Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroder and the irresistible Snoopy-the whole Peanuts gang-present their familiar scenarios and foibles for Middle Tennessee families, when Nashville Children's Theatre performs You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, beginning today, November 1 and running through December 23.
Based on the immensely popular and beloved comic strip by Charles Schulz, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown brings audiences together with the most well-known gang of kids in the world.
NCT is eager to produce this revival version of the script, which was presented on Broadway in 1999. Compared to the 1971 original, this revival adds Sally into the action, and provides two new songs to the well-known score-"Beethoven Day" and "My New Philosophy."
Featuring some of the strongest musical theater performers in town, Shawn Knight leads the cast as the long-suffering Charlie Brown, with sister Sally played by nine-time First Night Award winner Martha Wilkinson, who returns to NCT after a long absence. Bobby Wyckoff and Rona Carter play the other Peanuts brother and sister pair, faithful Linus and strong-willed Lucy. Patrick Waller plays Beethoven-loving Schroeder, who must endure the constant unwanted affections of Lucy. And Jeff Boyet, perhaps best known as The Cat in the Hat from Seussical the Musical, will take on the iconic role of Snoopy.
NCT producing artistic director Scot Copeland, a 2010 First Night Honoree, directs the production, with Russell Davis handling music direction for the show. Set design is by NCT technical director Michael Redman, lighting design by Scott Leathers, costume design by Patricia Taber and sound design by Dan Brewer.
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz, and features book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner. Additional dialogue is by Michael Mayer, with additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa.
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown has one preview performance on Thursday, November 1 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the preview are specially priced at $6/child and $12/adult. Saturday and Sunday performances are scheduled throughout the production's run at 2 p.m., with the exception of Saturday November 17, which is Grand Day. There is no performance Sunday, November 4.
NCT's free After-words event, when the audience can stay after the performance to learn some production secrets during a Q and A with some of the cast and crew, is set for Saturday, November 10.
NCT's Sensory Friendly performance is set for Saturday, November 24 at 11 a.m. "NCT welcomes all kids and families to our performances," says spokesperson Steve Bianchi. "But we know that some families hesitate to bring their children to live theatre without knowing how they might react. The sensory friendly performance is designed to be a safe and accepting environment where children with disabilities and their typically developing peers are free to speak and move in reaction to the story being told onstage.
An open-captioned performance for patrons with hearing loss is scheduled for Saturday, December 1.
All performances of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown are open to the public, and reservations are recommended. Individual ticket prices are $12 per child (ages 2 to 17) and senior (age 65 and up), and $19 per adult. Season subscriptions and group discounts are also available. Tickets are available online at nashvillechildrenstheatre.org, by phone at (615) 252-4675, or in person at the NCT box office Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Special events include:
Nashville Children's Theatre is a professional theatre company providing the children, families and educators of Middle Tennessee with extraordinary shared theatrical experiences that inspire imagination, develop creativity and build community. NCT was founded in 1931 by the Junior League of Nashville and is recognized as the oldest professional children's theater in the country. A national leader in professional theater arts and education programs for young people, NCT was ranked by Time magazine as one of the top five children's theaters in the country.
pictured: Shawn Knight and Jeff Boyet
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