You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Based on The Comic Strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz
Book, Music and Lyrics by Clark Gesner
Additional Dialogue by Michael Mayer
Additional Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa

Directed by Rob Scharlow

Original Direction for this version of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown by Michael Mayer
Originally Produced in New York by Arthur Whitelaw and Gene Persson

YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. www.concordtheatricals.com

Ages: 10 – 19 (Approval needed for those under the age of 10)

Auditions: The week of January 5 – 8, 2027 | Info and audition time sign-ups will be sent as soon as it’s finalized. Please make sure we have your correct email on file.

Rehearsals Run: January 5 – February 18, 2027 | Days & times will be announced soon, but will most likely run 3 – 4 days a week

Tech Begins: February 21 – 25, 2027

Shows: February 26, 27, March 4, 5, 6 @ 7 PM | February 27, 28, March 6 & 7 @ 1 PM

Enrollment guarantees every student a role in the show and helps cover the costs of the production and provide for our staff. Enrollment fees include:

• Show t-shirt
• All materials

Happiness is great musical theatre! Step into the wonderfully wacky world of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! Based on Charles Schulz’s beloved Peanuts comic strip, this irresistible musical finds the biggest joys, worries, and wonders of life in the everyday adventures of Charlie Brown and his unforgettable friends.

Charlie Brown is trying his best (as usual), Lucy is determined to win Schroeder’s heart, Sally is sparring with blanket-loving Linus, and Snoopy is ready to escape the doghouse for adventures of heroic proportions. Through a delightful revue of songs and charming vignettes – from Valentine’s Day hopes to Beethoven-inspired dreams – the gang navigates crushes, friendships, disappointments, baseball games, and the small moments that make life worth celebrating.

At its heart, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a warm, funny reminder that happiness can be found in a letter from a friend, a favorite meal, a well-flown kite, or simply giving tomorrow another try. Charlie Brown’s setbacks and self-doubt make every small victory feel meaningful, while the gang’s quirks, conflicts, and loyalty celebrate the messy, magical experience of growing up together.

Featuring favorites like “My Blanket and Me,” “The Kite,” “The Baseball Game,” “Little Known Facts,” “Suppertime,” and “Happiness,” this updated version also includes additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and new dialogue by Michael Mayer. With fresh songs, witty humor, and catchy orchestrations, it keeps all the heart of the original while adding a bright new spark.

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown opened in New York City on March 7, 1967, and played for 1,597 performances at the Theatre 80 St. Marks, with Gary Burghoff in the title role. This version was revived on Broadway in 1971 and played for 32 performances at the John Golden Theatre. A new version, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Revised), was presented on Broadway in 1999 and played for 149 performances at the Ambassador Theatre, with Tony Award-winning performances by Roger Bart as Snoopy and Kristin Chenoweth as Sally.

A joyful, feel-good classic for performers, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages – whether they’re flying with the Red Baron, swooning over the Moonlight Sonata, or simply searching for “Happiness.”

“The songs are a delight!”
– The New York Times

“Familiar and fun, this is a show that comforts your nostalgic inner child while welcoming the newer generations with open arms.”
– DC Metro Theatre Arts

“Spruced up with some new material and new songs, but its humble virtues are the same ones you’d remember from the version you a) saw, b) directed or c) starred in at Robin Hood Summer Camp: perky, pleasant tunes, the genial silliness of adults playing little kids (and a beagle), the indelible appeal of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts creations.”
– Charles Isherwood, Variety

“All the things you love about Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroeder and Snoopy are there – the infamous little redhead girl that Charlie is so in love with, Lucy’s lemonade stand turned psychiatrist stand, Snoopy’s red house and more… With the first notes of the overture, my eight-year-old and I melted into our seats, ready for the fun to take us away.”
– Holli Harms, New York Theatre Guide

“A small miracle… almost everything works, because almost everything is effortless.”
– Walter Kerr, The New York Times

Tuition: $600 | RaueNOW Family Member: $450*
Includes show t-shirt and 2 complimentary tickets per enrollment.

No Tuition for Adult Actors.

Scholarships & Financial Aid Available.

Rob Scharlow (Director/Director of Education) is an award-winning theatre professional with more than 35 years of experience as a director, actor, and educator. His career has spanned the country, including 17 years with the internationally renowned Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center in New York (recipient of the Broadway Theatre Museum’s Award for Excellence in Arts Education and has been featured in films, books, and numerous magazine articles), where he served as Director of Education and Associate Artistic Director and oversaw the Dramafest program, which developed new 10-minute plays by young writers in conjunction with Stephen Sondheim’s Young Playwrights.

Now entering his fourth year leading RCSA’s education program, Rob has overseen its growth into a dynamic pre-professional training experience for students of all ages. His recent RCSA directing credits include Hadestown: Teen Edition, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Static: Noise of a New Musical, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical, in which he also performed. He also returned to the Raue stage as both educator and performer in A Cripple Creek Christmas Carol.

Lisa Giebler (Set Designer & Technical Director) – has worked in the Chicagoland area for over 15 years as a carpenter, painter, and mixed-material artist. She has worked in mostly educational theatre but is happy to join the Raue team as the Technical Director for WSRep and RCSA.

Chris Tumblin (Director of Production/Audio Engineer and Board Op) is excited to be back at Raue Center since his tenure from 2002-2012. After gaining additional experience at other venues, he returned in October 2022. Chris brings with him over 20 years of experience.

Ryan Meadow (Production Manager/Lighting Designer/Projections & Board Op) has over ten years of experience in the theater and corporate audio-visual industries with a background in Production Lighting and video. Ryan enjoys planning and executing different projects and helping to bring someone’s dream and imagination to life. He also enjoys working in the performing arts on all levels from people with a newfound interest in the arts all the way to experienced acts keeping their passion alive and helping to inspire the next generation of performers.