and this is such a fun show for the cast and for the audience to be a part of. I’m really excited because we’re doing some new and different stuff this year to try and make it more interactive for the audience.”

Plus, who would not like a chance to play a character like Lucy who comes off as bossy.

“Absolutely,” Elinor said. “Lucy is very angry and bossy. She gets to stomp around and make fun of people. That’s the cool thing about acting. You get to be a character that isn’t necessarily yourself all of the time and you get to really let loose. These characters that Charles Schultz wrote reflect a part of every person. It is really fun to step into those personalities. Lucy does have some redeeming qualities. She can be nice every once in a while. People can relate to her.” 

Lorelei is happy to be returning to the stage as Sally.

“She is such a fun and bubbly person,” Lorelei said. “It’s really interesting to play somebody that we’re alike, but she is so eccentric, and it’s fun to play somebody like that.”

Lorelei returns to the stage about a month after being an assistant director’s hat for “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.”

“I learned a lot from that,” she said. “It showed me the other side. I think it’s going to be easier for me to take direction from Mrs. Glenda because I see it through her eyes now.” 

Elinor said it is so much fun interacting with Snoopy.

“Snoopy won’t listen to anything you say,” she said. “She tries to tell him what to do and he won’t act right, and that gets on her nerves. She’s fussy about that and Linus and his blanket.” 

Jarred Lord will return to the Peanuts cast after starring as Snoopy in “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Last year he hurt his foot leading up to the “Charlie Browns Christmas” and could not play Snoopy, which Allen did well. Lord is thrilled to be back not only as a member of the Peanuts gang but as Linus, a role he played when he was a teen.

“This is full circle for me,” Lord said. “That character has always been near and dear to my heart. I’m excited to jump into that little boy. It’s going to be different playing him as an adult.” 

He is also excited about doing Linus’ Christmas monologues after Charlie Brown asks for someone to tell him, “what Christmas is all about.”

“I think that is one of the best Christmas monologues in any of the Christmas shows,” Lord said. 

Brian Johnson will tickle the ivories as Schroeder, while Rhett Cooper is set to kick up some dust as Pig Pen. Kayleigh Horton will play Violet, Jacob Berry will star as Shermy and Marina Daniels will return from overseas in time to play Frieda.   

“Being around the cast is good,” Allen said. “I love working with them all. It’s fun to work with them and fun to do the show.”

Lord agreed, adding that he feels this production will give the  community a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of life.

“Shows like this really help bring the community together,” he said. 

Because of the schedule, most of the cast had their first rehearsal on Nov. 30. 

“We’ll have one night to go through the blocking, following with sound before moving into full dress rehearsal,” Berry said. “Just watching the first rehearsal, they all did an amazing job. They will have to show up when we start and be off-script. But this is an easy script, and when they were warming up the other day, it was all coming back to them. This is an experienced cast and they all lift each other up.”

Baird believes the cast will be able to bring everything together.

“Many in this cast know these roles,” he said. “It’s not a long script. The songs we sing are all songs we’ve heard every single Christmas.”  

The cast is looking forward to the challenge.

“We are so blessed to have such a good cast to work with,” Elinor said. “All of these people are so dedicated to the show. We all work together so well and we want to make it happen, even in a short amount of time. We definitely will be going full-speed ahead, and we can bring a fantastic product. It’s going to be as fun as possible. Hopefully, everyone will come out and bring their kids and family to see a show that is so nostalgic.”