Overview
Synopsis
Charles Schulz’s beloved comic comes to life in Clark Gesner’s classic musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The whole gang is here: bossy Lucy is hopelessly in love with piano prodigy Schroeder who doesn’t give her the time of day, perfectionist Sally is still mocking blanket-toting Linus, Snoopy is in the doghouse, and “blockhead,” himself, Charlie Brown, is in rare form. Brief vignettes span the months from Valentine’s Day to Beethoven Day, from wild optimism to utter despair. In this revised version, with additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and dialogue by Michael Mayer, the sweet, joyful innocence of the Peanuts gang is maintained, but a fresh insouciance and playfulness is revealed. The new script features two new songs, particularly funny dialogue, and new, catchy orchestrations. Whether you’re keen to fly with the Red Baron, moon over the Moonlight Sonata, or just do your best to find “Happiness,” You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a crowd-pleasing classic.
Show Information
- Book
- Clark Gesner
- Music
- Clark Gesner , Andrew Lippa
- Lyrics
- Clark Gesner , Andrew Lippa
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1967
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- various places in charlie brown’s life -- school, outside his house, the baseball field, etc--now.
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- Small
- Dancing
- Musical Staging
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Elementary School, Ensemble Cast, High School, Middle School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Religious Groups, Small Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult Characters
Context
In the beginning of the 1960s, Clark Gesner began writing music based on the classic gang of Peanuts characters. After securing the rights to incorporate the characters into the story, the first version of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown came to be as a concept album. Shortly after, an adaptation of the album was made for the stage and premiered Off-Broadway in 1967. This production then played Broadway in 1971, but played only 47 total performances, including previews.
The show was
to read the context for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
This show is made up of non-consecutive moments in the life of Charlie Brown, yet they are all key moments of his life. It begins on a seemingly good morning, with his friends making comments on his character. They all settle on the simple, but fairly kind, descriptor of “good” (“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”). Charlie Brown, now alone, sits at lunch and muses over his love of The Little Red-headed Girl, a character who is never seen to us but is always the apple of Charlie
to read the plot for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
Songs
Act One
- Opening/You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown – Company
- Schroeder – Lucy
- Snoopy – Snoopy
- My Blanket and Me – Linus and Company
- The Kite – Charlie Brown (optional company background)
- The Doctor is In (Dr. Lucy) – Lucy and Charlie Brown
- Beethoven Day – Schroeder and Company
- The Book Report – Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, and Charlie Brown
Act Two
- My New Philosophy – Sally and Schroeder
- T-E-A-M (The Baseball Game) – Charlie Brown and Company
- Glee Club Rehearsal – Company
- Little Known Facts – Lucy with Linus and Charlie Brown
- Suppertime – Snoopy
- Happiness – Company
- Bows – Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A play, musical, or opera that has been adapted from a written work.
A brief scene or episode.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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