College of Wooster Department of Music presents You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

The College of Wooster Department of Music will present the musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown on April 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. in the Gault Recital Hall of Scheide Music Center (525 E. University Street). Presented in collaboration with Opera/Lyric Theatre Workshop, the musical theatre production features familiar songs like “Happiness” and “Suppertime” for an evening of music and fun with Charlie Brown and friends based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz. 

A full-length musical theatre production, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown intends to capture the attention of all ages. The universal messages surrounding the meaning of life, finding happiness, and searching for a sense of belonging in one’s community are delivered through the experiences of the memorable Peanuts characters. With joyful songs, silly humor, and a 90-minute runtime, the night of musical theatre includes the familiar faces of Charlie Brown, played by Anna Puster ’25, Lucy van Pelt, played by Rosie Cassidy ’25, Snoopy, played by Victoria Silva ’23. 

Directed and choreographed by Sarah Best, visiting assistant professor of music and voice, with orchestra conductor Jeff Lindberg, professor of music, the production is a collaborative effort between various faculty members in the Department of Music, also including Toni Shreve as music director and vocal coach. The casting incorporates a gender-diverse approach and explores how aspects of non-traditional casting in traditional musical theatre productions can create more opportunities for various communities to see themselves represented in characters onstage. Students from across campus are involved spanning all class years and different majors, including music, theatre, English, political science, among others.

The production also includes cast members Nicholas Yungbluth ’23, Gracie Mino ’24, Bri Mosley ’24, Hannah Reinicke ’26, Patrick Estell ’24, Libby Merkel ’25, Katie Koeppl ’26, and Verity Curran ’24. The production is stage managed by Claire Alderfer ’24, with assistant direction from Chelsey Webb ’25. Additional students involved in the production include répétiteur, Ben Low ’26 and wardrobe manager, Gracie Shreve ’23, along with pit orchestra musicians, Paul Zito ’25, Robert Stark ’23, and Emma McKone ’26.

Book, music, and lyrics for the show are by Clark Gesner with additional dialogue by Michael Mayer and additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. Tickets are available at the door at a cost of $10 for adults, $5 for children, and are free for students, staff, and faculty of the College. For further information, please call 330-263-2419, or email Melissa Puster at mpuster@wooster.edu.

Photo: Patrick Estell ’24, Gracie Mino ’24, and Hannah Reinicke ’26

Posted in News on April 21, 2023.