This summer at Heritage Theatre Festival, happiness is…one of the most beloved family musicals of all time. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and the entire Peanuts gang are set to come to life in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, opening July 23 at the Ruth Caplin Theatre.
Once again, the world’s favorite hapless hero is at the center of the action as he and his famed pals leap from page to stage with a series of vignettes that bring out the kid in all of us and showcase some important lessons on the meaning of love, life and friendship. Originally making its debut Off-Broadway in 1967, the show and its unforgettable collection of songs, including “Happiness,” has made its way around the world, into the hearts of generations, and offers plenty to enjoy for audiences of all ages.
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz and book, music, and lyrics by Clark Gesner, additional dialogue by Michael Mayer, and additional music & lyrics by Andrew Lippa, will be presented at the Ruth Caplin Theatre on July 23 and July 30 at 2pm, and July 23 and July 25-30 at 7pm. Tickets are $30 if purchased prior to July 23, and $35 if purchased after that date. Student tickets are $15.00. Tickets are available online at www.heritagetheatrefestival.org, by phone at 434-924-3376, or at the UVA Arts Box Office, located in the lobby of the Drama Building.
“I think this show really appeals to people who are fans of the characters as well as to people who may not know much about the characters,” said director Bryan Garey. “It is exciting for people to see these characters come to life in a very real way, and obviously with this terrific music and dance added to the mix, the characters take on a whole new dimension.”
The show’s appeal is also rooted in its universal themes, Garey added. “Everybody can relate to Charlie Brown because he is the ‘everyperson,’” he said. “He goes through struggles we all go through in life, so it is really easy to empathize and recognize, and to laugh with him and feel his pain. It is really a universal piece about life, and how it is hard, and it is wonderful, and it is challenging, and it is terrific. Then when you add its incredible music, you really do have a show that has got something for everybody.”
Heritage is expanding the show’s reach even farther by working with the Autism Theatre Project, a UVA-based, student-led organization that is dedicated to providing theatre experiences for children on the Autism spectrum and their families, on a special matinee performance on July 27. “We are excited about participating in what will be a really meaningful event for the theatre and for the community,” Garey said. Garey and his Heritage Theatre Festival colleagues are working with Autism Theatre Project staff to make subtle modifications to the show designed to make the audience comfortable, and the sensory-friendly show will be followed by a meet-and-greet session with the actors. For more information on the Autism Theatre Project and to how to register for this special performance, visit autismtheatreproject.wordpress.com.
The Heritage Theatre Festival is hosted by the University of Virginia Department of Drama, and the Heritage 2016 Season is presented by The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, the UVA Department of Drama, the University of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the Office of the Provost and Vice Provost for the Arts.
The Heritage Theatre Festival’s production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is supported by Woodard Properties, NewsRadio 1070 AM & 98.9 FM WINA, WWWV 97-5 3WV, Z95.1, ESPN Radio 1450 WVAX, and 106.1 The Corner WCNR.
Parking for Heritage Theatre Festival performances is available at the Culbreth Road Parking Garage, conveniently located alongside the theaters.
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Chris Graham
