YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN Next Up at Nashville Children's Theatre

Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, Schroder and the irresistible Snoopy-the whole Peanuts gang-present their familiar scenarios and foibles for Middle Tennessee families, when Nashville Children's Theatre performs You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, beginning November 1 and running through December 23.

Based on the immensely popular and beloved comic strip by Charles Schulz, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown brings audiences together with the most well-known gang of kids in the world.

NCT is eager to produce this revival version of the script, which was presented on Broadway in 1999. Compared to the 1971 original, this revival adds Sally into the action, and provides two new songs to the well-known score-"Beethoven Day" and "My New Philosophy."

Featuring some of the strongest musical theater performers in town, Shawn Knight leads the cast as the long-suffering Charlie Brown, with sister Sally played by nine-time First Night Award winner Martha  Wilkinson, who returns to NCT after a long absence. Bobby Wyckoff and Rona Carter play the other Peanuts brother and sister pair, faithful Linus and strong-willed Lucy. Patrick Waller plays Beethoven-loving Schroeder, who must endure the constant unwanted affections of Lucy. And Jeff Boyet, perhaps best known as The Cat in the Hat from Seussical the Musical, will take on the iconic role of Snoopy.

NCT producing artistic director Scot Copeland, a 2010 First Night Honoree, directs the production, with Russell Davis handling music direction for the show. Set design is by NCT technical director Michael Redman, lighting design by Scott Leathers, costume design by Patricia Taber and sound design by Dan Brewer.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown is based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz, and features book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner. Additional dialogue is by Michael Mayer, with additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown has one preview performance on Thursday, November 1 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets for the preview are specially priced at $6/child and $12/adult. Saturday and Sunday performances are scheduled throughout the production's run at 2 p.m., with the exception of Saturday November 17, which is Grand Day. There is no performance Sunday, November 4.

NCT's free After-words event, when the audience can stay after the performance to learn some production secrets during a Q and A with some of the cast and crew, is set for Saturday, November 10.

NCT's Sensory Friendly performance is set for Saturday, November 24 at 11 a.m. "NCT welcomes all kids and families to our performances," says spokesperson Steve Bianchi. "But we know that some families hesitate to bring their children to live theatre without knowing how they might react. The sensory friendly performance is designed to be a safe and accepting environment where children with disabilities and their typically developing peers are free to speak and move in reaction to the story being told onstage.

An open-captioned performance for patrons with hearing loss is scheduled for Saturday, December 1.

All performances of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown are open to the public, and reservations are recommended. Individual ticket prices are $12 per child (ages 2 to 17) and senior (age 65 and up), and $19 per adult. Season subscriptions and group discounts are also available. Tickets are available online at nashvillechildrenstheatre.org, by phone at (615) 252-4675, or in person at the NCT box office Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Special events include:

• BIG KID NIGHT on Friday, November 9: This event is for the 21 and up crowd only. NCT will begin serving Yazoo Brew at 5:30 p.m. and the performance of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown starting at 6:30 p.m. The $25 admission includes drinks, snacks and the show. Visit nashvillechildrenstheatre.org for additional information and tickets.
•  14^TH ANNUAL GRAND DAY on Saturday, November 17: Grand Day includes an 11 a.m .performance of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and immediately after the show families can enjoy a carnival with food, rides, games, and activities with the cast. At Grand Day, Nashville Children's Theatre will recognize the Honorable and Mrs. Douglas Henry. Senator Henry has been in service to the state of Tennessee since he was first elected in 1970. A recipient of the first-ever Lifetime Achievement award from Nashville Kiwanis, the Senator has also been an advocate for public education, dedicated himself to preserving our history, and facilitated valuable policy discussion on the importance of the arts as a member of the Tennessee General Assembly Arts Caucus. Henry has said, "Tennessee is fortunate to have an Arts Commission that champions those who enrich our lives with their creativity." Grand Day All-Access Pass: $40 per person (not available the day of the event) Grand Day Show tickets: Child or Senior $12, Adult $19; Grand Day Carnival tickets: $1 each or $30 full carnival access (bought on site, day of). For more information, please visit www.nashvillechildrenstheatre.org or call (615) 254-9103.

Nashville Children's Theatre is a professional theatre company providing the children, families and  educators of Middle Tennessee with extraordinary shared theatrical experiences that inspire imagination, develop creativity and build community. NCT was founded in 1931 by the Junior League of Nashville and is recognized as the oldest professional children's theater in the country. A national leader in professional theater arts and education programs for young people, NCT was ranked by Time magazine as one of the top five children's theaters in the country.

Jeffrey Ellis is a Nashville-based writer, editor and critic, who's been covering the performing arts in Tennessee for more than 25 years. He is the recipient of the Tennessee Theatre Association's Distinguished Service Award for his coverage of theatre in the Volunteer State and was the founding editor/publisher of Stages, the Tennessee Onstage Monthly. He is a past fellow of the National Critics Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center and is the founder/executive producer of The First Night Honors, held during Labor Day Weekend, which honor oustanding theater artists in Tennessee in recognition of their lifetime achievements and includes The First Night Star Awards and the Most Promising Actors. Midwinter's First Night, held the first Sunday in January after New Year's Day, honors outstanding productions and performances throughout the state. Further, Ellis directed the Nashville premiere of La Cage Aux Folles, The Last Night of Ballyhoo and An American Daughter, as well as award-winning productions of Damn Yankees, Company, Gypsy and The Rocky Horror Show, with Ellis honored by The Tennessean as best director of a musical for both Company and Rocky Horror.

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