By Alyssa Penrose and Payton Thompson, BHS Journalism Department
The Buhler High School music department is excited to perform You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown at BHS this November. The lead cast includes Timothy Anderson as Charlie Brown, Michaella Willard as Sally, Madison Staib as Lucy, Jimmy Crossno as Linus, Toby Reiss as Snoopy, and Caleb Penrose as Shroeder.
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical that was revised in 1999. The music and lyrics were written by Clark Gesner. It is based on the characters in the Peanuts comic strip written by cartoonist Charles M. Schultz. It became popular due to its small cast and simple staging. The script was written under the pseudonym John Gordon, which covers Gesner, the production staff, and the cast members of the original show. The show lasts approximately two hours and has been shown on Broadway in the past.
Though most commonly known as a comic strip, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown was first performed as a musical in 1967.
“[Writers] took some of the original comic strip stories and put them together into one big show,” said Kendra Bracher, who plays the part of Peppermint Patty.
“We made most of the characters in the movie part of the ensemble and the main characters the only people that talk, but the ensemble gets to basically bring the whole show together,” said Jordan Spencer, BHS sophomore and ensemble member.
In a survey taken by the cast of BHS’s You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, each actor and actress has something about the character they are playing that excites them. Madi Staib, a senior at BHS, is excited and nervous about her role.
“I’m super excited to play Lucy’s soft self towards Sally,” said Staib. “I’m nervous about some of Lucy’s songs. They are very challenging and draining.”
“I’m excited to be a character who is oriented around music,” said senior Caleb Penrose, who will be playing the part of Schroeder. “Music is great, I think it’s a way to convey feelings that can’t be transferred through only words.”
The musical will premiere on November 10th, 11th, and 12th at Buhler High School. Stay tuned for future posts about tickets.