S75 - You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Revised) by Clark Gesner, Michael Mayer, Andrew Lippa - 4m, 2w
Based on The Comic Strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts gang explore life’s great questions as they play baseball, struggle with homework, sing songs, swoon over their crushes and celebrate the joy of friendship.
Music samples can be found at https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/65775/youre-a-good-man-charlie-brown-revised. Video samples can be found on YouTube.
posted by Jim Vogel at 11:08 AM
5 Comments:
Of the two I like the Snoopy option better. Having Ben involved in three productions of this in high school and college. I am hesitant to support it because I think it is overproduced/saturated. That being said if others feel this is a better representation of Schultz’s work. I would like to see him included in the Minnesota connection. I also think this brings light and carefree to a season where we have very dark material being considered.
I agree, YAGMCB is done a lot by high schools though I have actually never seen a full production I don't think. I love the music - and I think it is a known show that could fit a family slot. A Peanuts connection for this season would be ideal. I am going to listen to snoopy and see which one I like better.
Schultz is certainly a Minnesota connection, and Peanuts is a well-recognized comic strip. I know YAGMCB is frequently produced, but I have never seen a production. The show contains most of the recognized characters and many of the frequently employed story lines. It fits the family slot and should be kept in the mix.
YAGMCB is over produced in schools because IT SELLS. Plus it's mostly controversy free which is getting harder for schools (people can find controversy where ever they look for it). The music is surprisingly challenging so it's good for musicians. Putting it in the round makes for a fun challenge for the director, too. Technically simple, but in the best ways. Can be done with just a piano or with additional instrumentation. It's a feel good, family friendly show that should stay in consideration for the family slot.
I adore this show and it continues to be produced frequently and successfully for well over 50 years. (It was one of the first cast recordings I ever bought.) Of the two Peanuts musicals, I find this one so much more entertaining because each song is a vivid story in itself. I have seen many productions over the years, many of which had delightful and energetic choreography. We would have to decide which version to do - the original or to incorporate new material that was added in the 1999 revival (I adore the addition of the Sally character and her "My New Philosophy" number.) Either way, I think a Peanuts musical would sell very well.
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