Due to a case of COVID-19 found in one of the cast members, the Snowy Range Summer Theater production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown was moved back a week from its original opening day.
Even with this setback, the cast, crew, and director Seán Stone are still working hard to bring the musical to Laramie.
“As soon as we learned [about the infection], we shut everything down to make sure that no one else in the cast had contracted COVID and to give our cast member time to recover.” Director Seán Stone said.
“Fortunately, our quick response and prioritizing health and safety prevented COVID from spreading amongst our company.”
As a summer staple for sixty-eight years, the Snowy Range Summer Theater has been a constant for the summer residents of Laramie.
Many have come in and out of the program for years, including Stone.
He has worked as an actor since 2002 as a student at UW and has been a director for the past six summers.
Stone has been very excited to put on. You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, for quite some time. Thanks to his connection to the musical, he wants to impart the emotions it brought to the next generation.
“In Charlie Brown, these children discuss their flaws, insecurities, and emotions. They recognize that they are not perfect creatures and do not live in a perfect world.” Stone said.
“ In that way, Charlie Brown becomes a demonstration for children how to process and manage difficult feelings and challenging circumstances. Charlie Brown helps children understand and accept the complexities of being human.”
During tech rehearsal, communication was constant amongst the crew and cast. Sound and lights were programmed outside the lightbox to facilitate the continuous dialogue better.
Each person reached out at every point to prepare for the best show they could possibly make.
“Acting is a very collaborative art, and when I can share space with other collaborators, telling a story, I believe there is nothing more transcendent as human beings.” actor Matt Greenberg said.
The musical was initially published in 1967, written by John Gordon, and composed by Clark Gesner. Andrew Lippa later revised it in 1999 to modernize the piece better.
