Dean Poling | The Valdosta Daily TimesSnoopy (played by Audre’ Knight) decorates the dog house to the exasperation of Charlie Brown (Luke Hiers) in Little Actors Theatre production of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas.'

VALDOSTA — Children and former children have annually watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on television for a half century.

The animated holiday special tells a story of Christmas’ meaning of spirit and caring over the crass commercialism that had already seeped into the seasonal culture decades ago.

Seeing the TV cartoon is a tradition for many families.

Seeing it presented by actual children in a stage setting can be a powerful and moving event and Little Actors Theatre Director Diane Tovar has seeing a live production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” an event for the past three years.

The show returns Saturday and Sunday.

The Valdosta-based children’s theatre troupe presents a show that is faithful to the TV special written by “Peanuts” cartoonist Charles M. Schulz with Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson, Tovar said.

Arguably, the live version is more faithful to the spirit of the Charlie Brown story. There are no commercial breaks in the Little Actors show.

But each performance will still last about 30 minutes as Tovar and Little Actors have added a couple of songs to the show.

Audiences can expect the well-known story of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus’ retelling of the birth of Jesus and the little Christmas tree that could.

After the two Saturday performances, the cast will participate in the Valdosta Christmas parade Saturday evening.

Little Actors Theatre is also welcoming more community involvement.

For more than a decade, Tovar has served as chief-executive officer, president, treasurer and director of LAT. With the new year, husband and wife David and Maggie Smith will serve as LAT president and vice president respectively. Tovar will continue serving as CEO, treasurer and the director of shows.

The Smiths also created handmade Christmas ornaments to sell during performances of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The ornaments are Peanuts themed and were created from limbs downed by Hurricane Irma, David Smith said.

THE CAST: Sarah Smith, Luke Hiers, Alexander McDougald, Mackenzie Braswell, Devyn Allen, Audre’ Knight, Elizabeth Foster, Gunner Smith, Briggs Rampey, Sally Kirkland, Noah Warren, Cadence Stone, Sarah Beth Rowan, Norah Ray, Kamryn Rampey, Catherine Knight.

DIRECTION, PRODUCTION: Diane Tovar, director; Brandon North, sound; Liz Hatcher, costumes; David Smith, Maggie Smith, Diane Tovar, set.

SHOWTIME

Little Actors Theatre presents “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

When: 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3.

Where: Little Actors Theatre’s headquarters, 1108 S. Patterson St.

Ticket: $5.

More information: Visit littleactorstheatre.com.