Citrus’ ‘Dog Sees God’ Wins Praise at Festival

Imagine your favorite Peanuts gang recreated with an adult twist.

That’s the theme of Citrus College’s spring 2011 production of “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead,” one of only 10 productions invited to perform at the Region VII Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival in Ogden, Utah.

A delegation of 32 students, plus Theater Arts Department program director Cherie Brown and instructor Dan Volonte, joined productions from Arizona, Utah and Nevada in the festival, which ran from Feb. 7 – 11.

The annual festival is an opportunity for students and faculty to showcase their work with other theater students and faculty, as well as take part in seminar and workshops.

Citrus’ performance of “Dog Sees God,” called an updated adaptation of the famous comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, was praised by critics at the festival as “contemporary and in touch with what we have seen in the news recently,” and “a must-see for students.”

The play re-imagines Schulz’ lovable gang as troubled teenagers dealing with weighty modern issues such as drug use, suicide, violence, sexual identity and eating disorders.

“The production and performance really says a lot about the high quality of community colleges and what we have to offer,” said Brown, “Several of our students are working or continuing their education as we speak.  It makes me proud to be a part of their success.”

Other schools and productions that performed at the festival included Brigham Young University, California Lutheran University, California State University Fullerton, Los Angeles City College Theater Academy, and Utah Valley University.