CHARLIE BROWN AND THE GANG COME TO HOLLY
Holly, Mich.—Good grief! Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the rest of the rascally Peanuts gang are coming to Holly as the Blue Heron Theatre Company performs Clark Gesner’s adaptation of the classic Charles Schultz comic strip, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, August 2-5, 2012.
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown chronicles an average day in the life of the iconic characters, capturing the nuances and experiences of life from an innocent child’s-eye view (or dog’s eye…). You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown has entertained audiences on and off Broadway stages, in an animated feature, and on soundtracks for more than 30 years.
Directors Joe Mishler and Brian Catton have assembled an exceptional ensemble cast of veterans to take the audience through an average day in the life of the beloved comic characters, with Grand Blanc native Steve Visser playing the lovable loser Charlie Brown. While area theatre-goers will recognize Steve’s powerful tenor voice and imposing stage presence from Clio Cast & Crew’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and the Fenton Village Player’s I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, this marks his first time working with the Blue Heron Theatre Company.
If the show’s going to be stolen from Charlie Brown, his faithful dog Snoopy, played by Blue Heron veteran Mike Cavin, is going to do it. Mike is a long-time veteran of area stages, having worked with Clarkston Village Players for many years, along with Buckham Alley Theatre and previous productions with Blue Heron. One of his all-time favorite roles in Clarkston was the part of Columbo in Prescription Murder. Mike is a versatile actor, a phenomenal singer, and is trying very hard to keep up with the young whippersnappers in the cast on the dance numbers.
Lucy could also steal the show. Played by Kortnee Henski, she is a Holly High School graduate and is a sophomore at Central Michigan University. Lucy plagues poor Charlie to the last line, in voice and manner that is classically “Lucy.” This is Kortnee’s third production with Blue Heron.
The rest of the Peanuts gang is rounded out with Allie Walz as Linus, Claire Hardy as Schroeder, Savannah Damoth as Sally, Jon Tice Samuels as Woodstock, Brian Herbert as Franklin, Brad Varner as Pig-Pen, Carla Feamster as Patty, and Taleena Lynn Williams as Frieda. Last but not least are chorus members Cassidy Van Gilder and Alex Tinker.
Mishler said of the cast, “This is probably one of the best groups we’ve ever assembled. For the Blue Heron Theatre Company’s first musical production, we couldn’t have asked for more energy and excitement from everyone.”
Catton, also no stranger to local stages as an actor, director and producer, said, “You wouldn’t think it, but these characters are very challenging to actors. Their personalities have been etched into our minds for more than 40 years, so it takes particular skill for the cast to be true to those personas and still add their own flair and flavor to the role.”
Joining Mishler and Catton is Bonnie Giammarco as Musical Director and Pit Orchestra, Renee Weeks on choreography, and Linda Mishler on costumes.
Performances of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown will be on August 2, 3, and 4 at 7:30 p.m., and August 5 at 2:00 p.m. The Blue Heron Theatre Company performs at the Karl Richter Campus Auditorium, 920 East Baird St., Holly, Mich. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and $8 for children under 10. Tickets may be purchased at the Holly Township Library, 1116 S. Saginaw St., Holly, Mich., or reserved by calling 810-931-7108.
The Blue Heron Theatre Company is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization producing community theatre in the Holly, Mich., area. Founded in 2010 by long-time theatre enthusiasts Joe and Linda Mishler along with cousin Sue Owen, the company mounts 3-5 productions per year, including well-known comedies and dramas as well as original productions. Find us online at www.blueherontheatre.org, or on Facebook (facebook.com/blueherontheatre) and Twitter (@blueherontheatr).
You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown is produced with special permission by Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc. Book, music and lyrics are by Clark Gesner, with additional dialogue by Michael Mayer and additional music by Andrew Lippa.
