playbill vip

There's a little Charlie Brown in all of us, but I must confess, I'm a self-proclaimed Grinch. The holiday spirit just never seems to hit me without the overwhelming nagging feeling that it's all about the commercial frenzy. But there have been a couple of magical moments in my life when I truly felt the holiday spirit.

Like back in 2009, when I was part of the cast of "Nuncrackers" with Cedar Falls Community Theater, or in 2018 when I played the Spirit of Christmas Present in "A Christmas Carol" for Countryside Community Theatre. There's something special about gathering with a bunch of talented folks and conjuring up holiday magic. So, when I heard that CCT was planning to do "A Charlie Brown Christmas," I knew I had to be involved somehow. But with a baby at home, directing seemed like a Herculean task. I discussed it with my husband, and let me tell you, he's been incredibly supportive and has turned into a full-fledged "Theatre Dad" for me.

Even before auditions, I knew we needed a larger-than-life Snoopy to keep the show rolling with all the kids we wanted in the production. And guess what? Fate smiled upon us when Sam brought his daughter to audition. It was like a prayer had been answered. The first thing I asked was if he was interested, and the second thing was, "How are you with babies?" I felt the need to pull a Tapscott, and cast my lil’ guy in this show in some capacity. A tiny yellow bird who doesn’t have to talk proved to be just the ticket!

I couldn't ask for a better partner in crime than Cindy Ramos. Together, we effortlessly breeze through tasks like a well-oiled machine. With Cindy taking on the roles of music director and producer, I had no doubt that we would pull everything off. No more worrying or second-guessing, our communication and collaboration have been surprisingly smooth sailing.

I'm seriously blown away by the talented young individuals in our cast. Directing them was a piece of cake - just telling them where to stand and letting them unleash their inner kids. With so many newcomers, I felt a responsibility to set the stage for them to fall head over heels for theater and create some enchanting memories with their newfound friends.

The holiday spirit is radiating through me, and my wish is to sprinkle a little bit of that magic onto your day. Thanks for being here, and let's make some holiday memories together!

Sara Tomasson, Director

A Charlie Brown Christmas