Jones & Drewe Bring Charlie Brown Musical to Tabard
The Tabard Theatre in Chiswick will stage the London premiere of the revised version of Broadway musical You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown in October, starring Olivier Award-winner Leanne Jones and directed by lyricist Anthony Drewe.
Clark Gesner’s 1967 musical comedy is based on the Peanuts comic strips by Charles Schulz. The new revised version was presented on Broadway in 1999 with new songs and additional dialogue added by Michael Mayer and Andrew Lippa, going on to win Tony Awards for its stars Roger Bart and Kristin Chenoweth.
The action centres on Charlie Brown who, though considered a ‘good man’, has never been able to keep a kite in the air, never successfully kicked a football and can’t seem to win the heart of the Little Red-Haired Girl. As the ‘Peanuts’ gang make their way through the day, Charlie wonders what it takes to be a good man as he sees his friends’ various passions, and comes to realise what makes them all truly happy.
The Tabard production is directed by award-winning lyricist Anthony Drewe (Betty Blue Eyes, Honk, Mary Poppins), whose directing credits including the Watermill Theatre’s production of Snoopy, the Musical. It stars Olivier and Whatsonstage.com Award-winner Leanne Jones (Hairspray) as Lucy and Hayley Gallivan (Spring Awakening) as Sally Brown, alongside Lewis Barnshaw (Charlie Brown), Mark Anderson, Nathaniel Morrison and Adam Ellis.
Running from 6 to 30 October 2011 (previews from 4 October), You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown will be designed by Simon Wells, with musical direction by Elliot Davis and choreography by Nick Winston.
