Clarion University’s 50th Summer Theatre Festival will bring one of the world’s most beloved comic strips to life in July with their production of the musical “Snoopy!” Based on the “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, this delightful musical comedy is sure to put a smile on your face and warm your heart.
With music by Larry Grossman, lyrics by Hal Hackady, and a book by the Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates team of Warren Lockhart, Arthur Whitelaw and Michael L. Grace, the show is a series of scenes lifted directly from the classic comic strips.
Including such recognizable staples of the “Peanuts” series as The Great Pumpkin, writing letters to Santa Claus, Snoopy at work on the Great American Novel, Charlie Brown receiving psychiatric advice from Lucy via roadside booth, and dozens of others, this charming musical comedy is sure to bring back memories for those who grew up watching the holiday specials and create brand new memories to pass along to the next generation of “Peanuts” followers.
“SNOOPY! – The Musical” will be performed at Clarion University Little Theatre at 8 p.m. July 14-16 and 20-23 at Cook Forest Sawmill Theatre. For tickets call 814-393-2787 or go online. Cost is $12 for adults, $9 for children and free for Clarion University students registered for summer classes and showing a valid ID.
Director and choreographer is Marilouise “Mel” Michel, musical director is William Nelson, and technical director is Karl Jacobson.
The cast includes:
•Nic Barilar as Snoopy – Barilar, of Punxsutawney, Pa., is a senior acting and English major with a concentration in drama and film studies. Past credits include “Gypsy,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
•Paige Crock as Peppermint Patty – Crock, of Lake City, Pa., is a junior technical theatre major with minors in acting and art. Past credits include “Gypsy,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Oliver!”
•Jordan Rembold as Charlie Brown – Rembold, of Franklin, is a junior musical theatre major. Past credits include “Gypsy,” “U.S.A.” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
•Christian Ryan as Woodstock – Ryan, of Lansdale, Pa., is a sophomore musical theatre major. Past credits include “Gypsy” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
•Brittany Tague as Lucy van Pelt – Tague, of Clarion, Pa., is a junior acting major. Past credits include “Gypsy,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and “U.S.A.”
•Mary Wagner as Sally Brown – Wagner, of Girard, Pa., is a sophomore theatre major. Past credits include “Gypsy,” “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
•Eric Wielock as Linus van Pelt – Wielock, of Leeper, Pa., is a senior at North Clarion High School. Past credits include “Gypsy,” “Oliver!” and “High School Musical.”
•Natalie Beckman as the female swing – Beckman, of Lititz, Pa., is a sophomore theatre major. Past credits include “Gypsy.”
•Rob Milanich as the male swing – Milanich, of Rockville, Md., is a junior musical theatre major. Past credits include “Gypsy.”
The creative team includes:
•Breanne Armagost, costume design -Armagost, of Dubois, Pa., is a junior technical theatre major with an acting minor. Past credits include costume designs for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and “Gypsy.”
•Nick Bigatel, lighting design -Bigatel, Glenshaw, Pa., is a senior technical theatre major. Past credits include set designs for “Romeo and Juliet” and “Anton in Show Business” and sound design for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
•John Dumpman, properties design – Dumpman, York, Pa., is a junior technical theatre and secondary education English major. Past credits include sound design for “Anton in Show Business” and properties design for “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.”
•Lauren Farine, stage management -Farine, of Pittsburgh, is a senior stage management major. Past credits include the management of “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea,” “The Pirates of Penzance” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
•Dan Schreiber, set design – Schreiber, of Greensburg, is a junior technical theatre major. Past credits include the set design for “U.S.A.” and properties design for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
•Danielle Winterhalter, assistant director – Winterhalter, of McDonald, Pa., is a senior acting major. This is Winterhalter’s first direction-related credit.