INTERVIEW: Charlie Brown ready to celebrate Christmas in NJ

Everybody’s beloved Peanuts characters are set to hit the big stage in New Brunswick, New Jersey, this coming week. The State Theatre will host a special performance of A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage Tuesday, Nov. 28. All of the audience favorites are present and accounted for, including Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Pig Pen and, of course, Charlie Brown himself.

The music will be that iconic Vince Guaraldi score, and the story will be classic Charles M. Schulz. On stage will be a host of talented performers, including Skip Robinson as Pig Pen.

Robinson is an actor, singer and musician based out of Freehold, New Jersey. He played Elvis Presley for two years on the national tour of Million Dollar Quartet. He has also played the Johnny Cash character.

Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Robinson about his new role as Pig Pen. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.

What do you love about the role of Pig Pen?

What I love about the role of Pig Pen is how he doesn’t care what people think about him. He operates in his own world and prefers to be his natural (dirty) self. Also, the fact that I own a pet pig and we keep her in a pig pen makes me very attached to the role. I love my pet pig ‘Gracie,’ and I hope I’m making her proud.

How did you get attached to the show?

I got attached to this show by watching it every year around Christmas time. I also am a big fan of the soundtrack played by the Vince Guaraldi trio. His music is a perfect pairing to the story and its mood.

When did you first watch A Charlie Brown Christmas on television? Do you have fond memories of the special?

I can’t remember when I first watched A Charlie Brown Christmas, but it must have been around 5 or 6 years old. I’ve always known it, so in a way it seamlessly became a tradition at my house around Christmastime. A fond memory for me is that my mom always loved Pig Pen the most in the cartoon. She was thrilled when I got the role.

Will all ages enjoy the show?

This show, like the special, is meant for all ages. It’s a timeless piece of American culture and has no age bounds. Anyone who has seen the special will definitely enjoy the stage adaptation. We have approached the process with love and respect for the original cartoon. I’m very proud of the final product.

How demanding is the show from an actor’s perspective?

From an acting perspective, the show demands me to be present and engaged at every moment. I am playing drums for every song and underscoring the scenes while on stage. As a drummer, the show is very demanding and requires a specific set of jazz drumming techniques. All the years of private drum lessons have finally paid off.

What do you find is so important about the message of the show?

The message of the show resonates with me in that Christmas shouldn’t be a commercial holiday. As kids, we get so wrapped up in presents and toys that we forget why we celebrate it in the first place. Linus reminds us what the holiday truly stands for in his speech about the birth of Christ. It’s a powerful moment in the show. Hopefully people can take that with them after they see our performance.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage will perform Tuesday, Nov. 28 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Click here for more information and tickets.