Musical Theatre in Australia (featuring Melbourne Musicals and Call Girl)

Michael Ruffles (The Canberra Times) writes

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Earlier this year Melbourne theatrical director Bryce Ives established Melbourne Musicals – a new company that created quite a buzz around theatre circles for it’s first production You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. As its name suggests, the company produces only musical theatre and is keen to focus on Melbourne talent despite beginning with a Broadway show.

Ives, who has already built up impressive directing credits across Victoria at the age of 24, has begun work directing the new Australian production of Call Girl the Musical. Written by lead actor Tracy Harvey, Call Girl is a new Australian piece that will also star Neighbours’ Alan Fletcher and feature the voices of Bert Newton and Steve Vizard.

Meet our Charlie Brown – James Cutler

In this weeks installment we meet the wonderful James Cutler, our very own Charlie Brown.

This segment has been produced by Rachel Cooper for Melbourne Channel 31’s long running arts program “Yartz” with Ralph McLean.

Melbourne Observer Review: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Charles M. Schulz’s famous Peanuts comic-strip characters Snoopy, Charlie, Lucy, Linus, Sally and Schroeder are all beautifully brought to life in Melbourne Musicals’ production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. This warm-hearted musical is being presented until June 15 at the Cromwell Rd. Theatre, South Yarra.

Talented director Bryce Ives has assembled a top cast for this polished, slick, show. The highly skilled performers include Darryn Gatt (Snoopy). James Cutler (Charlie Brown), Matthew Perfect (Linus), Emma Caldwell (Lucy), Laura Burzacott (Sally) and Richard Hughes (Schroeder).

Theatre People Review: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Melbourne Musical’s inaugural production, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, masterfully walks the fine line between childish and childlike to create a deceptively complex, yet charming piece of theatre.

You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, is a musical about a day in the life of renowned comic strip character, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang. More than just a bunch of adults playing kids, Charlie Brown is an adult investigation of a child’s wide-eyed view of the world. The kinds of challenges faced by the children in this show are not so different than the ones we face as adults, including finding acceptance, experiencing disillusionment and dealing with self-doubt.

Behind Charlie Brown: The Director Gets Cranky!

In this weeks installment we see the Charlie Brown director, Bryce Ives, get slightly frustrated as the show quickly moves towards opening night.

This segment has been produced by Rachel Cooper for Melbourne Channel 31’s long running arts program “Yartz” with Ralph McLean.

Charlie Brown opens THIS Saturday

A beloved cast of comic strip characters come to life to share their hopes, dreams and their angst-ridden-but-optimistic view of the world in the family musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” being presented at Cromwell Road Theatre South Yarra in June.

Clark Gesner’s play has charmed audiences for more than 40 years, and is based on characters created by cartoonist Charles Schulz in his prolific comic strip Peanuts, in which Charlie Brown worries about the small things as he searches for the true meaning of life.

But, to get the full enjoyment out of the Melbourne Musicals production of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown!” you have to be willing to look at it through a child’s eye.

The Ballarat Connection to Charlie Brown

By Michael Ruffles

There are two musicals opening in Melbourne this June. One is a multi-million dollar production of a world-wide hit that features witches. The other is being put together on a budget that extends only as far as a few credit card limits and features a bunch of five year olds. And their dog.

But a night out to You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown will cost you about half the price of tickets to Wicked, and the added benefit is some of Ballarat’s finest young talent will be on display.

Behind Charlie Brown – Learning “My Blanket and Me”

In this weeks installment we see the Charlie Brown cast learning the dance routine for My Blanket and Me.

This segment has been produced by Rachel Cooper for Melbourne Channel 31’s long running arts program “Yartz” with Ralph McLean.

Behind Charlie Brown – The Rehearsals

In this video see how the Charlie Brown team ticks!
(As seen on Melbourne Channel 31’s long running arts program “Yartz” with Ralph McLean)

This video was produced by Rachel Cooper.

A special party for the little round head kid….

The Peanuts Gang had a wonderful launch of the new Melbourne Musicals production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown!