Mason Arts at the Hylton Center returns this month with Mason School of Theater’s A Concert Presentation of: You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (5/5–5/7). This charming and heartfelt musical explores life through the eyes of Charlie Brown and his friends in the PEANUTS gang, and is based on the classic comic strip by Charles M. Schulz. Considered one of the most timeless comic strips of all time, PEANUTS' original run lasted from 1950 to 2000 with over 17,897 installments, and is still in print with reruns to this day. The comic strip has been translated into 21 languages, with more than 2,600 newspapers at its zenith. Equally beloved by families are the nearly 50 television specials, including Charlie Brown's All Stars!, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and the iconic It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown debuted on Broadway in 1967, and was briefly revived in 1971. Another new version of the production debuted in 1999, featuring Anthony Rapp as Charlie Brown and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth as Sally.
In Mason School of Theater’s production, Sally is played by Mason junior student Sarah Stewart, who is excited about “exploring life through the eyes of the PEANUTS gang, along with celebrating and getting in touch with our inner child again.” Another student in the production, Mason freshman Spencer Wilde, plays piano prodigy Schroeder and adds, “the script is so much fun and allows the performances to be like a shared recess with the audience.”
“Directing You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown has truly been a joyous experience,” shared Mason School of Theater Assistant Professor Erin Gardiner. “We laugh every day in rehearsal. This cast is dedicated to their characters and telling this story. The energy and earnestness they bring to the process has made my job easy! We all wanted to make sure that we told the universal story of a kid trying to find himself. Yes, he may not be good at baseball, but Charlie Brown is a ‘good man.’ We hope that audiences young and old will recognize themselves in someone who is still trying to figure it out and the peace that comes with accepting that you are human, imperfect, and wonderful.”
See Mason’s talented musical theater students bring this lovable story to life. Grab your tickets today and bring the whole family to this delightful theatrical production!