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You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown Facts & Worksheets

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is a 1967 musical that featured Charles M. Schulz’s iconic “Peanuts” comic strip characters, namely Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, Schroeder, and Sally.

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“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is a 1967 musical that featured Charles M. Schulz’s iconic “Peanuts” comic strip characters, namely Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, Schroeder, and Sally.

See the fact file below for more information about the Theater Study, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, or you can download our 20-page You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

PRODUCTION OVERVIEW

  • “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” made its debut on the theatrical stage on March 7, 1967, at the Off-Broadway venue at Theatre 80 St. Marks.
  • Directed by Joseph Hardy, this musical adaptation was based on Charles M. Schulz’s beloved “Peanuts” comic strip.
  • Clark M. Gesner served as both the composer and lyricist of the musical score.
  • John Gordon, who wrote the book “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” is credited with the narrative structure of the musical.
  • Patricia Birch was in charge of the choreography.
  • Gary Burghoff played Charlie Brown; Reva Rose played Lucy; Bob Balaban played Linus; Skip Hinnant played Schroeder; Karen Johnson played Patty (a character later replaced by Sally); and Bill Hinnant played Snoopy.
  • The musical also opened in the West End in London on February 1, 1968.
  • All the original actors from Toronto reprised their roles in the West End production.
  • A Broadway production lasted 32 performances at the John Golden Theatre from June 1 to 27, 1971.
  • In 1985, a TV musical adaptation was aired on the CBS network.
  • Afterward, a 1998 U.S. tour played 14 previews and 149 performances.
  • During this tour, Sally Brown replaced the character of Patty.
  • On December 15, 2008, a special one-night show directed by David Lefkowich was staged at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater in Manhattan to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
  • In 2016, an Off-Broadway revival was staged at the York Theatre Company.

PLOT OVERVIEW

  • The musical tells the story of the everyday lives of Charlie Brown and his friends, including their adventures, challenges, and funny moments.
  • Charlie Brown, the main character, is a kind and well-intentioned guy who often finds himself in amusing and tricky situations, from trying to fly a kite to dealing with his younger sister Sally’s antics.
  • The production explores Charlie Brown’s desire for acceptance as well as his self-doubts.
  • The musical is not just about laughs, though; it’s also about friendship and the little things that make life special.
  • The characters’ interactions show us that even though everyone is different, they come together to support and care for each other.

CHARACTER PROFILES

  • Charlie Brown is the central character of the musical.
  • He is portrayed as lovable but often bares his insecurities and self-doubts.
  • He tries to do good things and is sincere, but he often deals with tough problems and things not going the way he wants.
  • The musical revolves around Charlie Brown, his ups and downs in life, and his interactions with his friends.
  • Lucy Van Pelt is confident and sometimes a bit bossy. 
  • She put up a psychiatric advice stand.
  • Lucy is friends with Charlie Brown and adds humor to the story, especially with her advice booth.
  • Lucy really likes Schroeder, the character who loves Beethoven.
  • Linus Van Pelt is the kid with the security blanket.
  • Although young, he is wise, which makes him the voice of reason to his friends.
  • Lucy and Linus are siblings.
  • Snoopy is Charlie Brown’s dog, but he’s not just an ordinary dog, he’s imaginative with human characteristics.
  • Snoopy often operates in his own fantasy world and can be a bit theatrical.
  • Throughout the musical, Snoopy provides comic relief and fantasy sequences, which contrast effectively with the more down-to-earth experiences of the human characters.
  • Schroeder loves playing the piano, especially Beethoven’s music.
  • Schroeder’s passion for music is evident throughout the musical.
  • He also interacts with Lucy, who has a crush on him.
  • Charlie Brown’s younger sister Sally, is portrayed as sweet, but she doesn’t get things right away.
  • Sally’s part in the story shows her relationship with her brother and her adventures in school.

NOTABLE MUSICAL NUMBERS

  • In the original production, 18 musical numbers are included and divided into two acts.
  • Charlie Brown has songs like “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” where he talks about being a good person.
  • Lucy sings in “Schroeder” where she talks about her crush on the piano-playing Schroeder.
  • A fun fact about “Schroeder” is that it is sung over Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.”
  • Linus sings “My Blanket and Me,” a song about why his security blanket is so important to him.
  • Snoopy’s iconic song “Suppertime” is about how excited he gets about dinner.
  • Sally sings “My New Philosophy,” a song about her unique way of looking at things.
  • In the revised production, Schroeder celebrates Beethoven’s birthday in the song “Beethoven Day.”

THEMES

  • The musical shows how friends deal with different situations, as seen in Charlie Brown and his pals’ journey in going through good and not-so-good times.
  • Through their friendship, audiences can take away the lesson that people can be friends despite their differences.
  • Charlie Brown’s story also emphasizes the point of trying to figure out who you are and being okay with that.
  • Charlie Brown’s determination to keep trying is also something everyone can cheer for.
  • As the musical tells us, even when things seem difficult, Charlie Brown remains hopeful.
  • As for Snoopy, his big imagination is also a recurring theme.
  • He dreams up fun and crazy stuff, which shows audiences that being creative is a great way to handle things.
  • Lastly, the theme of finding joy in everyday things, like flying kites and playing the piano, is essential to living a happy and meaningful life.

CRITICAL RECEPTION

  • The first show on Broadway got lots of thumbs up because people liked how it showed Charles Schulz’s famous characters in a new way that families could enjoy. 
  • In 1967, the musical got four nominations for Tony Awards.
  • It won two of them – one for the actor playing Snoopy (David Wayne) and another for the actress playing Lucy (Zoe Caldwell). 
  • Because of this success, the show kept going for more than 1,500 performances.

You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Theater Study, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown across 20 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. This theatrical adaptation is based on the book by John Gordon and music and lyrics by Clark M. Gesner. In 1999, it received Tony Award nominations for Best Musical and Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Facts
  2. Character-gram
  3. Compose and Connect
  4. Plot Points
  5. Designing “Peanuts” Chic
  6. Lyric Lens
  7. Track Comparison
  8. “Peanuts” Museum
  9. Production Terms
  10. Inner Monologues
  11. Reflect, Review, Rave

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the premise of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”?

The musical revolves around a day in the life of the iconic Peanuts character, Charlie Brown. It explores various aspects of his life, including his friendships with characters like Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, and Snoopy, as well as his hopes, dreams, and struggles.

Who are the main characters in the musical?

The main characters include Charlie Brown, Lucy van Pelt, Linus van Pelt, Schroeder, Sally Brown (Charlie Brown’s younger sister), and Snoopy (Charlie Brown’s dog). Each character brings their unique personality traits and quirks to the stage.

What are some of the popular songs from “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”?

Some well-known songs from the musical include “Happiness,” “My Blanket and Me,” “The Kite,” “The Doctor is In,” “Suppertime,” and, of course, the iconic “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

Who created “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” and when did it premiere?

The musical was created by Clark M. Gesner, who wrote the book, music, and lyrics. “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” premiered off-Broadway in 1967.

How does the musical capture the essence of the Peanuts comic strip?

The musical stays true to the original Peanuts comic strip by incorporating the humor, wit, and poignant observations on life that Charles M. Schulz infused into his characters. The songs and dialogue reflect the timeless themes of friendship, self-discovery, and the ups and downs of childhood, making it a heartwarming and relatable experience for audiences of all ages.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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