YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN
Character Descriptions

As was done both on and off Broadway, all roles in YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN will be performed by adult actors. No children or teenagers will be cast in any role in this production.

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CHARLIE BROWN

The sometimes optimistic, sometimes self-deprecatory main character in Peanuts. The show is a day in the life of Charlie Brown. A loveable loser, his main characteristics are either self-defeating stubbornness or admirable determined persistence to try his best against all odds. He can never win a ballgame, but continues playing baseball; he can never fly a kite successfully, but continues trying to do so; he knows Lucy is going to pull the football away before he kicks it, but he comes back over and over again and hopes that this time, he will prevail. Dominated by insecurities, this lovable blockhead is affable, humble but smart and vulnerable.

Vocal Range: A bari-tenor who can speak/sing fast and memorize well - Bb2 to F4
Callback Songs: The Kite, Baseball Game

SALLY BROWN

A highly articulate, charismatic, lovable, sometimes eccentric and argumentative younger sister (2-3 years younger) to Charlie Brown. Despite being portrayed as innocent and adorable, she is noticeably intelligent for her age. She is absurdly intense, balancing angst with innocence, sweet but a skeptic. She has a crush on Linus.

Vocal Range: Soprano/mezzo belt - B3 to Ab5
Callback Songs: My New Philosophy, Happiness

LINUS VAN PELT

The thumb-sucking, blanket-dependent younger brother to Lucy - and Charlie Brown's best friend. Though young, he is the smartest character in the bunch. He is also the show’s philosopher. Despite his mature vocabulary, juvenile aspects of his character are also displayed; for example, Linus is almost always depicted holding his blue security blanket and often sucking his thumb. Acutely sensitive with brains and warmth, although he is the second youngest in the group, he is the most mature.

Vocal Range: Baritone/tenor - Bb2 to E4
Callback Songs: My Blanket and Me, Happiness
Other Notes: Soft shoe or tap experience would be great but not required.

LUCY VAN PELT

The crabby, opinionated, manipulative, self-important older sister to Linus who bosses Charlie Brown around and perpetually offers arm-chair psychiatric advice for her rate of five cents. She must have dimension in her performance - she will have the ability to be a brute but also allow her compassion to shine when necessary. She is actually a friend to Charlie Brown and is constantly looking for ways to help him and Linus, though she is often misguided and pushy in her attempts to help. She has a strong, unrequited crush on Schroeder.

Vocal Range: Mezzo/alto belt - G3 to F#5
Callback Songs: Schroeder, Little Known Facts
Other Notes: A strong-willed comedian with a great sense of timing.

SNOOPY

Charlie Brown’s dog. A gentle but clownish vaudevillian scene stealer who can “sell it.” Snoopy is more human-like than dog. His character is that of a dog who pretends to be a person (or who sometimes forgets he is a dog). He can dance circles around everyone else. He is smart, wise-cracking, and joyous. This role is physically demanding both in innovation and execution.

Vocal Range: Tenor/baritone - C3 to A4
Callback Songs: Snoopy, Suppertime
Other Notes: Actor who can portray a dog; physicality is a must. Strong comedic timing and musical theatre style dance technique required. Possible female role, but must fit the vocal range.

SCHROEDER

A friend to Charlie Brown, he is distinguished by his precocious skill at playing the toy piano, as well as by his love of classical music and the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. Lucy is in love with him but he could care less about her. His love is Beethoven and he is very serious about his musical hobby. That said, he comes out and shines in his one number, “Beethoven Day,” which can be a show stopper.

Vocal Range: High baritone/tenor - Bb2 to Ab4
Callback Songs: Beethoven Day, Book Report

A Note About The Optional Ensemble Parts

We are not committed to the four additional optional ensemble parts listed below, but if the appropriate talent presents itself, and the financial issues are sufficiently addressed (see the Audition Information page), we may add any or all of the optional actors as ensemble and possibly in swing/understudy roles of the six principals as well.

PEPPERMINT PATTY (Optional Ensemble)

Peppermint Patty has a unique spirit. Tough, but kind. She is not a great student (probably due to her tendency to sleep through class!) and she has a habit of profoundly misunderstanding basic concepts and ideas, making it easy for the others to prey on her lack of sense. A freckle-faced tomboy who loves Charlie Brown; calls him 'Chuck'; leader of a baseball team and one of Charlie Brown's rival managers.

Vocal Range: Open
Callback Songs: Happiness, Baseball Game

FRIEDA (Optional Ensemble)

Though generally goodhearted, Frieda’s preoccupation with her appearance reveals a more complicated side of her nature. She wants to be admired for her conversational skills (which the others see as chatterbox-ness) and for her "naturally curly hair,” which she always manages to mention!

Vocal Range: Open
Callback Songs: Happiness, Baseball Game

SHERMY (Optional Ensemble)

Shermy is a bit of a foil to Charlie Brown - a relatively easy-going, pleasant kid, who is superior at the things that matter to Charlie Brown, especially athletics. Shermy's major physical characteristic is his short, dark hair, which he usually wears in a crew cut.

Vocal Range: Open
Callback Songs: Happiness, Baseball Game

FRANKLIN (Optional Ensemble)

The first Black character in the Peanuts "community", Franklin is bemused by the strange things in Charlie Brown's neighborhood. He has smarts comparable to Linus. Franklin is a voice of reason with a rational perspective compared to almost every other character's neuroses, phobias, and flaws. He is one of the few Peanuts characters not to have any eccentricities. (We will actively consider diverse ethnic casting in all of the other roles including Charlie Brown, but Franklin, if he appears in the show, must be Black.)

Vocal Range: Open
Callback Songs: Happiness, Baseball Game