The Peanuts gang assembles in Butte and Billings for "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
Need a dose of holiday cheer? Join the Peanuts gang for performances of “A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage,” 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Mother Lode Theatre in Butte and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Alberta Bair Theater in Billings.
This brand new touring production, based on the cartoon by Charles M. Schulz, features the lovable Peanuts characters – Linus, Lucy, Snoopy, Sally, and more, all led by Charlie Brown – 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. “A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage” showcases the unforgettable music of Vince Guaraldi, performed by a three-piece ensemble on stage, as well as a concert of beloved holiday carols led by the Peanuts characters.
Based on the popular Peanuts comic strip, the Emmy® and Peabody Award-winning television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson became a holiday viewing tradition after it first aired in 1965. It was adapted for the stage by Eric Schaeffer, by special arrangement with Arthur Whitelaw and Ruby Persson. A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage is produced by Gershwin Entertainment.
Butte performance: Tickets are $22-$75 and available at the box office, open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday at 316 W. Park St., by phone, 406-723-3602, or online at www.buttearts.org.
Billings performance: Tickets are $25-$45 and available at the Alberta Bair Theater Box Office on the corner of 3rd Ave N and N Broadway, by phone at 406-256-6052 (box office hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and noon-5 p.m. Saturday) or online at www.albertabairtheater.org.