Charlie Brown' to open season at Post Playhouse
The popular musical comedy, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” will open the season this weekend at the Post Playhouse at Fort Robinson. Shows will be presented Friday and Saturday (June 15 and 16) at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The playhouse will be closed on Monday nights, but “Charlie Brown” will be on stage again each evening June 19-23 and June 26-27. Another matinee is set for Sunday the 24th.
“Charlie Brown” will be the first of three musicals at the playhouse, which was founded 40 years ago this summer and remains one of northwest Nebraska’s favorite attractions. It is a joint venture of Chadron State College, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Nebraska Arts Council.
Based on the characters created by cartoonist Charles M. Schultz, the opening play takes the audience through a day of trials, tribulations and triumphs for Charlie Brown and his Peanuts friends. Songs enhance many of the scenes. They involve Snoopy, Schroeder’s devotion to Beethoven, Linus’ blanket, Charlie Brown’s kite that won’t stay in the air, the Red Baron, the baseball team, the difficulties of writing a book report and Snoopy’s supper.
Actors and actresses from colleges and universities from the southeastern United States have been recruited to fill many of the on-stage roles at the playhouse this summer.
Roger Mays, director of theatre at Chadron State College and the managing director at the playhouse this summer, says the cast is extremely talented.
“They’re all triple threats,” Mays said. “They can sing, dance and act. We plan to take full advantage of their talents.”
Jonathan Altman, a sophomore at Shorter College at Rome, Ga., is cast as Snoopy; Michael Cook, a recent graduate of Texas Christian University, portrays Linus; and Amber Dickerson, a junior at Columbus State University in Georgia, plays the part of Sally.
Trey Gerrald, a senior at Coastal Carolina University, portrays Charlie Brown; Johnathan Niotis, a recent graduate of the University of Miami at Coral Gables, has the part of Schroeder; and Sarah Claire Smith, a senior at Florida State University, has the role of Lucy.
Thomas Ossowski, who is involved in the music theatre program at Florida State University and was at the playhouse last summer to direct “The Fantasticks,” is this year’s artistic director. Mimi Norman is providing the piano accompaniment.
Personnel from Chadron State are providing most of the “behind the scenes” activities.
Playing later in the summer will be “Lucky Stiff” and “The Best of Broadway.” The season will run through Aug. 12.
Reservations may be made by calling 665-1976. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $8 for youths 12 and under.
Category: Campus News, Theatre