Grab your favorite blanket, play your toy piano, revel in the sound of clinking-clanking nickels and show off your naturally curly hair with pride: Today is “A Charlie Brown Christmas Day” in Central Florida. The designation from the mayors of Orlando and Orange County honors the 60th anniversary of the first airing of the beloved Christmas TV special — and the role Orlando Family Stage has in its legacy.

You mean Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts gang has been bopping to the rollicking sound of Vince Guaraldi’s brilliant “Linus and Lucy” for six decades? As Charlie Brown himself would say: “Good grief!”

Produced by Lee Mendelson and animated by former Disney artist Bill Melendez, the show was not well-received before it hit TV screens; even its creators had serious doubts. CBS executives expected a flop. They didn’t like the pacing, the amateurish children’s voices, the unusual use of jazz in a children’s program and the extended Scripture passage read by Linus — a feature of the program that Schulz demanded be left intact.

But an estimated 15.5 million homes — about 45% of people watching television — tuned in on the evening of Dec. 9, 1965. And the viewers cheered for good ol’ Charlie Brown and his needle-dropping tree that just “needs a little love.”

The public found the use of real-life children to voice Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Sally and the others refreshing. And Guaraldi’s score would become an indelible part of the American holiday soundtrack. Critics were charmed, too, with Time magazine famously calling it “one children’s special this season that bears repeating.”

Talk about a prescient comment. Sixty years later, grandparents who watched back in the day are showing the special — which went on to win Peabody and Emmy awards — to their grandchildren. (This year, it airs on the Apple TV+ streaming service, where subscribers can watch anytime. Nonsubscribers may watch for free on Dec. 13 and 14 in celebration of the milestone anniversary. Go to tv.apple.com.)

Students from Lake Forrest Preparatory School in Maitland react as “snowballs” bounce into the audience during a performance of “A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live On Stage” at Orlando Family Stage in Loch Haven Park in Orlando on Monday. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

So how does Orlando Family Stage figure into all this?

The theater, which caters to young audiences and families, has teamed for a second year with Gershwin Entertainment to produce and present a new stage adaptation of the TV cartoon. Orlando Family Stage has its own cast performing the play with music throughout the holiday season at its venue in Loch Haven Park, north of downtown.

And the theater has prepared a second production, which is taking a different crew of Central Florida actors around the country on a national tour of the show.

The proclamations by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings salute the work by the theater in bringing “A Charlie Brown Christmas: Live on Stage” to “cities across the country, amplifying the impact of this timeless story and sharing Orange County artistry nationwide,” thereby “showcasing Central Florida talent on the national stage.”

The mayors also recognized “the role Orlando Family Stage plays in fostering empathy, bravery and creativity for children and families and the cultural significance of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas.’”

At Orlando Family Stage, Charlie Brown makes Christmas twice as bright

The city proclamation concludes with: “Our community is proud to help celebrate the milestone anniversary of ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ and is grateful for Orlando Family Stage showcasing the enduring joy, compassion and community spirit inspired by this holiday tradition.”

Just like generations have responded to the warmth and simplicity of the TV special, Orlando Family Stage’s theatrical adaptation has struck a chord with Central Floridians. Last year’s production brought in more ticket revenue than any other show in the theater’s history. This year’s production seems likely to do even better.

Demand has been so great, Orlando Family Stage has scheduled additional performances, with more matinees on select weekdays this month and extending the run to include six shows the weekend after Christmas: 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 26-28.

Blake Rushing Mitchell, in character as Charlie Brown, holds the proclamation from the city of Orlando declaring Dec. 9 as “‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ Day.” (Courtesy Orlando Family Stage)

He may face a mailbox perennially bereft of Christmas cards, but Charlie Brown’s spirit of “what Christmas is all about” endures. And Orlando Family Stage artistic director Jeffrey Revels is proud and humbled to continue sharing that message.

Revels told me last week: “We get to be, in a small way, a steward of that legacy. It’s quite an honor.”

Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more entertainment news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/entertainment or sign up to receive our weekly emailed Entertainment newsletter.

The Peanuts kids jam to “Linus and Lucy” in a scene from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The TV classic turns 60 this year. (Courtesy United Feature Syndicate/UFS/TNS)

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’

Where: Orlando Family Stage, 1001 E. Princeton St. in Orlando
When: Through Dec. 28
Cost: $23 and up
Info: orlandofamilystage.com
On tour: acharliebrownchristmaslive.com

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/12/09/charlie-brown-christmas-day-orlando/