playbill vip

    Good Evening and welcome to Theatre on San Pedro Square and Actors Theatre Center's production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown! After a bit of a hiatus, it is such a pleasure to be able to welcome you and have our group back in production.

    You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, like the strip it is based on, has taken on a life of its own. Conceived in 1966 as a concept album for people to listen to and spend a few minutes with the Peanuts gang in their living rooms, it quickly caught the attention of Peanuts creator, Charles Schultz who thought the idea of turning it into a stage property was exciting, especially fresh off the instant hit of the television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965. With his permission, librettest, Clark Gesner, got to work assembling his cast and, through workshopping, created a script with some of the best moments of the Peanuts gang weaved throughout. After it's debut Off-Broadway in 1967, it was a runaway hit, lasting 1,587 performances, eventually closing in 1971 for a Broadway transfer. Around this time, the Peanuts specials started to become something of legend, woven into the fabric of the American psyche. After a less successful musical adaptation in Snoopy!!!, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown re-emerged as a hot Broadway production in 1999 with a multi-cultural all-star cast. Roger Bart as Snoopy and Kristen Chenowyth as Sally (who had now replaced the original character of Patty) both won Tony Awards for their portrayals and launched their careers into the stratosphere.

    While the Broadway revival was a popular adaptation, we have chosen to produce the original version of You're a Good, Man Charlie Brown due to it's simplistic, bare quality, and the strong writing of the innocence and essence of each of the Peanuts gang that we have come to know and love. I must confess, that on that list was also a personal reason.

    This production marks my twentieth year directing for the theatre. Back in 1993, when I made my directorial debut with You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, I never imagined that I would still be doing it. For that production, I was surrounded by some of my most favorite, and actually very special, friends. Together, we created a fun production and of course, learned quite a bit. But, more than that, we shared something unique and built our friendships more than we knew could be possible before entering into producing that show. For me, that experience comes full circle as everyone that is involved in this show has not only worked together many times, but are all genuinely good friends. Collaborating on bringing this show to the stage has been a great experience, one that I'm certain none of us would ever trade, and adding you to the audience makes this production really and truly, special.

    On behalf of the cast, crew, staff, and band, we really hope that you enjoy your trip with us and the Peanuts gang. Whether you are strolling down memory lane as so many of us do with the Peanuts, or are experiencing live theatre for the first time with your child, thank you for making memories with us today.

    Happy Holidays!

    Jeff M. Hicks

    Artistic Director, ATC