In new TLT play, 'happiness is everything'

'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown' hits the stage June 8-10

The cast of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" rehearses Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at The Little Theatre. The musical runs June 8-10.
The cast of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" rehearses Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at The Little Theatre. The musical runs June 8-10.

You are a rainbow of love in my life.

Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate; I love Sherman.

My heart will go on.

Audiences may not see those original messages the small cast of "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" included on pink, red, purple and white hearts and cards for a Valentine's Day scene in The Little Theatre production.

Yet while on stage, the "Peanuts" characters will be warmly reminded of how that bonding experience reflected their own childhood fun and offered one of many moments of happiness during the whirlwind eight-week ride to present this classic, family-friendly musical revival to the community June 8-10 at the Miller Performing Arts Center.

"We told the cast, remember you are little kids (in the production); so make them with lots of glitter, stickers and hearts. They were making them to each other, but we reminded them that Charlie Brown doesn't get any. They didn't make them to Charlie Brown, and even wrote in one, 'I love you because you are not Charlie Brown,'" said production co-director Brian Harper, noting glitter got everywhere. "It doesn't matter that they are all 14 to 30-something individuals; when you break out the glitter, they act like they are all 6 years old."

Those humorous and memorable antics of the cast has helped them embody their Peanuts gang counterparts in the musical and what has endeared so millions of people to Charles Schulz's famous comic strip. In Clark Gesner's classic musical, "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown," those antics are brought from the funnies to stage.

The whole gang is there, including the bossy Lucy, played by Lacey Williams, who is hopelessly in love with the piano prodigy Schroeder, played by Troy Ludwig, and Charlie's little sister Sally, who still continuously mocks blanket-toting Linus, played by Aidan McGinty. With additional music and lyrics in the revival version that debuted on Broadway in the late 1990s, "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" follows the Peanuts gang through brief vignettes, spanning from Valentine's Day to Beethoven Day, much like the recognizable comic strip and cartoon scenes.

"It has the things that are familiar, such as Linus' blanket, Schroeder's music, the baseball game, the psychiatry with Lucy," Harper said. "The characters don't normally sing in the cartoon. With this being the revival version, there are new songs including one with Sally, in which Kristin Chenoweth won her first Tony for in the Broadway revival."

The Little Theatre veteran actress Natalie Eickhoff was thrilled to play Sally Brown, a role she has wanted to play since first seeing the revival musical when she was 7 years old.

"I grew up with the musical, and I love it," she said. "I am Sally. Throughout my life, I have always argued my grades. I identify with Sally a lot."

For bubbly Katy Newberry and outspoken "hand-talker" Nick Gladbach, relating to their respective characters - tomboy Peppermint Patty and the reserved Charlie Brown - was a bit more challenging. After watching other reprisals of their roles and researching their characters, they now can deliver classic portrayals with a fresh twist. For Stephanie Scott, playing Snoopy meant more than just barking; she personalized her namesake song with original choreography.

The extensive experience Harper and co-director Cassie Williams have with The Little Theatre productions helped ready this musical for opening night in less than eight weeks. Getting involved in The Little Theatre in 2010 and working backstage in multiple productions, Williams directed her first play, "Peter Pan," last year, in which Harper co-starred as Captain Hook. A Little Theatre participant since 2005, Harper has acted in numerous roles, including Edna Trunblad in "Hairspray," directed "The King and I," serves as the company's ticket chairperson and is on The Little Theatre board of directors along with Williams.

"This is the first musical we have co-directed together. Normally we have a director and assistant director, but since we had to switch shows (to "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" from the originally scheduled "Hair") and with Brian directing our next musical, 'Annie,' we thought it best to work together on this one," Williams said.

"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" will take the Miller Performing Arts Center stage at 7:30 p.m. June 8-9, and 2 p.m. June 10. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger.

The box office is open 5-7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 5-7:30 p.m. June 8-9 and noon-2 p.m. June 10. For more information, call 573-681-9400 or visit tltjc.org.