Beloved Holiday Classic Brings Wit, Charm, and a Live Jazz Trio Playing Vince Guaraldi Classics to The Coterie Stage

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OVERVIEW:
          WHAT: A Charlie Brown Christmas
By Charles M. Schulz
Based on the television special by
Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson

          WHEN: November 15-December 31, 2022
Press / Opening Night: Friday, Nov. 18

          WHERE: The Coterie Theatre
Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64108

          PRICE: $14.00-$16.00 for youth and seniors;
$18.00-$20.00 for adults;
$6.50-$13.00 for groups of 20 or more

          INFO / TICKETS: The Coterie Box Office
Phone: (816) 474-6552
Online: www.thecoterie.org

Kansas City, MO – The Coterie Theatre rings in the holiday season by bringing the beloved animated special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, to life on stage featuring a live jazz trio playing Vince Guaraldi’s original arrangements. Written by “Peanuts” creator Charles Schultz and based on the television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas will be directed by William J. Christie with musical direction by Gary Adams. It will be performed on The Coterie’s mainstage in Crown Center, November 15-December 31, 2022.

ABOUT THE PLAY
In 1965, the animated holiday classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas, made its network television debut delighting families across the country. Today, it has become a tradition for generations of families in Kansas City to see live when The Coterie lights up the holiday season with A Charlie Brown Christmas on stage. A reviewer for The Kansas City Star wrote The Coterie’s original production, “serves up a live action, Christmas-sized helping of… first class… innovative… theatrical magic. …Young people are deliberately included and collectively charmed.”

Capturing all the appeal, wit, and wisdom of the 1965 animated special, the stage adaptation of A Charlie Brown Christmas brings to life the whole Peanuts gang, including Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, and Lucy. The story follows Charlie Brown on a memorable journey as he tries to direct the school Christmas pageant. In their letters to Santa, everyone seems to be acting materialistic – so Charlie Brown tries to restore holiday spirit with a ragged little fir tree. Experience the power of this wonderful story live onstage as Charlie Brown turns to his best friend Linus to learn the season’s real meaning.

The production features a live jazz trio playing Vince Guaraldi’s original musical arrangements, including the Peanuts theme Linus and LucyChristmas Time is Here, and all the favorites from the beloved special. Additionally, every performance ends with a special encore of Snoopy’s Christmas, which tells the adventures of Snoopy’s Christmas Eve encounter with the Red Baron.

“You can’t beat this production for some of the greatest jazz holiday songs ever written,” says Coterie artistic director, Jeff Church, “all wrapped in the nostalgia of Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the peanuts gang. We even recreate the ice staking!”

A Charlie Brown Christmas runs approximately 55 minutes with no intermission and will be appreciated by families with all ages.

THE ARTISTS
A Charlie Brown Christmas is directed by William J. Christie with musical direction by Gary Adams, who will also serve as Pianist for the jazz trio during performances, along with Jeff Harshbarger on Bass and Sam Wisman on Percussion. The cast features Lucas Lowry (as Charlie Brown), Fisher Stewart (as Linus), Weiyi Zhang (as Lucy), Terrace Wyatt, Jr. (as Snoopy), McKenna Harvey (as Sally), Cameron Mabie (as Schroeder), Lauren Taylor (as Violet), Jen Benkert (as Pigpen), Tehreem Chaudhry (as Frieda). Understudies for the production are Elaine Clifford and Dustin Reckling. The artistic and production company includes Steve Emerson (production stage manager), Marc Wayne (technical director/master carpenter), Scott Hobart (scenic designer), David Kiehl (sound designer), Jarrett Bertoncin (lighting designer), Georgianna Londré Buchanan (costume designer), Eric Palmquist (properties designer), Riley Lathrom (production assistant/deck manager), and Jason Coats (COVID safety manager).

SHOW DATES, TIMES & TICKETS
The Coterie, named “One of the Five Best Theaters for Young Audiences in the U.S.” by TIME magazine, will begin A Charlie Brown Christmas on November 15 and run through December 31, 2022, in The Coterie Theatre, located on level one of the Crown Center Shops in Kansas City, MO. Press Night will be held on Friday, November 18, at 7:00 p.m. The performance runs approximately 55 minutes with no intermission and will be appreciated by families with all ages. All tickets are on sale now through The Coterie’s box office at 816.474.6552 or www.thecoterie.org.

  • Individual Tickets: Tickets are $14.00-$16.00 for youth under 18, students, and seniors 60 and older; $18.00-$20.00 for adults, depending on performance date.
  • Group Pricing: The Coterie offers groups of 20 or more special rates ranging from $6.50 – $13.00 per person, depending on performance date.
  • Subscriptions: In lieu of season subscriptions, The Coterie offers Spotlight Passes which work like season tickets without committing to a set schedule. Passes are $150.00 and include a variety of benefits including 10 flexible tickets that can be used on a combination of shows in the 2022/2023 Season.
  • Gift Certificates: The Coterie offers gift certificates for holiday shoppers looking for the perfect gift. Available in any denomination, gift certificates are redeemable for show tickets, Spotlight Passes, and acting classes.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCE EXTRAS
During the run of A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Coterie will offer these special performances:

  • Opening Night – Friday, November 18, at 7:00 p.m.
  • Interpreted performance in American Sign Language – Saturday, November 26, at 4:00 p.m.
  • Sensory Friendly performances for neurodiverse audiences featuring technical adjustments, sensory supports, house lights on and flexible audience expectations – Thursday, December 15, at 12:00 p.m. and Friday, December 16, at 7:00 p.m.

ABOUT THE COTERIE
The Coterie Theatre was designated by TIME magazine in the top three theaters for young audiences in Nov. 2004, calling it “groundbreaking… one of the nation’s most respected.” The Coterie, located in Kansas City, Missouri, has been at the forefront of commissioning new works or adaptations that contribute to the field of theatre for young audiences. More than 50 world or American premieres for all ages have been produced by The Coterie over the last 25 years, during Artistic Director Jeff Church’s tenure, including hosting multiple major Broadway composers and lyricists to shape quality musicals for youth and families. The Coterie is interested in intergenerational conversation, and consistently includes teen programming in its season and outreach efforts. The Coterie’s community programming redefines traditional notions of work for young audiences with its unique dramatic writing programs (Young Playwrights’ Roundtable), teen LGBTQ work (Project Pride), and mental health workshops in a dramatic format (Project Daylight), all free of charge, as overseen by Executive Director Joette Pelster and a dedicated staff. All these components serve an average of 97,000 per year through over 350 performances. The Coterie Theatre School has locations throughout greater Kansas City. Donate at www.thecoterie.org.

OUR FUNDERS
The Coterie is funded, in part, by Missouri Arts Council, The Shubert Foundation, Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation, and Theater League.

THE 2022/2023 SEASON
Following A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Coterie’s 2022/2023 Season continues with the world premiere of a new play inspired by overlooked Kansas City history, Only One Day a Year, January 31-March 5, 2023; the fun family musical, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!, April 4-May 21, 2023; and the world premiere of the youth and family version of Doctor Dolittle, based on the popular movie musical, June 27-August 6, 2023.

Production photos will available online at www.thecoterie.org/press-room.

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Due to the nature of live theatre, play selection, performance schedule and casting are subject to change.
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