Centre Ice Rink at Delaware State Fair to present ‘It’s Christmas, Charlie Brown!’ Dec. 8-9

Charlie Brown and his Peanuts pals will be pondering the true meaning of Christmas as the Centre Ice Rink at Delaware State Fair in Harrington presents its annual holiday show, “It’s Christmas, Charlie Brown!” at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9.

The show features all the familiar characters including Snoopy, Lucy, Schroeder, Linus, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Pigpen, Sally, Rerun and Woodstock.

Music includes the classic Peanuts themes, plus a host of holiday favorites, including “Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Deck the Halls,” “Let It Snow,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “O Holy Night,” “White Christmas” and more. Scenes feature Woodstock and his birdie buddies, a trip to the local skating pond for the Peanuts gang, snowflakes, a live Nativity, and even Snoopy, the World War I Flying Ace, making peace with the Red Baron.

Nearly 50 local skaters of all ages, including Bay Country Figure Skating Club members, as well as students and coaches from the rink’s skating programs will perform. Featured skaters include Sequoia Bernard as Charlie Brown, Oksana Fesz as Lucy, Makenna Mounts as Schroeder, Jordan Evans as Linus, Magan Gleason as Snoopy, Jasmyn Breck as Peppermint Patty, Sophia Layfield as Marcie, Emily Joseph as Sally, Olga Koch-Eilers as Rerun, Samantha Lee as Pigpen, Katrina Bohn as the Angel, and Hannah Jo as Woodstock.

The show will also feature the public introduction of 1st State Ice Theatre’s novice and adult teams, who will perform their new choreography pieces, “Libertango” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Coached by Jerry Santoferrara, Tom Harrison and Katrina Bohn, the two teams will travel to Ohio in June to compete in Theatre on Ice Nationals. Last June, competing in the open division at their first nationals, 1st State Ice Theatre brought home a fourth place medal.

1st State Ice Theatre’s 2012-2013 novice team members are Ashby and Margaret Amory, Sequoia Bernard, Jasmyn Breck, Emily Joseph, Olga Koch-Eilers, Katherine Kotsifakis, Sophia Layfield, Samantha Lee, Erin Moffett, Makenna Mounts, Olivia Rexrode, Mikaela Smith, Syerra Smith, and Jecilyn Stanley. The 2012-13 adult team members include Katrina Bohn, Tom Harrison, Terry Kahline, Karen Moffett, Cindy Mullarkey, Jerry Santoferrara, Monica Stecher, Jean Watson and Joanna Wilson.

Also featured will be special guest performances by nationally competitive skaters from the University of Delaware.

“It’s Christmas, Charlie Brown!” is directed by the Centre’s skating director, Jerry Santoferrara, a figure skating professional with more than 20 years experience coaching at the University of Delaware Sports Science and Development Center in Newark. Assistant directors are Katrina Bohn and Tom Harrison.

Tickets cost $10 for adults and $8 for children, with free admission for children under 2. To purchase tickets or for more information, call 302-398-5900, Ext. 218.