Elements of Theater is taking the stage for their first ever spring musical to perform “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”
With music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is based on the “Peanuts” comic strips by Charles M. Schulz. The musical follows Charlie Brown and the other “Peanuts” characters through their daily childhood lives. The musical features just six cast members.
For Gianna Calligy ’23, the founder and president of Elements of Theater as well as the director of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” this musical was the perfect choice for the club’s first musical, as well as her last production before she graduates.
“It being a small cast and a really feel-good show was just great,” Calligy said. “And it really sets the tone for what I hope the future of the club will be, where we can continue bringing people in and making it a really fun space.”
Calligy plays Lucy van Pelt, older sister to the blanket-carrying Linus, played by Liang Jun Ren ’25, vice president of the club. The rest of the cast includes Sean Dyson ’23 as Charlie Brown, Emma Fountain ’24 as Snoopy, Liliana Swierad ’26 as Sally Brown and Caroline Bouvier ’26 as Schroder.
Ren said getting involved with Elements of Theater has been a great opportunity to embrace his artistic side on the University City campus.
“Everybody was very focused on a singular mindset of researching, of studying sciences, so to be able to work on this has been liberating,” Ren said. “I was able to express a lot of my artistic abilities that I haven’t been able to since covid hit. This was very much a cathartic release for me.”
Miranda Pan ’25, treasurer of the club and stage manager of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” said she hopes Elements of Theater will inspire others in UCity to branch out from science.
“I hope, honestly, that people gain some appreciation for the arts, especially on such a STEM-focused campus,” Pan said. “Maybe they’ll get inspired to start their own arts clubs, who knows?”
Calligy has loved “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” since she was 10 years old, when her mother worked as a sign language interpreter for the show. She said her experience directing and acting in the musical has given her a new appreciation for an old favorite, and she is excited for audiences to see what the club has accomplished.
“It’s been a huge endeavor, but it’s been worthwhile,” Calligy said. “We had a lot of crazy obstacles, but we are really, really proud that this is all coming together. Really, I find myself continually amazed by how much the club has overcome.”
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” shows at 8 p.m. April 21 and 22 in McNeil Science And Technology Center room 145. Tickets can be purchased in advance via Venmo for $5 through the link in the @elementsoftheatersju Instagram bio or at the door for $7 for students and $10 for non-students.
