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You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Charlie-brown-off-b'way.JPG
1971 Broadway poster for the John Golden Theatre
Music Clark Gesner
Lyrics Clark Gesner
Book
John Gordon
Basis Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts
Productions
1967 Off-Broadway
1968 West End
1970 U.S. Tour
1971 Broadway
1998 U.S. Tour
1999 Broadway revival
2008 Manhattan
2016 Off-Broadway revival
Awards 1967 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Production
1999 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical
You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a 1967 musical comedy with music and lyrics
by Clark Gesner, based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schulz
in his comic strip Peanuts. The musical has been a popular choice for amateur t
heatre productions because of its small cast and simple staging.[1]
Contents [hide]
1
Background
2
History
3
Productions
3.1
Original New York productions and U.S. tour
3.2
1968 West End premiere
3.3
1998 U.S. tour and 1999 Broadway revival
3.4
2008 Manhattan benefit concert
3.5
2016 Off-Broadway revival
4
Synopsis (1999 version)
4.1
Act I
4.2
Act II
5
Songs
6
Instrumentation
7
Casts
8
Response
9
Awards and nominations
9.1
Original Off-Broadway Production
9.2
1999 Broadway Revival
10
Adaptations
11
See also
12
References
13
External links
Background[edit]
John Gordon was credited with the book of the show, but according to Gesner's fo
reword in the published script, John Gordon is a "collective pseudonym" that cov
ers Gesner, the cast members, and the production staff, all of whom worked toget
her to assemble the script.[2]
History[edit]
During the early 1960s, Gesner had begun writing songs based on Schulz's Peanuts
characters, but was unable to get permission from the United Features Syndicate
to use the characters in his songs. Eventually Gesner sent Schulz a tape of som
e of the songs and Gesner soon had permission to record them, which he did in 19
66.[3] Orson Bean sang the role of Charlie Brown, Clark Gesner sang Linus, Barba
ra Minkus sang Lucy, and Bill Hinnant sang Snoopy (he reprised his role in the O
ff-Broadway production).
At the time, Gesner had no plans for a musical based on this pre-production "con
cept album". However, producer Arthur Whitelaw, who would later go on to write a

nother musical based on Peanuts, encouraged Gesner to turn the album into a musi
cal.[4]
The stage adaptation of the concept album, entitled You're a Good Man, Charlie B
rown, went into rehearsal in New York City on February 10, 1967.[5] Prior to its
opening, the musical had no actual libretto; it was several vignettes with a mu
sical number for each one.[5]
Productions[edit]
Original New York productions and U.S. tour[edit]
On March 7, 1967, the musical premiered off-Broadway at Theatre 80 in the East V
illage, featuring Gary Burghoff as Charlie Brown, Skip Hinnant as Schroeder, Rev
a Rose as Lucy, Bob Balaban as Linus, Karen Johnson as Patty (an early Peanuts c
haracter not to be confused with Peppermint Patty), and Bill Hinnant as Snoopy.[
6][7] Joseph Hardy directed and choreographer Patricia Birch was billed as "Assi
stant to the Director". Joe Raposo, later of Sesame Street fame, was billed as "
Music Director" and composer of incidental music for the show. This production o
f You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown lasted 1,597 performances, closing on Februar
y 14, 1971.[8][9][10]
The off-Broadway cast recording was later remastered by Decca Broadway and re-re
leased on September 31, 2000.[11]
A Broadway production opened at the John Golden Theatre on June 1, 1971 and clos
ed on June 27, 1971 after 32 performances and 15 previews. Directed by Joseph Ha
rdy and with choreography by Patricia Birch, the new cast consisted of Carter Co
le as Schroeder, Grant Cowan as Snoopy, Stephen Fenning as Linus, Liz O'Neal as
Lucy, Dean Stolber as Charlie Brown, and Lee Wilson as Patty.[12] In addition to
the Broadway production, the success of the off-Broadway production spawned nin
e United States touring companies, playing in such cities as Chicago, Los Angele
s, Altoona, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco.[5] A 1970 U.S. tour lasted 202
performances on the road.[13]
None of the cast is actually six years old. And they don't really look like Char
les Schulz' "Peanuts" cartoon characters. But this doesn't seem to make that muc
h difference once we are into the play, because what they are saying to each oth
er is with the openness of that early childhood time, and the obvious fact is th
at they are all really quite fond of each other.[14]
Clark Gesner
1968 West End premiere[edit]
The musical opened in the West End in London on February 1, 1968, produced by Ha
rold Fielding.[15] It played at the Fortune Theatre for 116 performances.[16][17
]
1998 U.S. tour and 1999 Broadway revival[edit]
A U.S. tour began on November 18, 1998, in Skokie, Illinois.[18] The tour was ex
pected to become a full-scale revival to open at the Longacre Theatre on Broadwa
y, but was moved to the Ambassador Theatre after Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'D
a Funk's closing.[19] This revival opened on February 4, 1999 and closed on June
13, 1999, having played only 14 previews and 149 performances.[20] It featured
new dialogue by Michael Mayer, who also directed, and additional songs and orche
stration written by Andrew Lippa; choreography was by Jerry Mitchell and sets by
David Gallo, Mayer's frequent collaborator.
In this revival, the character of Patty was replaced with Sally Brown.[21] The c
ast featured Anthony Rapp as Charlie Brown and Ilana Levine as Lucy. Also featur
ed were Kristin Chenoweth and Roger Bart as Sally and Snoopy, with each winning
the Tony award in the respective category.
The original Broadway revival recording was released by RCA Victor on March 9, 1
999.[22]
2008 Manhattan benefit concert[edit]