I’ll bet you never expected to see a school bus full of kids drive onto the Tryon Little Theater’s Workshop stage, did you?  Well, in the Broadway musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” you’ll see Charles M. Schultz’s beloved Peanuts gang arrive on the cartoon bus created by Scenic Designer Lindsey Moore! There’s Charlie, Lucy,  Sally, Schroeder, and Linus . . . and maybe even Snoopy, unless he’s too busy napping on top of his dog house.

This delightful small musical depicts an average day in the life of Charlie Brown.  Woodstock will be there too, along with Peppermint Patty and the Little Red Haired Girl.

The original production ran in New York for 1,597 performances.  TLT won’t try a run quite that long; instead, they’ll welcome local audiences Thursday-Saturday Nov. 12-14 and 19-21 at 8 p.m., with matinees Sundays Nov. 15 and 22 at 3 p.m., all at the Workshop, 516 S. Trade Street.

Co-Directors Carol Cox and Tena Greene-Porter, both with long leading lady musical credits of their own, have assembled a happy cast eager to return to their younger, less complicated days by stepping into Schultz’ special childhood world.

Joel Perkin takes on the role of Charlie Brown (quite a transition from the role he just played in TLT’s “Plaza Suite” – a Hollywood producer on the prowl).  Emily Riddle is Lucy Van Pelt. Emily is returning to the TLT stage after a long hiatus, having appeared in numerous shows in past seasons.

Four veterans of the summer youth productions are cast: Victoria Owens as Sally Brown, Steve Blair as Snoopy, Matthew Alexander as Linus Van Pelt, and a busy Adriana Tally as Woodstock, Peppermint Patty, and the Little Red Haired Girl.

Rounding out the cast as Schroeder is Jeff Jenkins, returning to the stage after too long an absence.

The box office will open at the Workshop Monday, Nov. 2, and be open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., as well as Tuesday and Thursday afternoons 4-7 p.m.  For information call 828-859-2466.

– Submitted by Connie Clark