Support the Centre
About the Centre
Art Gallery
Arts Academy
Palmer Institute
On Stage
Tales of a Charlie Brown Christmas
Date(s)
Nov 18, 2026
Time(s)
7:00pm
Venue
Sobey Family Theatre
CONFEDERATION CENTRE PRESENTS
Before A Charlie Brown Christmas became a holiday tradition, it was nearly cancelled. CBS didn’t like the jazz, the pacing, the kids’ voices, or the idea of a jazz trio carrying the soundtrack. When the special aired on December 9, 1965, audiences felt differently — and Vince Guaraldi’s score went on to become one of the most successful jazz recordings of all time.
Tales of a Charlie Brown Christmas brings that story to the stage. Created by legendary drummer Jerry Granelli, who played on the original soundtrack, the show is now performed by his son J. Anthony Granelli and his trio — drums, grand piano, and bass — playing the soundtrack the way it was first recorded: loose, swinging, and improvisational.
Between songs, J. Anthony shares the story of how the music was made, why it almost never aired, and what it was like growing up with this quiet piece of music history at home. Short excerpts from the original television special help frame the story, but the focus stays on the music and the musicians making it together in real time.
The show runs just over an hour and has sold out multiple runs across Canada, including consecutive performances in Halifax in 2025.