Parcel Post

An original play premiering at Chickasaw Civic Theatre

Directed by Steve Alsip
Written by Mark Wyatt

Just over a century ago, you could send a child by parcel post—and it was much cheaper than a train ticket. But if you did, a postal employee had to travel along to make sure the “parcel” was delivered safely. Come be a part of history and be the first to create your character in this new work of historical fiction set in old Alabama.

Show Dates

December 7–10, 2023

Auditions

Monday, September 25, 6:30 pm
Tuesday, September 26, 6:30 pm
Callbacks, if needed, will be Thursday, September 28

Audition Notes

If you are unable to attend the auditions at the dates and times listed above, email the director (sgalsipmd@aol.com) no later than Sunday, September 24.
Auditions are open call, no advance registration required. All auditions are at Chickasaw Civic Theatre, 801 Iroquois Street, Chickasaw, AL.
Actors will be asked to read sides from the script, often with other auditionees.
Sides will be available at the audition.
The cast includes one young man to play the part of a mature nine year old. The other roles portray men and women from the ages of 20 to 70. See the primary character descriptions below.
Please print out, fill out, and bring your audition form (click here to download) with you to the audition, if possible.
If you have a resume and headshot, they would be welcomed.

Rehearsals

Rehearsal will begin the first week of October.
Rehearsals will typically be Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings.
Be prepared to be called to a few Sunday afternoon rehearsals.
Thanksgiving break will be November 22–25.
Tech “week” will be November 26–December 6.

Just a Few More Notes

Audition forms are available here and and at the audition.
A tentative rehearsal schedule will be on display at auditions.
All conflicts must be presented during your auditions. We understand that conflicts can arise unexpectedly, but we ask that cast members try to anticipate and notify us of conflicts as soon as possible.
Casting notification will occur by October 3.
Some rehearsals may take place at a location other than CCT. In that case, the cast will be notified ahead of time.
Rehearsals will be primarily held on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Some Sunday afternoon rehearsals will be scheduled.
Communication will be primarily through email and Facebook groups. Please include a reliable email and phone number on your audition form.
For questions or more information, contact Director Steven Alsip (sgalsipmd@aol.com).

Character Breakdown

EVERGREEN MUNRO (Male, plays as in his 50s): Matter of fact, independent, not concerned with others’ opinion of him.

NEWTON DAVENPORT (Male teen, plays as a 9-year-old): Precocious speech and social interaction, confident.

PHOEBE JACOBS (Female, 30s or older, younger than Evergreen): Too eager at times, has “the gift” of premonition.

THE REVEREND (Male, 40-50s): Reserved, keen observer, concise comments.

FARAH (Female twin, 50-60s): Confident, does not dominate the conversation as much as her sister.

CLARA (Female twin, 50-60s): Opinionated, knows it all, sure she is right and can do whatever better than anyone else.

STEWART (Male, 20s): Transparent, eager, obvious, infatuated with Phoebe.

ABNER ADAMS (Male, 50s): Postal supervisor, matter-of-fact, a bit intimidated by his long-time friend Munro, lets his guard down a bit when alone.

LAUREN-PAIGE TATE (Female, 20s): Young, Southern, gracious manners, VERY pregnant.

MISS JOAN (Female, older, 50s or 60s): Confident, insightful, cigar smoker, protects her friends.

NARRATOR (Male, preferred middle age): Matter-of-fact, clear delivery in the manner of a lecturer or news anchor.

MULTIPLE other interesting roles; some will be double cast.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Directed by Hannah Love Rhodes
Musical direction by Daniel Driskell

Show Dates

March 8-17, 2024

Auditions

Monday, December 11, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 12, 6:30 p.m.

Audition Notes

If you are unable to attend the auditions at the dates and times listed above, email the director (hannahagaperhodes@gmail.com) no later than Sunday, December 10, to arrange another time.
Auditions are open call, no advance registration required. All auditions are at Chickasaw Civic Theatre, 801 Iroquois Street, Chickasaw, AL.
You must be age 16+ to audition.
All auditionees should be prepared to sing a 16-32 bar cut of a song in the style of the show. PLEASE DO NOT SING A SONG FROM THE SHOW.
An accompanist will be available; bring your sheet music.
Actors may be asked to read cold from the script.
Print out, fill out, and bring your audition form (Click here to download) with you to the audition.
If you have a resume and headshot, it would be welcomed.

Rehearsals

Rehearsal will begin the first week of January and will run until the show closes.
Rehearsals will typically be held Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings.
Be prepared to be called to a few Saturday/Sunday afternoon rehearsals.
Tech week will be March 3-7.
Brush-up rehearsal will be March 14.

A Note from the Director

I am so thrilled you are taking a look through the You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown audition packet. Even more than that, I am thrilled that we have been given the incredible opportunity to put this adorable show full of laughter and life lessons on our Chickasaw stage. Charlie Brown is one of those shows that is a staple of the American Theatre Repertoire. It’s charming and silly, but also a real testament to the human experience. I can’t wait to meet all the auditionees and start building an amazing show together.

As you read through this packet, I hope that it gives clarity and answers any questions that you may have about the show and/or the audition process. As a performer myself, I know how nerve-wracking auditions can be. This packet is meant to ease your nerves as much as possible and give you as much information as possible to set YOU up for success.

The ideal cast member for Charlie Brown is not only someone who is talented, but someone who is also hard-working, positive, focused, and ready to work with a team. Do your best, take risks, and HAVE SO MUCH FUN.

I cannot wait to meet you, talented people!

If you have ANY questions prior to or during the auditions, please(!) make sure you shoot me an email: hannahagaperhodes@gmail.com.

A Few More Notes

Audition forms are available online and will also be available at the audition.
A tentative rehearsal schedule will be on display at the auditions.
All conflicts must be presented during your auditions. We understand that conflicts can arise, unexpectedly, but we ask that cast members try to avoid conflicts and give priority to rehearsals.
Casting notification will occur no later than Friday, December 22.
Some extra music rehearsals may be called for principal roles. Should you be cast, you will be contacted by the music director for your availability and scheduling.
Some rehearsals may take place at a location other than CCT. In that case, it will be posted on the schedule, and the cast will know ahead of time.
Rehearsals will be held on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 6:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Some Saturday and Sunday afternoon rehearsals will be held 2:00 p.m.-5:00pm. Friday rehearsals MAY be scheduled with ample notice.
We hope to have a cast meeting on Thursday, January 4.
Communication will be done through email and Facebook groups. Please list a valid email clearly on the audition form

Character Breakdown

CHARLIE BROWN (Male): Self-deprecating and optimistic, Charlie Brown is the lovable loser protagonist of our show. A multi-layered kid who is determined to get better, despite his constant doubt in himself. Dominated by insecurities, this lovable blockhead is affable, humble but smart and vulnerable.

Strong singing and acting skills
B-flat2 to F4

SALLY BROWN (Female): A highly articulate, charismatic, lovable, sometimes eccentric and argumentative younger sister to Charlie Brown. Despite being portrayed as innocent and adorable, she is noticeably intelligent for her age. She is absurdly intense, balancing angst with innocence, sweet but a skeptic. She has a crush on Linus.

Strong singing and acting skills
B3 to A-flat5

LINUS VAN BELT (Male): The thumb-sucking, blanket-dependent younger brother to Lucy—and Charlie Brown’s best friend. Though young, he is the most educated character in the bunch. He is unusually smart and he acts as the show’s philosopher. Despite his mature vocabulary, juvenile aspects of his character are also displayed; for example, Linus is almost always depicted holding his blue security blanket and often sucking his thumb. Acutely sensitive with brains and warmth, although he is the second youngest in the group he is the most mature.

Strong singing, acting, and soft shoe or tap experience would be great; must have the ability to dance or move well
B-flat2 to E4

LUCY VAN PELT (Female): The crabby, opinionated, manipulative, self-important older sister to Linus who bosses Charlie Brown around and perpetually offers arm-chair psychiatric advice for her rate of five cents. This actress will have dimension in her performance – she will have the ability to be a brute but also allow her compassion to shine when necessary. She is actually a friend to Charlie Brown and is constantly looking for ways to help him and Linus, though she is often misguided and pushy in her attempts to help. She has a strong, unrequited crush on Schroeder.

A strong-willed comedian with a great sense of timing
Strong actress and belter
G3 to Fsharp5

SNOOPY: Charlie Brown’s dog. A clownish, vaudevillian scene stealer who can really “sell it.” Snoopy is more human-like than dog. His character is that of a dog who pretends to be a person (or who sometimes forgets he is a dog). He can dance circles around everyone else. He is smart, wise-cracking, and joyous. This role is physically demanding both in innovation and execution.

Possible female role
Actor who can portray a dog; physicality a must
Strong comedic timing and musical theatre style dance required
C3-A4

SCHROEDER (Male): A friend to Charlie Brown, he is distinguished by his precocious skill at playing the toy piano, as well as by his love of classical music and the composer Ludwig van Beethoven. He is Lucy’s love interest but he could care less about her. His love is Beethoven and he is very serious about his musical hobby. That said, he comes out and shines in his one number, “Beethoven Day,” which can be a show stopper.

Strong acting and singing skills
B-flat2 to A-flat4

Synopsis

Act I

Charlie Brown stands alone as his friends give their various opinions of him(“Opening”). Today everyone is calling him a “good man”. Charlie Brown is happy and hopeful as usual, but he nevertheless wonders if he really is what they say. He decides to find out how he can really become a good person (“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”).

Alone one day, during lunch, Charlie Brown talks about his bad days. Then he notices the Little Red-Haired Girl and decides to go sit with her. However, he cannot find the courage to do so, and puts a paper bag over his head. It turns out it is Lucy and Sally, chatting together. They draw a dress on the paper bag, while Charlie Brown feels like he has no confidence (“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” (reprise))

Lucy expresses her deep infatuation with Schroeder and asks him what he thinks of the idea of marriage. Schroeder is aware of her feelings, but remains aloof as he plays his piano. Lucy then exclaims: “My Aunt Marion was right. Never try to discuss marriage with a musician” (“Schroeder”). Sally is sad because her jump rope tangled up.

Snoopy is lying on top of his doghouse, relaxing vacantly and peacefully. He begins to daydream about being a wild jungle beast. In a few minutes, however, he is back to his peaceful state (“Snoopy”). Linus enters, holding his blanket and sucking his thumb. Lucy and Sally show up and mock him for this habit. Linus decides to abandon his blanket and move on, only to come running back to it in desperation. After the girls leave, Linus daydreams of a blanket fantasy where everyone can relax with their blankets (“My Blanket and Me”). Lucy later tells him that she would someday like to be a queen (“Queen Lucy”). However, Linus tells her that she can’t and she threatens to punch him. Sally gets a D for her pathetic coat-hanger sculpture.

Charlie Brown appears, trying to get his unusually stubborn kite to soar in the air. Eventually, he succeeds in doing this, and he enjoys a few minutes of triumph before the notorious Kite-Eating Tree eats it up (“The Kite”). After this trauma, Charlie Brown tries to find the right way to give Lucy a Valentine’s Day card, but he ends up saying “Merry Christmas”, making a fool out of himself. He later learns that no one sent him a card, whereas everyone else, including Snoopy, got several. He goes to see Lucy, who is at her psychiatrist booth. He tells her all the things he thinks of himself. Lucy then clears it up by saying that Charlie Brown is unique the way he is, then asks for the five cent price (“The Doctor Is In”). Later, Charlie Brown sees a happy Schroeder spreading the word of Beethoven’s birthday and pulling together a celebration. He and company join Schroeder in the song of jubilation (“Beethoven Day”).

The next morning, Sally wakes up Snoopy to go rabbit chasing, and they go into strange places, like the Sahara. At noon, Linus, Lucy, Schroeder, and Charlie Brown are working on their Peter Rabbit book reports, each in his or her own way. Lucy is simply babbling to fit the 100-word requirement, Schroeder is doing a “comparison” between the book and Robin Hood, Linus is doing an overcomplicated psychological analysis, and Charlie Brown hasn’t even started out of worry, while Sally and Snoopy continue to chase rabbits (“The Book Report”).

Act II

Snoopy, in his World War I flying ace uniform climbs atop his doghouse. He goes through a scene, with him being a pilot searching for the Red Baron. In his imagination, he is defeated by the Red Baron and returns to the aerodrome in France (“The Red Baron”).

Sally is clearly cross about a D her teacher gave her on her homework assignment. In response, she says, “Oh, yeah? That’s what you think!” Schroeder hears and asks why Sally is telling him that. It quickly becomes Sally’s new “philosophy”, and she bursts into song about her philosophies. Schroeder, after failing to explain to her how philosophies work, leaves in bafflement while Sally continues (“My New Philosophy”).

Charlie Brown returns, and, with his friends, plays the Little League Baseball Championship. After some mishaps, the team finally manages to make some progress. Charlie Brown steps up to the plate, and despite his valiant efforts, strikes out and loses the game. We learn that this was a flashback, and Charlie Brown expresses his deep sorrow to his pen pal (“T-E-A-M [The Baseball Game]”). After Schroeder tells her she is a very crabby person, Lucy takes a crabbiness survey of all her friends to determine her crabbiness: Charlie Brown gives a waffling answer, while Sally is more definitive. Upon asking Linus, he refuses to answer until she promises not to punch him; when he gives her a score of ninety-five, though, she punches him anyway. After tallying the score, she realizes that she, in reality, is really very crabby and becomes depressed. Linus cheers her up by reminding her she has a little brother who loves her, remarking as she sobs in his shoulder “Every now and then I say the right thing!”

Determined not to let what happened at the championship bother him, Charlie Brown decides to join Schroeder’s Glee Club and cheer up by singing “Home on the Range” with his friends. Unfortunately, a fight ensues between Lucy and Linus over a pencil. The fight spreads, and Charlie Brown decides to leave with his angry friends, leaving Schroeder and Snoopy the only ones singing (“Glee Club Rehearsal”).

Later, Charlie Brown comes across Lucy teaching Linus about nature the way she views it, with “facts” such as bugs pulling the grass to make it grow or snow growing out of the ground in winter. Charlie Brown tries to correct her, but she retaliates with a false explanation, and Charlie Brown bangs his head against a tree in frustration (“Little Known Facts”). That evening, Snoopy complains that he hasn’t been fed yet, and begins to overly complicate and dramatize the matter until Charlie Brown shows up with his dinner. Snoopy bursts into song about his craving for supper until Charlie Brown firmly tells him to eat his meal (“Suppertime”).

That night, Charlie Brown is still sad that he has not discovered what it means to be a “good man,” then he discovers a pencil which has been dropped by the Little Red-Haired Girl (his perennial crush). As he examines it, he discovers that “there are teeth-marks all over it . . . she nibbles her pencil . . . she’s HUMAN!” With that realization, he concludes that today hasn’t been so bad, after all, and he’s done a lot of things that make him happy. As Charlie Brown expresses what makes him happy, everyone, touched by his love of life, begin to express what makes them happy as well (“Happiness”). Right then, he realizes being a “good man” means trying your best and making the most of the things you’ve been given in life. As his other friends leave the stage, Lucy turns to him and puts out her hand, making him shrink back. As he reaches out, she shakes his hand firmly, then tells him, “You’re a good man, Charlie Brown.”

A medley of “Happiness” and “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is performed as the cast comes out for a final curtain call.

Questions?

Contact Hannah Love Rhodes at hannahagaperhodes@gmail.com