ACT Charlie Brown Christmas

Aiken Community Theatre presents

DECEMBER 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 @ 7:30 PM, DECEMBER 5, 11 @ 2:00 PM 126 Newberry Street SW; AIKEN, SC 29801 803-648-1438 www.AikenCommunityTheatre.org

ACT Mission Aiken Community Theatre (ACT) is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to entertain, educate, and enrich our community by providing a quality theatre experience.

ACT Board Executive Director – Kyle Seconi Artistic Director – JC Crider Facilities Director – Tyler McKinney Secretary – Chrissey Miller Treasurer – Jimmy Moore Marketing Director – Jeff Mastromonico Youth Wing Interim Director – Steven McKinney Thurmond Whatley Marcia Harris Gail Daigle Wendy Dietzel Jim Schroeder Ellen Williams Angie Galan Collette Miller Ginny Boice Cory Herbst Dustin Turner Beth Williams

presents

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS Written by Charles M. Schultz Based on the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson Adapted by Eric Schaeffer Performed by special arrangement with Arthur Whitelaw and Ruby Persson Directed by Thurmond Whatley

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A note from ACt’s Executive Director Despite an uncertain journey over the last 20 months, your commitment to ACT inspired us. Because of your support, we were able to navigate the rules and regulations designed to keep our community safe while delivering on our promise to entertain, educate, and enrich our community by providing a quality theatre experience.

During this time, our incredible volunteers continued to serve in many capacities: teaching at our free monthly Youth Wing workshops, sharing new streaming events through Entr’Act, producing our opening show, helping with many beautification projects within the theatre, and preparing a little holiday joy for the season. We are excited about the many years ahead of us, no matter what the road ahead brings.

We thank you for your continued support whether it is a tax-deductible, year-end financial gift, in-kind donation, volunteer time or simply applause.

Warm wishes and happy holidays,

Kyle A. Seconi Executive Director

COMING SOON to ACT February 18-26, 2022 Check www.aikencommunitytheatre.org for upcoming audition dates.

Turn the game Clue into a play and you have the masterfully entertaining Murder’s in the Heir!’ Almost every character in this hilarious mystery has the weapon, opportunity, and motive to commit the unseen murder. And it’s up to your audience to decide who did it!

An ACT Youth Wing Production

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS DireCtor’s note It’s good to be back. As one of the two directors who were within a couple of weeks of opening their shows in March of 2020 when the world shut down, it’s a great feeling for all involved to present the first live Christmas show since ACT’s grand reopening in September.

Nineteen months without a live Christmas show is long enough.

Since its debut in 1965 on CBS Television, A Charlie Brown Christmas has become part of the Christmas holiday tradition for millions of families. The stage version of A Charlie Brown Christmas was first released in 2014 and is the exact script used in the television cartoon presentation.

In staging this live-action version of the cartoon, cast and crew have worked hard to make sure our presentation is smooth and flowing. While editing and time shifts are easy to do on film, a live presentation of a television script requires much planning, creativity, and trial and error to achieve similar effects. Our cast and crew have spent a lot of effort to create the same warm feeling and enjoyment for our audiences that millions of families have enjoyed since this story was first broadcast in 1965.

So, on behalf of the cast and crew of A Charlie Brown Christmas, we wish you and yours the best holiday season ever … and a Covid free New Year.

Thurmond Whatley

The Story

The classic animated television special A Charlie Brown Christmas comes to life in this faithful stage adaptation in which Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts Gang discover the true meaning of Christmas.

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SCENES One Day in the Present Time...

The Skating Rink The Neighborhood The Doctor is In Christmas is Coming Rehearsal Finding a Tree Christmas Music Finding Christmas

SongS Christmastime is Here Finding Christmas Carol Sing Along

The CAST Charlie Brown…………………………………………...Wess Romano Snoopy……….…………………………………………….Wendy Dietzel Lucy…………………………………………………………..Frances Fields Linus……………………………………………………..Garrett Maroney Pigpen……………………….…………………………Savannah Warren Frieda…………………………………………………….Melissa Noakes Schroeder………………………………………………….Denise Ashley Violet………………………………………………………...Gina Vitgenos Sally……………………………………………………………….Tricia Perea Patty…………………………………….………………..…….Rosey Baker Shermy……………………………………………………………….Ella Rich

The CREW Director…………………….………………………Thurmond Whatley Assistant Director…….………………………………..Collette Miller Stage Manager………..………………………………..Collette Miller Assistant Stage Manager………………………………David Werth Set Designers………………..….Duane Berning, Jim Schroeder Set Construction…………………..Ryan Ashley, Frances Fields, …………………………Brent Cline, David Werth, Gina Vitgenos, …………….Olga Kuzmenkova, Collette Miller, Denise Ashely, ……………Marcia Harris, Angela Sorice, Thurmond Whatley Pianist...............................................................Pam Fulmer Choreographer………………………………………………Anna Lewis Music Director………………………………………Steven McKinney Costumer......................................................Wendy Dietzel Costume Assistants…………….Renee Brown, Ellen Williams, ………………………………………………….Tricia Jones, Molly Jones Lighting Designer………………………………………….Cory Herbst Light Board Operator…………………………………James Holmes Sound Board Operator..……………………………….Vivian Botley

Thurmond Whatley, Director

Thurmond has been a member of ACT from his college years, starting 1976. He has been an actor, technician, director, board member, and served as executive director for 16 terms.

Professionally, he has been a radio announcer, newspaper reporter, public relations manager, and college instructor specializing in teaching writing, theater and film courses.

COLLETTE MILLER, Assistant director/stage manager

Collette has been a participant in and board member of ACT since 1982. She has acted in numerous shows, served in all technical positions on dozens of productions, and has directed many main stage shows including A Lion in Winter, Taco Love, The Complete History of America Abridged, and many others. She taught theater classes for USC-Aiken and St. Mary Help of Christians School where she was responsible for the school’s theater program. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in costume design from the University of Texas.

DAVID WErTH, assistant stage manager

David Werth grew up in North Tonawanda, NY, and works at the Savannah River Site, studying weather and climate change. His first role on a stage was in the ACT production of Medea, followed by roles in Wit, Office Hours, One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Merchant of Venice. He has also worked backstage for Les Miserables, Peter Pan, Legally Blonde, and Sister Act.

SPECIAL THANKS

DENISE ASHLEY Denise is excited to make her ACT debut in A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Denise began her theatre experience direction productions of The Lion King, Jr., Willie Wonka, Jr., The Jungle Book, and Hairspray, Jr. in an afterschool program. Denise is currently a 5th grade ELA and social studies teacher at Chukker Creek Elementary School. She has a passion for theatre and has enjoyed being a part of the Aiken Community Theatre. Denise resides in Aiken with her husband and their five children.

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ELLA RICH Ella is excited to take part in her first play in many years. Surprisingly, her introverted self realized during COVID-19 that she actually liked social interaction. Outside of the theatre, she loves writing stories and singing. Ella would like to thank the lovely actors and crew she’s met during the many late-night rehearsals as well as her family for continuing to drive her to and from said latenight rehearsals.

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FRANCES FIELDS Frances is a native of Columbia, SC. She received a BA in Theatre from Coastal Carolina University and is a graduate of The Circus Center's Clown Conservatory in San Francisco. She is a proud company member of SC Shakespeare Company and the locally based touring Children's Theatre company Porkchop Productions. You may have seen her in pervious ACT productions such as Addams Family: The Musical, Legally Blonde, and Silent Sky. Frances is excited to be bringing Lucy to life. Thanks to her family, friends, and this amazing cast, crew, and production team.

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GARRETT MARONEY Garrett has been in many shows here at ACT. Most recently, he played Hercule Poirot in Murder on the Orient Express. Caught up in the fever of performing once more, he immediately auditioned for the next show. He hoped to land the part of the beneficent, blanket-loving best friend to Charlie Brown, everyone’s favorite philosophical Peanut – Linus Van Pelt, and he did. Break a leg to all the cast and crew. May the true meaning of Christmas fill everyone’s hearts just as the angels filled the skies to announce peace and good will to men.

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GINA VITGENOS This is Gina’s first time performing with ACT after recently moving here from Denver, Colorado. She performed in school in such roles as the songbird in Once Upon a Mattress, Mrs. Peirce in My Fair Lady, a Phantom in Rocky Horror Picture Show, and a contestant/murderer in a Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Production of A Winner Takes Fall.

After she graduated high school, she balanced work and various acting classes at the Denver Center of Performing Arts and has also performed and directed performances with her church’s youth theatre group Forged by Fire.

When she isn’t working, Gina enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, writing, and jamming out to music.

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MELISSA NOAKES Melissa is thrilled to make her theatrical debut in A Charlie Brown Christmas. Melissa is new to South Carolina, after living in both Oklahoma and New Mexico. She is a writer/editor, and enjoys baseball, reading, and spending time with her husband and two boys. Melissa has a mild obsession with all things Christmas, and currently displays at least five trees during the holidays.

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PAM FULMER Pam is a native of Aiken. She has been a church pianist for 40 years at Shiloh Baptist Church in Aiken.

She was also a private piano teacher for 30 years. For the past 11 years she has been a 4K Teachers Aide at J.D. Lever Elementary School in Aiken and loves her students! She has played piano for the ACT productions of Honk!, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change!, Grease, The Wizard of Oz, and The Music Man. She also helped with the Broadway & Beyond shows at ACT. Pam is married to Rocky Fulmer and loves her family, which includes four grandchildren, Eli, Emersyn, Cameron, and Judson. She would like to thank Thurmond Whatley, the cast, and everyone involved in A Charlie Brown Christmas for allowing her to be a part of such a great show.

ROSEY BAKER Rosey is a high school senior who has an insatiable passion for acting. She landed the lead role in the school's annual student film, 2018-19. She has worked on films with University of Southern California, NYU, and University of Miami. Her training includes six years at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute in both NYC and Los Angeles, Master Acting Classes ongoing with Dudley Remus at the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre. Rosey is so overjoyed to be a part of this production and sends love and thanks to her parents.

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SAVANNAH WARREN Savannah was born in Spartanburg and moved to Aiken when she was five. She has enjoyed various theater camps and was in the cast of Annie before it was canceled due to COVID-19. While relatively new to community theater, Savannah feels very at home in that space whether in the audience or on stage.

Savannah is excited to be active in the theater again as part of A Charlie Brown Christmas cast.

When not in the theater, Savannah enjoys tennis, singing in the Belini choir, hiking in the mountains, and cuddling with her cat, Grey.

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TRICIA PEREA When she’s not designing publications at Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Tricia loves to sing and act. She last performed at Aiken Community Theatre (ACT) as Ralphie’s Mother in A Christmas Story. Other appearances at ACT include Sister Act, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and A Few Good Men. She has also appeared in Le Chat Noir's Quickies and performed with Harmony River Chorus-the Sweet Adelines chapter of Augusta. Tricia thanks her family for encouraging her artistic endeavors and ACT for allowing her the opportunity to be in this play.

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WENDY DIETZEL Wendy has been involved with ACT for over 12 years. Before Snoopy, she played Nana and Tick-Tock Croc in ACT's Peter Pan. Over the years, she has also played various humans on stage, as well. Most often though, Wendy can be found backstage as the costumer, most recently Murder on the Orient Express, Seussical Jr., and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. She was pulled into the wonderful world of theater by her oldest daughter, Ella. Wendy resides in Aiken with her daughter, Audrey and husband, John.

Wendy is currently the costume chair on the ACT Board of Directors and she also serves on the ACT Youth Wing Board.

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WESS ROMANO Wess would first like to thank everyone reading this for coming to celebrate Christmas early with us at ACT. His first time on the ACT stage was for The Hunchback of Notre Dame where he played the gripping role of Man #8. He would like to inform you that he is a disc golfer, drummer, Pisces, deep thinker, and just your average burst-into-song-while-cookingdinner-in-the-kitchen sort of guy. Wess would like to thank his wife, his family, and his fur babies for always believing in and supporting him. The only thing Wess has left to say is “Let’s start the show already!”

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