Reston Community Players' YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN Opens Today

Reston Community Players opens its 48th season Friday, October 17 with the family-friendly musical hit You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown. A talented cast of six brings to life the adventures of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang in a musical guaranteed to please fans of all ages.

"Everyone has their own perception of who a character is," said RCP director Richard Bird. "We may well be challenging some of those perceptions. I'm fine with that, because the Peanuts strip isn't just a humorous comic, but also a philosophical comic. I think this musical captures both the humor and Schultz's insights into what makes us human. Some of the songs and skits are humorous and a few will really touch people's hearts. What could be better than that?"

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown follows a typical day in the life of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang. Featuring such memorable songs as "My New Philosophy," "Suppertime," and "Happiness," the Broadway revival garnered two Tony awards for featured actress (Kristin Chenoweth) and featured actor (Roger Bart). Reston Community Players' You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is directed by Richard Bird with music direction by Mark V. Deal. The ensemble cast features Richard Farella as Charlie Brown, Alana Sharp as Lucy, Nina Jankowicz as Sally, Patrick Graham as Linus, Eric Hughes as Schroeder, and Terry Barr as Snoopy. Laura Baughman is the producer.

"It's so high energy all the time," said Terry Barr, who plays the irrepressible dog, Snoopy. Barr was recently seen at RCP in Next to Normal and A Tribute to the Music of Rogers & Hammerstein and Andrew Lloyd Webber. "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown will just jolt the audience with energy. It's filled with such joy and excitement."

Alana Sharp, who most recently captivated audiences as the nefarious Madame Thenardier in RCP's LES MISERABLES, takes on the assertive - and misunderstood - Lucy. "This show is great family entertainment," Sharp said. "It will be familiar to generations that have known the Peanuts gang since the beginning, as well as fun for today's children who are inundated with various cartoon characters. The Peanuts gang is classic and everyone should get to know these characters."

Richard Farella plays the everyman character of Charlie Brown. "I think people can identify with Charlie Brown and his fears," Farella said. "There's this one scene where Lucy is giving psychological advice to Charlie Brown and she tells him you're the singular, remarkable, unique Charlie Brown. I think the big message is to be yourself."

Patrick Graham, who is known to local audiences for his work in RCP's LES MISERABLES (Legles/Babet) and Legally Blonde (Dewey/Carlos) and Little Theatre of Alexandria's recent Spamalot (Historian, Not Dead Fred, Frenchie, Dancing Nun, Sir Robin's Minstrel, and Prince Herbert), plays the blanket-toting philosopher, Linus. "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is adorable, fun, and filled with moments that let you perceive the world through a child's eyes," Graham said. "I think this show is also an incredible family show, perfect for all ages."

Nina Jankowicz plays Charlie Brown's little sister, Sally, a girl with many philosophies and a huge crush on Linus. "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a show that can be enjoyed by all ages," Jankowicz said. "That's said about a lot of shows, but for Charlie Brown, it's true. Kids just picking up the comics for the first time will love it, and adults that grew up with Peanuts will feel like they're coming home. The show includes slapstick physical comedy, lots of humor for nerds and classical music buffs, and poignant moments and life lessons that everyone can identify with."

Eric Hughes, who plays the Beethoven obsessed Schroeder, said he has enjoyed finding the mix of personality in creating a well-known character. "The characters are ageless, and the appeal is universal," Hughes said. "It's not a family show, in that it doesn't cater exclusively (or condescendingly) to children, but it's accessible to children while allowing adults to reminisce about their childhood, breathing new life into their memories of the Peanuts gang and the joy of reading the Sunday morning comics section."

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown runs October 17- November 7. All performances are at 8:00 p.m. with the exception of 2:00 p.m. matinees on October 26 and November 2.

RCP President Joshua Redford said, "We are so excited to share the Peanuts gang and their adventures with a new generation."

All Reston Players mainstage productions are performed at CenterStage at the Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, Va. CenterStage is handicap accessible and offers listening devices for the hearing impaired.

Tickets can be purchased through www.restonplayers.org or by calling the CenterStage box office at 703-476-4500 x 3.

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