Stage Version of "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 10/4/06 at 4:56pm

A few years back their was a planned professional touring production of "A Charlie Brown Christmas." If I remember correctly, Andrew Lippa was going to augment the TV score with new songs. It was even announced as part of our local Broadway touring show series then replaced with the anniversary tour of "Nunsense." Anyone have any info on this project? I think the show would make a nice compliment to the other Peanuts muscials, while giving regional, community, and school theaters a Christmas show that hasn't been done to death.

[dancinfan]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 10:46am

I am not at all sure why the producers didn't send their "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!" out. I do know that at some point in workshops, the show got quite glitzy and showy and over-the-top-Vegas and very far away from the whole concept of simplicity that "A Charlie Brown Christmas" espouses. I have no idea if the Schulz estate got involved - that would make sense to me. Or maybe the producers (Strawberry Productions) just didn't know how to manage their resources.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:07pm

Maybe they didn't want Lippa to damage any more of their properties after the Broadway revival of YAGMCB.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:09pm

I can't imagine anyone thinking it would be a good idea to give the show the Vegas glitz treatment. One of things that makes the Peanuts musicals so special is their utter sincerity and simplicity. I still hope the project sees the light of day at some point.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 2:26pm

I agree!

Not to mention that it's only 25 minutes long, as is...

...and to watch them sssttttrrreeetttccchhh that into a 90 minute show (even on the short side), would be painful.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 6:34pm

You raise a good point best12bars, but the same could be said for "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" which is bowing on Broadway this season. I just believe that the right creative talent might be able to augment the piece without making it seem stretched.
Updated On: 10/5/06 at 06:34 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/5/06 at 6:57pm

I agree, but they sure didn't do it well (IMO) for the film version of GRINCH.

That felt like a 30 minute special stretched to a 90 minute movie.

They will have to add more story to make it work. Not just a back story told in flash-back, and the Grinch doing "stand up" in his cave for half an hour.

Updated On: 10/5/06 at 06:57 PM

[dancinfan]

Posted: 10/6/06 at 10:37pm

This thread made me curious...I just went to strawberryproductions.com (the site that originally promoted the "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!" tour) and was redirected to Milestone Productions, which produces live event shows and provides trademarked character costumes (Batman, Wonder Woman, etc) for mall promotions. Sounds like Strawberry was trying to get into the legit, non-union theatre business a few years ago and backed out.
Updated On: 10/6/06 at 10:37 PM