[Students] University Playhouse Presents Charlie Brown

[Toya D. Settle]

Tickets are on sale now!

The University Playhouse's Summer Community musical for 2010 is You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown , by John Gordon and Clark Gesner. Performances are July 1-3, 8, 9 and 10, at 7:00 PM. There are also 3:00 PM Matinee performances July 3, and 11.  Seating is limited to 150 per performance, so audiences are strongly urged to make reservations early at:  903-886-5900, or at playhouseboxoffice at TAMU-Commerce.edu')">playhouseboxoffice at TAMU-Commerce.edu. This classic family musical has been recently revised, and is even more hilarious and delightful than ever.

Our production will feature several local teens and children, ranging in age, from seven, to eighteen.

 Audiences will fall in love again with the hapless "Charlie Brown," played by graduate student, Jeffrey Stirl of Mount Pleasant; "Snoopy," played by Commerce's Gerald Taylor II, a second year grad; "Lucy," the bane of "Charlie's" life, who is played by Sophomore, A'Mari Rocheleau, of Wills Point; "Schroeder," the piano prodigy, is played by Victor Rodriguez, a Junior from Leonard; Daniel Starks, a Commerce HS Senior plays the philosophical "Linus," whose beloved "Blanket" is played by Quanah Wright, a Wolfe City 9th grader; and "Sally," who is played by Roni Carrasco, a Senior in the Music Education program. Rounding out the cast are: Zeb Wright, a Wolfe City 3rd grader, as "Woodstock," "The Little Red Haired Girl," played by graduate student, Martha Daniel Dupree, of Atlanta, Texas, 8th grader Dakota Wright , as "Violet." Landon Willis, a  7th grader from Wolfe City plays "Pig Pen," Sierra Fletcher, a Freshman from Greenville, plays "Peppermint Patty, "Wolfe City 11th grader, Kendra Wagner plays "Marcie," Commerce 10th grader Rebekah Cooper plays "Frieda," In-coming Freshman, Ashley Conley plays "Franklin," Commerce 2nd grader, Meagan Jones plays "Molly Volley," and Commerce 3rd grader, Maria Celeste Resendez House, plays "Eudora." Understudying the role of "Frieda," is Payton Dickens, a 3rd grader at Phoenix Charter School, of Greenville.  The play is directed by graduate student, Kelsey Cooper, with musical direction by Professor Darla Meek, of the Department of Music. Sound design is by Philip Ingle, a Visiting Artist from Purdue University.

When asked about working with so many younger, less experienced actors, Ms. Daniel Dupree said, "It's exhilarating. They have so much energy, and they are so eager to learn. They bring a magic to the mix." Ms. Cooper commented on the collaboration with faculty and students from the Music department, "Everyone has been so generous with their time and their talent. Their professionalism makes my job as Director so much less stressful. Professor Meek is a great mentor."

Commerce native, Gerald Taylor II says of playing the iconic "Snoopy," I grew up with, and loving the character. It was scary, at first, playing a character everybody knows. there is a set of expectations. I saw the Broadway production with Roger Bart in the role. I figured out pretty quickly, though, that to make this work, I would have to make it my own."

Younger members of the troupe participate in seminars on acting, dancing , stage makeup, costuming and design. Costume designer, Donna Deverell says, "We want everybody to help in the design of their character's costume. That way, they get to experience how a play gets staged, from beginning to opening night and beyond." Heading up these seminars are Kelsey Cooper, Martha Daniel Dupree and Gerald Taylor II. "We want to show these young people how fun education can be," said Ms. Cooper. 

"Americans, and readers all over the world followed Charles Shultz's "Peanuts" comic strip for decades, and John Gordon and Clark Gesner have captured that same innocent, sometimes mischievous, always adventurous world of childhood in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown," said Managing Director, Jim Anderson. He went on, "This is the first time in several years that the Theatre Division and the Music Department have fully collaborated on a big-time, singing, dancing musical extravaganza. When you get that much talent on one stage, they blow the roof off," he said. "Royalties and licensing fees for musical plays quadrupled in just a few years," he said. "But the successes of Hank Williams, Lost Highway and Always. Patsy Cline, convinced us that our audience wanted a  return of Musical Theatre to the University Playhouse stage." So, by limiting our seating and partnering with the Music Department, we got the risk down to an acceptable level." "Budgets are tight, but that just brings out the creativity." "We are definitely going to seek more opportunities for the two disciplines to work together," he said.

Tickets for You're a Good Man Charlie Brown are on sale now. Prices are $3.00 for students and Children $8.00 for patrons at least 65 years old, and $10.00 for non student adults.  Anderson also said that due to on campus Independence Day activities, patrons should arrive early for the 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM, July 3 performances, due to limited parking.
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