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Dog Sees God cast: (back) Bobby Steeves as Van, Rebecca Truesdell as CB’s sister and Amber Lively as Van’s sister. (front) Jessica Yost as Marcy, Aidan Bonacci as CB and Sara Stabley as Marcy.

BATAVIA, NY (10/16/2012)(readMedia)-- The Forum Players of Genesee Community College will bring the imaginative parody Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead to the stage of the Stuart Steiner Theatre for five performances in late October.

The comedy-drama, or dramedy, is an unauthorized parody based on the characters from the popular comic strip "Peanuts." Bert Royal's play tries to imagine how Charles Schultz's 1950's innocent teens would handle the world as young adults in 2012, stumbling through a number of adult-oriented themes such as drug use, suicide and sexual relations. Because of the adult nature of this play, no one under the age of 16 will be admitted.

"This is a black comedy that takes the cute out of the comic strip and sends it to a different and more mature level," says director Norman Gayford, who is also a GCC Professor of English. "Our cast does an exceptional job of handling the emotional roller coaster ride that showcases the extremes from tenderness to violence and naivety to hardened outlook on life."

The student-led cast includes Aidan Bonacci of Rochester as CB, Batavia's Rebecca Truesdell as CB's Sister, Bobby Steeves of Albion tackles the role of Van, Johnny Dow of Rochester is Matt, Alexander's Bill Rupp plays Beethoven, the role of Marcy is shared between Sara Stabley of Perry and Jessica Yost of Albion, Emily Jones of Waterloo is Tricia, and Barker's Amber Lively plays Van's Sister.

The behind-the-scenes production work is led by stage manager Alayna Zimbrich of Hilton, under the guidance of GCC theatre technician and Fine Arts faculty member Edward Hallborg. Other stage crew members include: Eric Moultrie from Dobbs Ferry, NY, handling the lighting design; LeRoy's Grace Kovach on sound; Sarah Scarpulla of Spencerport and Courtney Amesbury of Bergen are taking care of the projection of images used as part of the set; and LaSania Hyatt of Yonkers, NY and Jordan Griffiths of Cooperstown make up the "run crew" who manage the curtains and props behind the stage.

Dog Sees God will be on stage nightly from Thursday, October 25 through Saturday October 27, 2012, at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 28. Tickets are available at the GCC Box Office (http://www.genesee.edu/campuslife/arts/tickets.cfm or 585-345-6814):

• Adults - $8

• Seniors (55+), high school students (16+), GCC Faculty/staff - $5

• GCC Students with valid College ID - $3

• GCC Alumni - $2 discount with alumni card

Because of the nature of this adult-themed play, no one under the age of 16 will be admitted.

For more information, contact Marketing Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.

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Editor's Note: Photo of Dog Sees God cast: (back row, L to R) Bobby Steeves as Van, Rebecca Truesdell as CB's sister and Amber Lively as Van's sister. (front row, L to R) Jessica Yost as Marcy, Aidan Bonacci as CB and Sara Stabley as Marcy.

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