Abstract
What do you think happens when we die?
“Hecate is the goddess of death…”
“Either you are reborn or you dissolve into nothingness…”
“Maggot food!”
“They go to heaven.”
These are only a few of the answers provided by CB’s friends as he mourns the death of his pet beagle. In “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead,” an unauthorized parody of the Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz, playwright Bert V. Royal continues Charlie Brown’s (CB’s) story into adolescence where the beloved blockhead – an icon of American youth – encounters modern threats to childhood’s innocence. Loss of Innocence jumps into Royal’s world and explores how teenage students address alcohol, drugs, sexual activity, and prejudice on a daily basis. The project looks into our generations’ views of morality, insignificance, and rejection – hoping to bridge gaps based on religion, gender, and social differences. This poster presentation outlines Royal’s play, the SIUC staged performance, and the director’s vision that inspired the production.