LSSU welcomes Charlie Brown to Arts Center stagePosted: March 8th, 2009CONTACT: John Shibley, e-mail, 906-635-2314; Tom Pink, e-mail. 635-2315; Gary Balfantz, e-mail. 635-2275.
By Alani M'echel Weathers,
LSSU Arts Center Intern
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake State Theatre Company is pleased to announce its Spring 2009 production, "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," with book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner and additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa.
"You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown!" is a musical based on the comic strip "Peanuts" by Charles M. Shultz. The 1999 Tony Award winning production was originally produced in New York by Arthur Whitelaw and Gene Persson on March 7, 1967 under the direction of Joseph Hardy. The show initially played for 1,597 performances in New York at 80 St. James and later premiered on Broadway in 1971, running for 32 performances at the John Golden Theatre.
In 1999, there was a revision to a character in the cast — replacing Patty with Sally — and the show was presented on Broadway once again with a run of 149 performances at the Ambassador Theatre. During this run, actress and singer Kristen Chenoweth earned the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical with her portrayal of Sally Brown.
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The show will be brought to the LSSU Arts Center stage on April 2, 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. and April 5 at 2 p.m. The 2009 spring production is directed by Karen Hughes Beacom. Assisting Hughes on this production are Wayne Thompson, assistant director and stage manager; Deborah Chosczcyk, choreographer; Maureen Delaney-Lehman heading up the instrumental ensemble from the keyboard; Tom Davis, set designer and technical director; Cynthia Smith, costume designer; and David Dutcher, wigs and make-up.
"You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown!" is the story of an average day in the life of the "Peanuts" gang that captures several precious and some not so precious moments in the life of Charlie Brown. This heartwarming story journeys through the innocence of childhood crushes to the great anticipation of baseball season. It's a tale that promises to be full of excitement, brimming with the delights of song and dance knitted into the fabric of Charlie Brown's life, which also includes all of his friends.
"The 1999 revision of the show, which is the one we will be presenting, is a fresh, new version of the original score," says Hughes. "The harmonies are much more extensive and the show contains two newly written songs, "Beethoven Day" and "My New Philosophy. In addition to the six main characters, we have added seven additional characters, including Woodstock and Pig-Pen to our ensemble, making the show even more exciting with 13 of your favorite "Peanuts" characters on stage."
The 2009 spring cast includes Gabrielle Castillo of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and Trisha Wells of New Albany, Indiana as Lucy; Lola Kennedy of Sault Ste Marie as Sally Brown; Mia Shawhan of Sault Ste. Marie. Mich., as Snoopy; Allen Quaderer of Chesaning, Mich., as Schroeder; and Sean O'Mara of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., as Linus. Additional cast members include Kyle Stockdale of South Lyon, Mich., as Shermy; Lauren Best of Waterford, Mich., as Patty; Sarah L. Guigar of Carsonville, Mich., as Marcie; Sam Burdick of Brimley, Mich., as Pig-Pen; Kierstin Jacobson of Strasburg, Va., as Frieda; Gabrielle Werner of Sault Ste Marie. Mich., as Violet; and Jeff Rohlmann of St Louis, Mo., as Woodstock. The title role of Charlie Brown is played by Jared Little of Vernon Hills, Ill.
Ticket prices for "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown!" are $15 for general admission and $5 for students with valid ID. Children also receive the $5 ticket price. Tickets may be purchased at the Norris Center box office, online at lssu.edu/artscenter, and will be available at the door during scheduled performances.
"You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown!" is sponsored by the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, the Lake State Theatre Company, and the Duncan MacLaren Family Fund for the Performing Arts. A special thank you goes to Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc. who granted the performance rights to LSSU to present the upcoming and greatly anticipated show.
For more information regarding the show, please contact Karen Rebecca Hughes via e-mail.
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