Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
April 17, 2008 issue
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
at Hayes Center May 1 to 4
Story by Anna Oakes
The Rocket Players Youth Theatre, part of the Blowing Rock Stage Company, kick off the summer theatre season with a production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, a musical comedy based on the beloved and iconic comic strip Peanuts.
The musical will be performed Thursday to Sunday, May 1 to 4, at the Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock. Performance times are 7:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. on Saturday and 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Directed by Melvin Tunstall III, the play is a family-friendly look at an average day in the life of Charlie Brown, played by Mason Weaver. Based on the 1999 Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of the show, scenes meander in setting and topic, from Valentine’s Day to baseball season, the Red Baron to lemonade stands, wild optimism to utter despair and human friends to canine companions.
The score, written by Clark Gesner with additional music by Andrew Lippa, includes “Suppertime,” Snoopy’s romping ode to food; Sally’s vaudevillian number, “My New Philosophy”; Schroeder’s classical-R&B mash-up, “Beethoven Day”; and the sweet, rousing finale, “Happiness.”
In addition to Weaver, the cast features Lyle Sterne as Snoopy; Matthew Delaney as Linus; Hannah Fuller, Lucy; Caitie Moss, Sally; Corey Monk, Schroeder; Jennifer Gray, Peppermint Patty; Laura McKinney, Marcie; Michael Knight, Pigpen; Jonathan Faulks, Roy; Lindsey Wright, Violet; Nathan Jones, Rerun; and Rana Ozdemir, Woodstock.
Tunstall, who also directed last year’s Rocket Players production of Disney’s High School Music, serves as director and choreographer.
“I believe everyone can find at least one of the characters to identify with,” Tunstall said in a press release. “Because they are young, they are very honest, and that is most endearing, and often, comical.”
The Blowing Rock Stage Company founded the Rocket Players Youth Theatre, for youth actors ages 9 to 22, in 1998. Past productions include The Velveteen Rabbit, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Hansel and Gretel, A Christmas Carol, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Christmas Bus.
Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for students. The Hayes Performing Arts Center is located at 152 Jamie Fort Road, off U.S. Highway 321 in Blowing Rock. For more info, call 828-295-9627.
Want To Go?
Date: Thursday to Sunday, May 1 to 4
Time: 7:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday/2:00 and 7:00 p.m. Saturday/2:00 p.m. Sunday.
Location: Hayes Center, Blowing Rock
Cost: $14 adults/$7 students
Blowing Rock Stage Company To Host DramaFest May 3
Salute the power of theatre with the Blowing Rock Stage Company on Saturday, May 3, when it hosts the first DramaFest, an all-day celebration of the many aspects of theatre for children and young adults.
This free, family-centric event begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Hayes Performing Arts Center in Blowing Rock.
“We have so many students who attend our summer CAMPservatories and after-school theatre classes,” said BRSC education director Kim Cozort Kay. “Our TOPs (Theatre Outreach Programs) classes emphasize ensemble work as well as literacy and listening skills. These students will be able to share their original pieces they have written as well as tried-and-true monologues and scenes from well-known works.
“Children of all ages and parents are invited to come spend the day with us here at the Stage Company,” Kay said. “This is a wonderful opportunity to meet our teaching team and to see our students in action. We will be able to answer any questions regarding theatre classes and camps.”
And with its all-day roster, attendees will have the opportunity to see many different shows, a highlight of which includes The Missing Tale, a short film written and shot by students from the 2007 CAMPservatory. The day also features face painting, dress-up centers and basic swordplay techniques.
Hot dog lunches will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., just in time to grab your seats for the 2:00 p.m. matinee performance of the Rocket Youth Players production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Tickets are required to attend the show. Adult admission is $14, and student admission is $7.
For more info about DramaFest, call Director of Education Kim Cozort Kay at 828-295-9168, e-mail kim@blowingrockstage.com or click to www.BlowingRockStage.com.
Want To Go?
Date: Saturday, May 3
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Location: Hayes Center, Blowing Rock
Cost: Free