Charlie Brown Takes the Stage
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February 4, 2010
Filed under Entertainment, Top Stories
The phenomenon began in 1967. During this year, the first production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” staged on Broadway, which was based off the comic strips by Charles M. Schulz. Since then, the musical has been produced in many theatres. In 1999, the brash musical appeared on Broadway again, bigger and better than ever before. Residents of Ottawa, including eight Ottawa High School students, have been rehearsing the show, and will stage Feb. 12-14.
The show is being produced by ACT Ottawa, which is an acting organization that produces four plays a year, and has many people around the community involved. The director, Marilyn Pilkey, has been directing for 31 years and definitely knows the ropes of producing spectacular productions.
“It’s in my DNA to make stage magic. I love creating art out of different bodies and using different voices to make texture. I have loved onstage drama since I was a little girl, and have directed huge productions,” Pilkey said.
Pilkey also brags that the cast is very talented. “It’s a fantastically energetic group of young actors. Most of the leads are very experienced and are the best in the area!”
Since this musical was on Broadway, it is a lot of work to produce. The cast has been practicing every day, besides Tuesday. On Saturdays, they take part in all-day rehearsals. Despite the long rehearsals, practices are still a blast.
“I love musicals! You can add lots of emotion and they are a lot of fun!” Katy Campell, sophomore participant, said.
The tickets are on sale now! For children up to 18 and seniors 65 and up, the cost is $5. People in between will be charged $10 for admission. If you do not buy now, tickets at the door will be $7 or $12, depending on the age group. See anyone in the cast for tickets and more information.
Synopsis
“An average day in the life of Charlie Brown.” It really is just that, a day made up of little moments picked from all the days of Charlie Brown, from Valentine’s Day to the baseball season, from wild optimism to utter despair, all mixed in with the lives of his friends (both human and non-human) and strung together on the string of a single day, from bright uncertain morning to hopeful starlit evening.
It seems to start off all right. There is the rousing tribute of only slightly qualified praise, in the song You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Charlie Brown’s distant, but always present true love, the “little redheaded girl,” is there. True love is also an element in Lucy’s solid life, which we discover as we watch her try to bulldoze her way through to her boyfriend’s sensitive, six-year-old musician’s heart, in Schroeder. The little scenes then begin to accumulate, and we learn that Lucy’s little brother, Linus, is thoughtful about many things but fanatical when it comes to the matter of his blanket; that Patty is sweet and utterly innocent; and that Charlie Brown’s dog spends much if not most of his time thinking of being something else-a gorilla, a jungle cat, perhaps a handsome trophy or two-but that mostly his life is a pleasant one-Snoopy.
Snoopy is lost in another world atop his dog house. As a World War One flying ace he does not bring down the infamous Red Baron in today’s battle but we know that someday, someday he will.
None of the cast is actually six years old. And they don’t really look like Charles Schulz’ “Peanuts” cartoon characters. But this doesn’t seem to make that much difference once we are into the play, because what they are saying to each other is with the openness of that early childhood time, and the obvious fact is that they are all really quite fond of each other.
Characters
CHARLIE BROWN – Will Paulson
SALLY BROWN – Callie Paquette & Kali Hinman
LUCY VAN PELT – Lauren Wiseman & Ashley McCullough
LINUS VAN PELT – Jordan Hinman / Understudy – Travis Herod
SCHROEDER – Ryan Tipton
SNOOPY – Chelsea Jamison & Ebonia Covington
PIGPEN – Tyler Doty
SHERMY – Travis Herod
PEPPERMINT PATTY – Katy Campbell / Understudy – Georgia Summers
MARCIE – Georgia Summers
FRIEDA – Caralyn Campbell
VIOLET – Rachel Giacin
WOODSTOCK – Chloe Maxwell & Moriah Doty
Technical Support Crew (so far)
COMIC STRIP CREATED by – Charles M. Schulz
BOOK, MUSIC, LYRICS by – Clark Gesner
Additional DIALOGUE by – Michael Mayer
Additional MUSIC & LYRICS by – Andrew Lippa
MUSIC DIRECTOR – Darrell McCune
CHOREOGRAPHER – Sabrina Meador
DRAMA DIRECTOR – Marilyn Pilkey
ASSISTANT DRAMA DIRECTOR – Will Paulson
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR – John Webb
ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR – Travis Herod
STAGE & BUSINESS MANAGER – Cindy McCullough
SOUND DESIGNER – Will Jongenelen
SET DESIGNER – John Webb
COSTUME DESIGNER – Jennifer Birzer
HAIR DESIGNER – Stephanie Lee
MARKETING – John White, DeEtta Bohling
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Chelsea Jamison
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