<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.17023" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN xstyle="font-size:18.0pt">Tickets are on sale
now!<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN xstyle="color:#1F497D">The University Playhouse’s
Summer Community musical for 2010 is <I>You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown</I> ,
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 <A
href="javascript:press_email('<!-- Located Email Address --><ahref=" )=""
playhouseboxoffice@tamu-commerce.edu=""
javascript:press_email(="">playhouseboxoffice@TAMU-Commerce.edu</A>')"><!--
Located Email Address --><A
href="javascript:press_email('playhouseboxoffice@TAMU-Commerce.edu')">playhouseboxoffice@TAMU-Commerce.edu</A>.
This classic family musical has been recently revised, and is even more
hilarious and delightful than ever.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN xstyle="color:#1F497D">Our production will feature
several local teens and children, ranging in age, from seven, to
eighteen.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN xstyle="color:#1F497D"> 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 9<SUP>th</SUP> 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 3<SUP>rd</SUP> grader, as “Woodstock,” “The Little
Red Haired Girl,” played by graduate student, Martha Daniel Dupree, of Atlanta,
Texas, 8<SUP>th</SUP> grader Dakota Wright , as “Violet.” Landon Willis, a
7<SUP>th</SUP> grader from Wolfe City plays “Pig Pen,” Sierra Fletcher, a
Freshman from Greenville, plays “Peppermint Patty, “Wolfe City 11<SUP>th</SUP>
grader, Kendra Wagner plays “Marcie,” Commerce 10<SUP>th</SUP> grader Rebekah
Cooper plays “Frieda,” In-coming Freshman, Ashley Conley plays “Franklin,”
Commerce 2<SUP>nd</SUP> grader, Meagan Jones plays ”Molly Volley,” and Commerce
3<SUP>rd</SUP> grader, Maria Celeste Resendez House, plays “Eudora.”
Understudying the role of “Frieda,” is Payton Dickens, a 3<SUP>rd</SUP> 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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN xstyle="color:#1F497D">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.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN xstyle="color:#1F497D">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.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN xstyle="color:#1F497D">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.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN xstyle="color:#1F497D">“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 <I>You’re a Good Man Charlie
Brown</I>,” 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 <I>Hank Williams, Lost Highway</I> and <I>Always…
Patsy Cline, </I>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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN xstyle="color:#1F497D">Tickets for <I>You’re a Good Man
Charlie Brown</I> 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.</SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>