Forget “Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer” and “Miracle on 34th Street” or even “It’s a Wonderful Life” — of all the heartwarming Christmas specials, is there one that can compare to the poignant 1965 classic, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”?

Peanuts creator Charles Schulz wanted the show to contain the religious meaning of Christmas that was central to his faith. Television executives hated the idea, saying it was too religious. After all, Linus quotes straight from the Bible. Execs were also leary of the downbeat jazz soundtrack, lack of laugh track and use of real children’s voices.

But audiences loved the low-key no-hype approach, which laid bare the true meaning of Christmas with a childlike innocence.

Most of the characters are caught up in the materialistic frenzy of the holiday — Sally thinks only of the presents she hopes for, Lucy wants a big, shiny aluminum tree and Snoopy enters his doghouse in a best-decorated home contest.

Only Charlie Brown wants to honor the “true meaning of Christmas.”

Schulz once said of the show, “There will always be an audience for innocence in this country.”

Local audiences have the opportunity to see the show live on stage, in a production featuring 40 children from schools across Kitsap County.

The Kitsap Children’s Musical Theatre stages “A Charlie Brown Christmas” Dec. 10-18 at Kingston Junior High School.

For director Kerby Criss, the show holds deep personal meaning. It was the first show she acted in, playing Charlie Brown’s little sister Sally when she was in second grade.

As a senior at Rogue River High School in Oregon she staged a production and recruited members of the football team for the cast. She ended up marrying Charlie Brown, played by Steve Criss. The 27-year (and counting) union yielded seven children, all of whom have followed in their parents’ thespian footsteps.

In 2000, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was the first show Criss produced with her newly formed company, Kitsap Children’s Musical Theatre.

“I wanted to start doing a traditional show, and this one meant so much to me,” she said.

She found that some children didn’t know who Charlie Brown or Charles Schulz were, so she added a beginning to the show which features Schulz introducing the characters.

Narrator Schulz is played by Mark Warns, who is a real estate agent and hosts a local radio talk show.

“He has a clear, resonant voice,” Criss said. “And he’s from the same town as Schulz.”

Illustrations for the show were done by local resident Susan Ogilvie, and if they look authentic, it’s because they are. Ogilvie was an illustrator for Schulz. She has also lent the theater company two life-sized lobby cutouts of Charlie Brown and Lucy, signed by Schulz.

The show features two casts, one for taller and/or older children and one for younger and/or shorter children. Criss said size was the main criterion for cast selection, with members ranging in age from 6-16. Some actors play the same role in both casts.

The taller cast “A” performs Dec. 10 and 11, while the shorter cast “B” performs Dec. 16, 17 and 18.

Members of casts A and B and their parts are: Schulz: Mark Warns; Charlie Brown: Beau Breakey, Greg Warns; Shermy: Clint McDonald; Violet: Katharine Beddoe, Alexandra Lanzafame; Snoopy: Bryson Breakey, Joseph Stenstrom; Patty: Kate Wilson, Victoria Aydelotte; Lucy: Alexa Prince, Havilah Criss; Schroeder: Travis Quick; Linus: Ryan Perez, Caleb Adams; Pig Pen: Jasper Stenstrom; Sally: Cami Floyd, Maria Warns;

Frieda: Hannah Hibbs, Annabeth Criss; Rabbit: Audrey Butler, Sierra Sage; Peppermint Patty: Angelica Herring, Charlotte Heesacker; Woodstock: Sierra Sage, Audrey Butler; Marcie: Clair Watson, Olivia Yurjevich; Rerun: Calvin Beddoe, Roger Criss; Amy: Briar Perez, Abigail Wilson; Peggy Jean: Kylie Booher, Abigail Snyder.

Playing Santa in both casts is Jonathan Hibbs.

Chorus members are Breanna Barker, Kelsey Bates, McKenna Bates, Maximillian Breitbarth, Katie Frei, Elsie Howell, Kelly Lanzasfame, Olivia Maund and Ali Nichols.

In a sidenote, while the iconic Charlie Brown Christmas tree was meant to symbolize the sharing and caring of Christmas, even that has been commercialized. You can now buy an exact replica of the tree, made of wire branches and plastic needles. As the ad reads, “The bendable branches allow you to make it look just how you want, super pathetic or just kind of pathetic.” And it comes with one red Christmas ornament.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” plays Dec. 10-18 at Kingston Junior High School, 9000 NE West Kingston Rd., Kingston. Showtimes are 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 10, 5 p.m. Dec. 11, 7 p.m. Dec. 16, 3 p.m. Dec. 17 and 5 p.m. Dec. 18.

Tickets are $7 general admission, available at the Kitsap Mall information booth and at the door.