Pasadena Theatre Company To Put On “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”

Everyone remembers being a child, from playing outside with friends to working diligently on worksheets in a classroom. Now, thanks to the Pasadena Theatre Company, all are welcome to revisit their childhood this July with the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

This fun-for-all-ages production features a cast of 11 from a wide range of ages and backgrounds. “The cast really complement each other,” said producer Sharon Steele. “We have a group of really talented people that know how to work well together and play on each other’s strengths. You can really tell that they enjoy what they do and that they have a lot of love for the production.”

Follow Charlie Brown and his friends as he navigates friendships, crushes, baseball games and kite-eating trees in an attempt to discover what it truly means to be a good man. Watch as Lucy attempts to win Schroeder’s heart, sympathize with Linus as he tries to rid himself of his blanket, and ride with Snoopy as he takes on the Red Baron.

“It’s not a show that’s performed very often,” Steele commented, “and we wanted to do something with a smaller cast, so this show was a perfect fit.”

Pasadena Theatre Company will perform the revised version, which features more songs, such as “Beethoven Day,” sung by Schroeder in his admiration for the famous composer, and “My New Philosophy,” sung by Sally. The songs are sure to have audiences humming along.

“It’s a bit similar to ‘Godspell’ in that it is a very song- and dance-heavy production,” Steele said. “The revised version also adds more scenes, so it gives all of our cast members more things to do and more opportunities to explore their characters.

“I think that anyone that sees it will have a lot of fun,” Steele added.

Joe Rose, who will play Charlie Brown, is making his directorial debut. “He’s been in many of our shows over the years, like last year’s ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas,’” Steele explained. “He’s done a really fantastic job working with the cast.”

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” opens on July 12 and continues through July 21 at Stage & Screen Studios in Millersville, a good fit for the relatively small cast. There will be Friday and Saturday performances at 8:00pm, Sunday showings at 3:00pm, a Saturday matinee on July 20 at 3:00pm and a Sunday evening show on July 21 at 7:00pm. Tickets can be purchased at www.ptcshows.com/tickets.html.

Whether you want to remember your childhood or are still enjoying it, this production will not disappoint. “Everyone wants to be a kid again,” Steele said. “I think we all want to go back to an easier, simpler time, and this production will certainly help to do that. This musical is also a great example of accepting others, even if they have different personalities or ideas than your own.”