North Hunterdon H.S. Theater Organization’s 2021 Winter Musical
The North Hunterdon High School Theater Organization will perform the musical, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, via a video recording to be aired on March 4, 5, and 6 at 7:00 p.m. and on March 7 at 2:00 p.m. The show is produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
Based on the comic strip, “Peanuts,” by Charles M. Schultz, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown was written by Clark Gesner. The show opened on Broadway in 1967 and won two Drama Desk-Vernon Rice Awards for Director and Performer, and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Production.
You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown explores life through the eyes of Charlie Brown (played by junior Owen Butler and sophomore Ryan Walsh) and his friends, as they play baseball, struggle with homework, send Valentines, sing songs, and share friendship. The series of vignettes and songs features Lucy van Pelt (seniors Grace Gartlgruber and Annie Meyer) as Charlie Brown’s strong-minded friend, who analyzes his character in “The Doctor Is In.” Lucy dominates over her younger brother, Linus (sophomores Daniel Decker and Aleksander Lipinski), but shares a special bond with him as well, as she instructs him in her view of life in “Little Known Facts.” For his part, Linus is a child prodigy in philosophy, calmly delivering wisdom and support to Charlie Brown, while also clinging to his blanket as he sings, “My Blanket and Me.” Lucy sings “Schroeder” to her heartthrob, the musician Schroeder (seniors Bobby Fasciano and Joe McDevitt), who rarely looks up from his piano long enough to notice her. Patty (seniors Amelia Milza and Emily Young) rounds out the group of friends, while Charlie Brown’s dog Snoopy (seniors Alicia Chapman and Alex Paige) steals the spotlight in his production number, “Suppertime.” The entire cast highlights some of childhood’s simple joys in the finale, “Happiness,” a beloved classic from the show.
An ensemble of other Peanuts characters sings and dances along in “The Baseball Game,” “Glee Club Rehearsal,” and the title number, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The ensemble is made up of Sabrina Bunca, Lea Chukrallah, Quinn Cowell, Jessica Holliday, Philip Mathew, Tyler Nelson, Katie Padmos, and Morgan Treece.
NHTO’s You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown is directed by English teacher Mary Meo. Music teacher Vincent Angeline conducts the orchestra, and vocal directors are teachers Charles Hopta and Katie Cudworth. Other faculty members are choreographer Kerrie Decker, set builder Aaron Willsey, stage crew director Kevin Byrne, tech director Karen Ellis, costumer Mary Piazza, make-up artist Nancy Gaidos, playbill and publicity manager Jacqueline Rhoads, and theater coordinators Regina Cavo and Karen Ellis.
Tickets can be purchased online by visiting nhto.booktix.com. Pricing is $15 for adults and $10 for Senior Citizens and Students. Tickets are sold right up until the start of the show!
