Date:
10/15/2010
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 575.562.2253
PORTALES--Eastern New Mexico University will host the theater production “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21-23, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 24, on the Mainstage of the University Theatre Center on the Portales campus. Tickets are available at the box office. (The performance is included for season ticket holders.)
The performers are Charles Britton of Portales and Rojun Alexander of Albuquerque as Charlie Brown, Kyree McField of Clovis and Rebeka Henson of Raton as Lucy, Robelin T. Guajardo Jr. of Levelland, Texas, as Linus, William McGrath of Silver City and Brian Lee of Morton, Texas, as Snoopy, Rachel Mariano of San Angelo, Texas, and Mackenzie Kennedy of Lubbock, Texas, as Sally, Derek Gilmour of Denver, Colo., and Vincent Romano of Chaparral as Schroeder.
Jacob Senn of Portales is the production stage manager with Kimberley Koontz of Las Vegas as assistant stage manager. Kevin Reddoch of Roswell is the percussionist for the production.
Steven Roberts, the director, chose “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” because of the high demand for the performance. “In order to get the biggest bang, we chose a musical smaller in production but very large in popularity,” says Roberts.
Though many may think the subject matter would result in a small production because of the few characters, Roberts says this Broadway adaptation of the comic strip by Charles Schultz includes new songs by Andrew Lippa and new scenes by Michael Mayer. “The cast and crew have spent an average of 20 hours a week for the past seven weeks to bring this ‘little’ production to you,” says Roberts.
The director explains the most important element for the performers is their ability to express many emotions for their character. “One doesn’t always think of the Peanuts gang as ‘deep,’ but they really are,” says Roberts.
He is proud that the authenticity of the look is “being lifted right off the page. Bright costumes, a three-piece jazz band and Snoopy’s larger-than-life doghouse make this musical a fun and unique experience for the whole family.”
The production promises to please all audiences, according to Roberts. “This production will remind you of what you liked most about reading Peanuts. Some people liked the heart-felt never-give-up attitude of Charlie Brown; some people saw a poignant lesson at the end of each strip; and some people just liked the humor of Snoopy and the whole gang,” says Roberts.
For more information on the production and tickets, call the University Theatre Center Box Office at 575-562-2710.