Name: Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead
Start: 2026-01-16T20:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-01-16T21:45:00-05:00
Location: 3544 Indian Queen Ln, Philadelphia, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 19129

The Old Academy Players Presents Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, a Comedy by Bert V. Royal
Philadelphia, PA — As part of its 2025-2026 Season, The Old Academy Players is proud to present Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, written by Bert V. Royal, an award-winning American screenwriter, playwright, and former casting director. The Old Academy Players’ 550th production will run January 9-25, 2026; Friday and Saturday performances at 8:00 pm and three Sunday matinées, January 11th, 18th, and 25th at 2:00 pm. It is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc.
Bert V. Royal’s first successful script was for Dog Sees God, a play centering on the Peanuts comic strip characters as teenagers. In 2004, it was one of the breakout hits at the New York International Fringe Festival, winning the Excellence Award for Best Overall Production, as well as Theatermania's Play Award of 2004, and the GLAAD Media Award for Best Off-Off-Broadway production. In 2006 Dog Sees God won Broadway.com's Audience Award for Favorite Off-Broadway Production and the HX Award for Best Play.
Reviews indicated:
“…easily identifiable with the Peanuts crowd yet with a distinctly 'Royal’ touch…The way Royal builds on the foundation of Charles Schulz’s iconic comic strip actually results in a parody that’s also a stand-alone play apt to resonate even with anyone belonging to that small population segment unfamiliar with Peanuts.” —CurtainUp.
“Bert V. Royal is the playwright of the Off-Broadway show DOG SEES GOD: CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE BLOCKHEAD and is he ready to confess all!” —Broadway.com.
“DOG SEES GOD doesn’t feel like the same old high-school-warfare schlock. The characters—teenage and reckless—are both genuinely sympathetic and unquestionably cruel. Growing more hysterical—and more harrowing—as it flows to an inevitable, uncomfortable end, this taut comedy manages to make tired clichés about stoners and popular homecoming airheads funny and endearing.” —New York Magazine.
Synopsis: When CB’s dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. But a chance meeting with an artistic kid, the target of this group’s bullying, offers CB peace of mind and sets in motion a friendship that will push teen angst to the very limits.
Old Academy Players’ stellar cast includes: Annie Hnatko as Van’s Sister, Brian Balduzzi as CB, Cassidy Leyendecker as Tricia, Isaura Sanguinetti as Marcy, Micah Wagman as Matt, Ross Weisman as Van, Taylor Rouillard as CB’s Sister, and William Reid \ as Beethoven.
Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead is directed by Norman Burnosky, produced by Corey Bonfrisco, Justine Burnosky, Norman Burnosky III, and Steve Hnatko. Jay Steinberg is the costumer.
Dog Sees God is an edgy comedy, using language both raw and real, and an unauthorized continuation of the Peanuts comic strip, reimagining its characters as teenagers dealing with various contemporary issues including, identity, substance abuse, and relationships. Director Norman Burnosky explains, “When I decided to direct Dog Sees God, the language of the play gave me pause. How would our patrons receive this play, which explores themes that are both uncomfortable and not discussed often enough. Working part-time in a school setting in a middle/upper middle-class neighborhood, I can say, without a doubt, this language is being used by our children. The students I heard speaking in these strange tongues are sixth, seventh and eighth graders. The language used in Dog Sees God is real. The themes are real. The play is presented as written by the author. Please do not be deterred by the language you are about to hear. Take it all in and think about what you see.”
Warning: Contains adult themes and adult language, it is not suitable for young children. Viewer discretion is advised.

Ticket prices are: $25 per adult; $15 for Students under 25 with valid ID; group rate (15 or more) $21 each. Tickets can be purchased online at www.OldAcademyPlayers.org. Reservations and more information can be obtained by calling the Box Office at 215-843-1109. Advance tickets are highly recommended. Old Academy Players is located at 3544 Indian Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129. Parking for all performances is free.
The Old Academy Players has provided continuous community theater entertainment since 1923 and is a non-profit community theater in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. Constructed in 1819, the Old Academy building has been the OAP home since 1932. Old Academy Players is a member of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. Most notable alumni include Tony Award-nominated actor Robert Prosky and Hollywood icon, Grace Kelly. Support is provided by the "Philadelphia Cultural Fund" and the "Sylvia W. and Randle M. Kauders Foundation".