For the holiday season, Sinclair Community College’s theatre department will be presenting the American Christmas classic, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in a new light. For the first, time in Miami Valley, the show will be presented with live actors playing the Peanuts characters. In a collaboration with the Theatre department and the American Sign Language department, this will be a first as ASL students will be shadowing the actors, meaning they will be translating for actor’s right next to them instead of off stage.
“The rights for the play became available in late 2013 and Sinclair will be the first to perform it in Dayton,” said Patti Celek, the marketing specialist for the Theatre and Dance department. “It’s a short performance of a classic, and the timing for it is just perfect.” “I was really pumped to get the role, but quite nervous because I want to do the character justice,” said Woodie Hieb, the actor portraying Charlie Brown. “Everyone knows who Charlie Brown is, and I have to embody him as best as I can.” I’m so excited because I grew up watching Charlie Brown and I too want to be able to bring my character justice” says Anna Sheldon, the actress portraying Lucy. “I want to be able to give people what they are expecting. I want to give Lucy a little bit of sass but show that she does genuinely care for Charlie Brown”.
“As a whole, we’re really excited about it because shadow interpreting isn’t something we see very often in this area” Said Gwendolyn McNeal, the ACF Instructor and practicum supervisor. “We normally see it in bigger cities so we’re really excited to have the opportunity with the theatre department to do something that’s better for the community and for the hearing impaired. Normally, the hearing impaired have to look towards the sides to see the translations but with this play, our shadow interpreters are right on stage with the actors.” One of the interpreters, Daniel Lumpkin, says, “We are not interpreting the script, we are interpreting the performance of the actors”.
“With the shadow interpreter next to me is cool because it’s not just me as Charlie Brown, it’s me and my partner” says Woodie Hieb. “The experience is so cool because I think it’s going to give a different feel for the show and it’s cool to see what your words will look like.” Said Anna Sheldon.
Be sure to see “A Charlie Brown Christmas” presented by the Sinclair Theatre and Dance department in Building 2 in Blair Hall.
- Performance times are the following:
Wed.: Dec. 17 – Noon Thurs.: Dec. 18 – 10AM
(American Sign Language Shadow Interpreted)
Fri.: Dec. 19 – Noon and 7PM
(7 PM American Sign Language Shadow Interpreted)
Sat.: Dec. 20 – 2PM and 7PM Ticket prices are $8 for everyone.