Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
May 1, 2008 issue
You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown Thursday through Sunday
Story by Celeste von Mangan
The Blowing Rock Stage Company’s Rocket Players Youth Theatre will perform You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown from Thursday, May 1, through Sunday, May 4, at the Hayes Performing Arts Center. The performances on Thursday and Friday are at 7:00 p.m., performances on Saturday are at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and the show on Sunday is at 2:00 p.m. The show is a musical adaptation of Charles Shultz’s iconic and beloved Peanuts comic strip characters.
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is about a day in the life of Charlie Brown and his friends—the Peanuts characters,” said Lyle Sterne, a local actor who portrays Charlie Brown. “It’s about how the characters come to life within the musical and throughout the play in classic scenes—the wall, Charlie Brown eating alone, Snoopy’s Ode to Food, baseball games, Schroeder’s Beethoven Day and more. It’s kind of a mishmash of scenes and there is no particular plot. In reality, this makes it a bit more realistic. Charles Schultz wrote it that way and life is like that.”
Melvin Tunstall III, a fan of Peanuts since he was a child, directs the musical.
“I don’t think there was a TV special I didn’t see,” said Tunstall. “Hearing those familiar chords of the theme instantly brings a smile to my face and a tap to my feet, so working for weeks on this show has been better than therapy. And cheaper! I love the cast! Many worked on High School Musical with me so it has been more of a reunion than rehearsals. They know my directing style and have gone above and beyond to make this production a great follow-up to last year’s hit.”
Sterne performed in High School Musical last year and said it has been “lots of fun” to work with Tunstall again.
“Working with Melvin has been a blast,” he said. “Originally, when I auditioned for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, I was cast as Snoopy. The guy who auditioned for Charlie Brown and won the role dropped out, so Melvin asked me to become Charlie Brown.”
Rehearsing six days a week for the past four weeks has been intense but gratifying for Sterne, as well as challenging.
“The hardest part about playing Charlie Brown is keeping true to how Charles Schultz portrayed him,” said Sterne. “We all love Charlie Brown because there’s a little bit of Charlie Brown in all of us. It was a challenge to show his vulnerability and there are real moments of happiness that are dashed by Lucy. Charlie Brown is the lovable character we all like.”
Besides Charlie Brown and Snoopy, the audience can expect to see the full array of characters from the comic strip, including Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Sally, Pigpen, Rerun, Violet, Frieda, Peppermint Patty, Marcy and Woodstock.
“I believe everyone can find at least one character to identify with,” said Tunstall. “Because they are young, they are very honest and that is most endearing and often very comical.”
Audience members will be able to easily recognize their favorite Peanuts characters. Costume designer Melody Yates poured her talent into making the costumes for the cast.
“Melody has done a really good job with the costumes,” said Sterne. “They’re what you see in the comics and very, very fun—colorful and vibrant. They look like clothing little kids would wear.”
Tickets for the show cost $14 for adults and $7 for students. Purchase tickets by calling the box office at 828-295-9627 or clicking to www.HayesCenter.org.
Want To Go?
Dates: Thursday, May 1, through Sunday, May 4
Times: 7:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday/ 2:00 and 7:00 p.m. Saturday/2:00 p.m. Sunday
Location: Hayes Performing Arts Center, Blowing Rock
Cost: $14 adults/$7 students
Inaugural DramaFest Saturday
An all-day celebration of theater on Saturday, May 3, at the Hayes Performing Arts Center will introduce the inaugural DramaFest to children and young adults. The family- oriented events—including face-painting, dress-up centers, basic swordplay techniques and many different shows—begins at 10:00 a.m.
“We have so many students who attend our summer CAMPservatories and after-school theater classes,” said Blowing Rock Stage Company education director Kim Cozart Kay. “Our 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.”
Between the theater events, a hot dog lunch will be served on the premises from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Except for the show You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at 2:00 p.m. the DramaFest is free and open to the public.
Want to Go?
Date: Saturday, May 3
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Hayes Performing Arts Center, Blowing Rock
Cost: Free