'A Charlie Brown Christmas' comes alive on Byham stage

A favorite holiday tradition is watching Charlie Brown and his pals as they once again discover the real meaning of Christmas in “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” the 1965 animated television special based on the Peanuts comic strip by beloved cartoonist the late Charles M. Schulz.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust will bring the annual holiday classic to life when it presents “A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage” for two performances Dec. 28 at the Byham Theater as part of its Cohen and Grigsby Trust Presents series.

The show is a stop on the east coast part of a two-region national tour. It has special meaning for Hays Hankinson of New York City, who is making his professional debut as Charlie Brown.

The actor-singer-dancer, a native of Thomasville, Ga., is a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design. He moved to New York City a year ago to pursue his passion for performing arts.

Role is a dream come true

“Living in New York has been a dream come true — much less booking this role this year,” he said in a phone call from Warren, Ohio, where he and the rest of the cast were preparing for a performance of “A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage.”

Hankinson said the stage show is much like the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson – and more.

“The TV show ends with the Peanuts gang singing Christmas carols around a big tree, but you never get to see the Christmas pageant that they’ve been working so hard to create,” he said.

The stage show also includes the cast performing the pageant and inviting the audience to join them in singing some familiar Christmas carols.

“If you’ve seen the Christmas special, you’ll be very pleased with this show,” he said.

Learning the ropes

Besides doing what he enjoys most — singing, dancing and acting — Hankinson said he is having fun touring the country with “an amazing group of singers and dancers.”

“A lot of them have already had professional jobs, so it’s been nice for me to be able to learn the ropes from them,” he said.

The production also will visit West Palm Beach, Fla., and Atlanta, Ga., where his family and friends will show up in full force to watch him perform.

Hankinson credits his older sister for inspiring him to learn how to dance when they were growing up and he attended her dance recitals.

With a show schedule that often includes a new city every day, he is enjoying the tour and plans to return to New York City after it ends to seek new opportunities.

A real adventure

“Everything has been a real adventure,” he said. “Whatever comes my way next, I’m willing to take.”

“A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage” is a 90-minute production directed and choreographed by Joe Barros that includes a 20-minute intermission. It features songs from jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi’s original musical score performed by a three-piece band.

A VIP Experience ticket is available for $95.75, which includes a premium seat, meet and greet with the cast, first-access merchandise shopping and a commemorative VIP laminate.