HAPPINESS IS…
THE YORK THEATRE COMPANY
PRODUCTION OF
“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
MUSIC DIRECTION BY ERIC SVEJCAR
CHOREOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER PAULSON-LEE
DIRECTED BY MICHAEL UNGER
THE “PEANUTS” GANG FEATURES
JOSHUA COLLEY, GREGORY DIAZ, AIDAN GEMME, MILLY SHAPIRO,
MAVIS SIMPSON-ERNST, JEREMY T. VILLAS AND GRAYDON PETER YOSOWITZ
LIMITED ENGAGEMENT THROUGH JUNE 26, 2016
AT YORK THEATRE COMPANY AT SAINT PETER’S
New York, NY (May 31, 2016) – The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director;
Evans Haile, Interim Executive Director), in association with Van Dean, Tony Heyes/Mia Moravis, Sister
Productions/Jose Perez and Jamie deRoy, presents the hit musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
with book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner and additional material by Andrew Lippa and Michael Mayer.
Directed by York’s Associate Artistic Director Michael Unger, and with music direction by Eric Svejcar and
choreography by Jennifer Paulson-Lee, the seven-member “Peanuts” gang features Joshua Colley (A Bronx
Tale) as Charlie Brown, Gregory Diaz (School of Rock) as Schroeder, Aidan Gemme (Finding Neverland) as
Snoopy, Milly Shapiro (Matilda) as Sally, Mavis Simpson-Ernst (Evita) as Lucy, and Jeremy T. Villas
(Kinky Boots) as Linus. Graydon Peter Yosowitz (The Odyssey) will perform the role of Charlie Brown from
June 1-7.
Performances began May 24, 2016 for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 26, 2016 at The York
Theatre Company at Saint Peter’s (619 Lexington Avenue, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington
Avenue). Opening Night is Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.
Come spend a couple of days in the lives of Charlie Brown and his pint-sized philosopher friends—from bright,
uncertain morning to starlit, hopeful evening—and all of the lonely brown-bag lunches, kite-flying failures, book
reports, glee club rehearsals, and suppertimes in between. Audiences of all ages will learn that “Happiness is”
the simple joys of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
“This production is based on a concert that was presented at Feinstein’s/54 Below by Van Dean of Broadway
Records and Jennifer Tepper,” said James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director at The York Theatre
Company. “The York Theatre Company, along with our associate producers, has put together a cast of talented
young performers, ages 9-13, for this exciting new production which will combine the simplicity of the original
1967 Off-Broadway version with additions from the 1999 Broadway revival.”
Clark Gesner had a long association with The York Theatre Company, including the mainstage production of his
musical The Jello is Always Red in 1998, which Morgan directed. You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’s Director
Michael Unger had the pleasure of directing Clark in a production of Molière’s School for Wives at Vermont’s
Weston Playhouse. “He was the most charming, eternally youthful man you could ever hope to meet,” stated
Unger. “Clark was a mix of the finest traits of all the show’s characters. This delightful classic will be told
through fresh, youthful eyes and voices—with an authenticity only possible from performers close in age to the
characters they are portraying.”
The creative team for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown includes Brian Prather (sets), Grier Coleman,
(costumes), Graham Kindred (lights), and Daniel Logan (props). The Production Stage Manager is T.J.
Kearney and the Assistant Stage Manager is Rachel Calter. Casting is by Nora Brennan Casting.
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown plays the following performance schedule: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
at 7:00 p.m., Thursdays – Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown are priced at $67.50 – $72.50 and may be purchased by
calling (212) 935-5820, online at www.yorktheatre.org, or in person at the box office at the York Theatre at
Saint Peter’s (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue), Tuesday through
Friday (12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.). York Theatre Members receive priority booking and save almost 35% on
matinee performances and 30% for regular performances. Student and Senior Rush tickets are available inperson
beginning one hour prior to performances for $20 cash only. The York Theatre also offers $25 tickets for
guests aged 35 years and under.
York Theatre Company offers the 54th Street Membership Program, an exclusive membership package for
as low as $54.00 – with elite benefits that includes a 30% discount on tickets to York Theatre Productions (2
per membership), exclusive member pre-sale opportunities, 50% off on all lobby concessions, 20% off on all
lobby merchandise, in addition to special member only receptions. The $125 Platinum Membership Program
offers additional perks.
For additional information, please visit www.yorktheatre.org.
The York Theatre Company is the only theater in New York City — and one of very few in the world —
dedicated to developing and fully producing new musicals and preserving neglected, notable shows from the
past. For over four decades, York’s intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and classic musicals
has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike. Under the guidance of
Producing Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, the York has focused on new musicals in its Mainstage
Series — most of them world, American, or New York premieres — by some of the field’s most esteemed
creators, and has also helped launch the careers of many talented new writers. Over 35 cast recordings from
York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD, including its acclaimed revival of Closer Than Ever
(2013 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Revival); commercial transfers of such York premieres as The
Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Souvenir (Tony Award Nomination for actress Judy Kaye), and Jolson &
Company, and revivals of Pacific Overtures and Sweeney Todd (four Tony Nominations including Best Revival)
have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs. Recent hits have included Rothschild and
Sons, Plaid Tidings and Cagney, starring Robert Creighton as James Cagney and the original York Cast,
currently playing to sold-out houses at the Westside Theatre.
