Nice guys finish last. We’ve had that idea shoved down our throats ever
since we were kids and those prime time cartoons would start out with the
colorful word “Special” which would rotate within the screen with “trippy”
’70s tracks and orchestral dissonance.
It was animated foreplay, if you will, with the impatient elementary school
anticipation for The Great Pumpkin, Snoopy’s dancing, Lucy’s wooing
Schroeder, or the infamous “parental language” (Woouampa, woouampa). Amidst
the chaotic, child-dominated world of the Peanuts gang was the loser and
good guy, Charlie Brown. Who would want to be like the guy that was balding
at the age of six, less creative than his beagle, befriended by people with
bad hygiene, self-obsessed by naturally curly hair or life-dependent on a
blanket or gullible enough to go for a punt held in control by the hands of
the illustrious Lucy?
Well, no one would, but life is tougher for some people than it is for
others. Now is the time to relive these childhood memories with a musical
brought to you by the Bijou Theatre and the Knoxville Museum of Art,
“You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.”
Headlined by UT Mascot “Smoky” and UT Senior Christopher Broyles, “You’re a
Good Man Charlie Brown” will run next week at the Knoxville Museum of Art.
Broyles is the second best mascot in the country (as decided by the
National Mascot Championships in San Diego) and serves as Director for the
Knoxville Youth Theatre. His role as “Charlie” is a repeat for the third
time since he acted in the Blount County Youth Theatre production in 1987,
and the Oak Ridge Junior Playhouse in 1990.
Reprising her role as “Lucy” is UT sophomore and theatre major, Laura Beth
Wells. She also appeared with Broyles in the Oak Ridge production four
years ago. “Lucy” is one of the favorite roles of Wells, who began her
acting career at the age of nine. She has performed most recently as
one-half of the Gemini Twins in UT theatre’s production of “A Funny Thing
Happened on the Way to the Forum” and is currently appearing in
“Approaching Lavender,” a Theatre Knoxville production at the Knoxville
Museum of Art.
Also performing as members of the “gang” are Jeff Delaney as “Snoopy,”
Kristopher Dillihan as “Linus,” Chris Tucker as “Schroeder” and Rachel
Donahoo as “Patty.”
This musical is based on the comic strip by Charles Schulz, with music and
lyrics by Clark Gresner. The musical first appeared on Broadway in 1967 and
has since been produced all over the world. For this production, Artistic
Director Steve Krempasky of the Bijou Theatre will direct.
The museum cafe, The Artist’s Palate, will be offering PB&J, fruit and
milk, or grilled cheese (kid’s cuisine) to complement the production. The
cafe is open from 11:30 to 2:00, Tuesday-Friday and on Sunday.
Dates for the musical are Aug. 16 and 18 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.; and on Aug.
20 and 27 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets run from $5-8. For more information,
contact the museum at 525-6101.
