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Charlie Brown production at West Liberty

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West Liberty students will direct and stage a contemporary play, "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a
Teenage Blockhead," by Bert V. Royal, at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 21-23 and 3 p.m., Feb. 24.

Adjunct professor Maggie Balsley is the guest director for the production. Balsley, a resident of
Washington, Pa., is active in the Pittsburgh arts community and its "Off the Wall" theater.

"This play is a parody that imagines characters from the popular comic strip Peanuts as teenagers. It is more than a story of teenage angst. It uses familiar characters in another context and places them in the harrowing position of today's minefield of horrors. The play uses humor and even a touch of violence but ends with the thought that we shouldn't despair. That in spite of all appearances it's best to welcome life rather than cower and hide from it," Balsley said.

The play begins with the character CB's dog dying from rabies. CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend Van is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone Goth; his ex-girlfriend, Marcy, was institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace.

But a chance meeting with an artistic kid, Beethovan, the target of this group's bullying, offers CB a
peace of mind and sets in motion a friendship that will push teen angst to the very limits. Drug use,
suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion and sexual identity collide and careen toward an
ending that's both haunting and hopeful.

"Dog Sees God," may not be appropriate for all ages due to language and subject matter. To make a reservation, call 304-336-8277. To purchase tickets online, visit htpdogseesgod.brownpapertickets.com.