Peanuts gang comes to life on stage

MANILA, Philippines - There are many ways by which man defines his or her pursuit of happiness. But for Charlie Brown, his dog Snoopy, his sister Sally, and his friends Lucy, Linus and Schroeder, happiness may be as simple as “finding a pencil,” “pizza with sausage,” or “telling the time.”

On Feb. 2012, 9 Works Theatrical brings to life the timeless characters from Charles M. Schulz’s popular comic strip Peanuts via the Tony award-winning musical, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown.

Charlie Brown can’t seem to win the heart of the elusive Little Red-Haired Girl, nor his friend Lucy, a bossy little lass who dispenses “Little Known Facts.” Lucy’s all-time crush is the sensitive piano-playing Schroeder who is an admirer of Beethoven. Meanwhile, Snoopy, Charlie Brown’s wise-cracking yet lovable dog and Linus, Charlie Brown’s blanket-toting bestfriend, daydream all day as their friends battle with kites, school and for Sally, Charlie Brown’s lil’ sis, getting a “D” in last week’s homework, before coming together at the end of the day to realize what makes them truly happy.

The musical is told through a series of widely recognizable vignettes lifted from Schulz’s comic strips.

Playing Charlie Brown is Robbie Guevara who was recently seen onstage as Uncle Max in The Sound of Music. His directorial credits include 9 Works Theatrical’s Rent, The Wedding Singer and most recently, Sweet Charity, as well as Fiddler In The Roof and I Love You Because for Repertory Philippines.

Carla Guevara-Laforteza will be Lucy. She was recently seen as Maureen Johnson in Rent, as Sister Berthe in The Sound of Music and as the Sour Kangaroo in Seussical.

Playing the role of Snoopy is Lorenz Martinez, whose last appearance was as Benjamin Coffin III in Rent and as Herr Zeller in Sound of Music.

Returning to the stage after a long sabbatical are Tonipet Gaba as Schroeder, Sweet Plantado of The CompanY as Sally and 9 Works Theatrical’s associate artistic director Mio Infante as Linus.

Veteran stage actor Michael Williams directs.

You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown will be shown at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza Makati. It is produced by arrangement with, and the music and dialogue material furnished by Tam-s Witmark Music Library, New York.

Limited performances are now available for fundraising and block-buying. For details, call 557-5860, 586-7105 or 0917-5545560 or email info@9workstheatrical.