“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” explores life with the “Peanuts” gang Thursday through Sunday, April 4-7, in Ramsey Theatre, located in the Peterson Fine Arts Building at Wayne State College. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are required. For tickets, visit www.wsc.edu/performing-arts and select “Purchase Event Tickets.” Tickets are $5 each. Wayne State students, faculty, and staff attend free, but must obtain a ticket using their NUID number on the ticketing website.
Presented by the Wayne State Theatre Program and Department of Music “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is based on the beloved comic strip by Charles M. Schulz. The music and lyrics are by Clark Gesner, and the two-act play runs under two hours with an intermission.
The musical imparts humor, wisdom and heart for all ages. The story plays out through musical vignettes capturing Charlie Brown’s obsession with The Little Red-Haired Girl, Lucy’s infatuation with Schroeder, and Shroeder’s equal fondness for his piano. Linus clings to his blanket while Snoopy imagines fighting the Red Baron. The gang plays baseball, flies kites, struggles with homework, ponders happiness and values sincere friendships.
Cast members, with their characters in parentheses, include:
Willemstad, Curaçao – Nathania Mercelina (Schroeder/Ensemble)
Ida Grove, Iowa – Ashly Gunderson (Lucy/Ensemble)
Le Mars, Iowa – Kyle Hubbell (Ensemble)
Sioux City, Iowa – Eve Gilmore (Ensemble)
Lafayette, Louisiana – Debonaire Williams (Ensemble)
Bennington – Autumn Wessel (Ensemble)
David City – Libby Aschoff (Sally/Ensemble)
Fort Calhoun – Cayden Otte (Linus)
Gering – Lexie Jackson (Lucy/Ensemble)
North Bend – Evald Brodd (Snoopy)
North Platte – Macie Ebmeier (Ensemble)
Omaha – Victoria Harrington (Ensemble) and Noah Miller (Charlie Brown)
Papillion – Zoey Campbell (Sally/Ensemble)
Wausa – Tyler Baue (Schroeder/Ensemble)
York – Alycia Gage (Ensemble)
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is directed by Rusty Ruth, associate professor of theatre at Wayne State. Dr. Matthew Clegg, vocal instructor, serves as music director. Brian Begley, associate professor of theatre, is the scenic, lighting and sound designer. He also serves as stage combat coordinator and technical director.
The costume designer is Anna Kruger, Wayne. Anna Mayes, Beemer, and Madison Reisner, Yankton, South Dakota, serve as stage managers. Eve Gilmore is the scenic artist with Mollie Young, adjunct professor of theatre at Wayne State, creating the backdrop concept design.
For more information, contact Rusty Ruth at ruruth1@wsc.edu.
