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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Four theaters closing winter productions this weekend

In this promotional image provided by ABC TV, Charlie Brown and Linus appear in a scene from “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The animated special was created by late cartoonist Charles M. Schulz in 1965. (CHARLES M. SCHULZ / AP)

Three theaters are closing their winter productions this weekend, so grab your tickets before it’s too late.

Liberty Lake Community Theatre’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” closes Saturday.

The musical, which was written by “Peanuts” comic strip creator Charles M. Schulz and is directed by Sandi Wasteney, brings the classic TV special of the same name to the stage.

Through a school Christmas pageant and a sad little Christmas tree, Charlie Brown (Liam Deonier), Snoopy (Breelyn Tomany), Lucy (Brenna Brantner), Linus (Robert Olson) and the rest of the gang learn the real meaning of the holiday.

Spokane Children’s Theatre’s production of “The Happy Elf,” written by singer/composer/actor Harry Connick Jr. and directed by Jennifer Miles, runs through Sunday.

Eubie (Chase Cluck) is the happiest elf at the North Pole. Eubie wants to be part of Santa’s (Gerald Gordon) sleigh team, but he’s stuck checking the naughty or nice lists.

While checking the lists one day, Eubie discovers that not a single person in the town of Bluesville has been nice that year. He then decides to jet off to Bluesville to try to change the whole town from naughty to nice in a single day.

Theater Arts for Children’s production of “Peter Rabbit and Friends,” which is directed by Jennifer Tindell, runs through Sunday.

The play uses stories like “Peter Rabbit” (Joshua Domrese), “The Tailor of Gloucester” (Joe Thornton) and “Jemima Puddle-Duck” (Haley McDaniel) to explore the life of their creator Beatrix Potter (Karlin Kahler).

Finally, an Ignite Community Theatre favorite, “A Christmas Pudding” is a collection of popular and lesser-known holiday stories, Christmas carols and poems.

The theater’s latest production opens for a three-show run on Friday.

“A Christmas Pudding,” by David Birney and directed by Scott Finlayson and Paul Baldwin, features pieces by Mark Twain, G.B. Shaw, William Shakespeare, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Emily Dickinson, St. Luke and more.

Collectively, the pieces in “A Christmas Pudding” should bring both humor and poignancy to the holiday season.