“Charlie Brown” musical invades north shore - no foolin’
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SILVER BAY, MN - Lake Superior Community Theatre (LSCT) will present the musical You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown for seven performances opening April Fools’ Day through April 11 this coming spring in the Silver Bay William M. Kelley Auditorium at 137 Banks Boulevard.
“Charlie Brown” is based upon the Charles Schulz “Peanuts” comic strip in repeat syndication in multiple U.S. newspapers and online platforms. The show premiered on Broadway in 1967 and later revised in 1999, the LSCT version.
The musical is about the daily life of Charlie and the delightful, sometimes odd & silly people in his life. Charlie’s insecurities sometimes play front and center, just like common folks. Online states he questions his own worth and worries about fitting in; Lucy is the bossy, opinionated girl; Linus is his philosophical best friend rarely seen without his security blanket; Schroeder is Charlie’s piano prodigy passionately devoted to Beethoven; Sally, his dramatic younger sister; and Snoopy his loveable, imaginative, daydreaming dog.
The play will star Wade Melander as Charlie Brown, Carmella Lee (Lucy), Britta Swanson (Snoopy), Vesper Robinson (Schroeder), Ronan Lillis (Linus) and Anni Yoney (Sally). The speaking cast will be supported by 12 backing costumed character vocalists doubling as stage crew.
“Community members have been clamoring for a musical,” said play director Paul Deaner. “Our last musical was West Side Story in 2016 in Silver Bay and Two Harbors. A variety of factors have contributed to the 10-year musical theater absence.”
He’s familiar with the show as he portrayed the character Schroeder in 1972 at the University of Minnesota. “The show is basically a series of comic strip bits and then-some,” he said. “Some of it’s classic set up - punchline stuff. Because of that rhythm, it moves quickly from one bit to the next. A fun show with lots of singing and dancing, but of course!”
“This one’s a little extra special,” he said. “It’ll be our 25th year.”
The anniversary production includes set design by Lisa Scott, music direction by Sophia Fenske with pianists Annie Andrus & Marcia Oates, Choreography by Tia Fischer, costuming & makeup by Rachel Drew-Thun, sound by Corey Hulst, and lighting design by Deaner.
“We have a particular major challenge,” Deaner said. “We need to find a stage manager to replace our lovely stage manager who had to step down. Our hope is someone reading this will step up or the angels will deliver one of their own into our loving arms.”
Ticket information will be announced this winter.
Contact: Executive Director & Director Paul Deaner 218-353-7509 | pl.deaner@gmail.com
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