Patrick vs Schroeder

Patrick Waller compares himself to Schroeder

What attributes or traits do you share with your character?

Schroeder and I both are huge Beethoven fans. Schroeder is an exceptional piano player, but me not so much.

What is the most exciting part about bringing this character to life on stage?

I think for the simple fact that Schroeder, and all these characters for that matter, are so universally known and loved. I have been reading and watching these guys since I was a kid. The image of Schroeder at his piano and Lucy perched atop is one that is forever etched in my memory and to now be in that image is an amazing thing.

What work have you done/will you do to prepare to play this character?

I've got a lot of work to do at the piano!

Schroeder has dedicated his life to piano performance, you have dedicated yours to theatre. What made you choose that path?

I got into theatre on a whim. They were having auditions for Annie at the local community theatre in my hometown and driving by one day I thought, “Hey, that sounds fun!” I went in, auditioned, and was cast as Rooster Hannigan and there was no stopping after that. When it got to the point I was doing so much community theatre that it was like a second job, I decided to try and turn it into a profession. Now, thankfully, I've been working as a professional actor for the last nine years and I can't imagine doing anything else. 

Visit NCT's website for fun Behind the Curtain videos about You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown as well as a schedule of performances.

Jeff vs Snoopy

Jeff Boyet answers questions about how he compares to Snoopy

What attributes or traits do you share with your character? 

Snoopy and I share a love for adventure, food, and we both have extraordinary imaginations. 

What is the most exciting part about bringing this character to life on stage? 

Snoopy is a dream character, probably the most famous dog in the world. Being allowed to interpret his personality and inner thoughts is very exciting. 

What work have you done/will you do to prepare to play this character? 

I'll watch some of the Charlie Brown television shows and read some of the comics. I'm really going to try and perfect his joyful, nose-in-the-air dance. 

Snoopy has lots of alter egos from a World War I Flying Ace to a secret agent. Do you have an alter ego?

As an actor, I joyfully get to create an alter ego with every show that I do. As a father, I also get to create a lot of alter egos. My favorites are the ones that bring laughter to my girls.

Visit NCT's website for fun Behind the Curtain videos about You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown as well as a schedule of performances.

Bobby vs Linus

Bobby Wyckoff compares himself to Linus

What attributes or traits do you share with your character? What attributes or traits of your character do you not share? 

Linus is a loyal, encouraging, helpful friend to Charlie Brown (and, I think, loves his sister, Lucy). I try my hardest to be that kind of friend and relative. Linus looks past other people’s flaws: Charlie Brown’s ineptitude, Lucy’s aggressiveness. We ALL struggle with that. And we still love people because of who they are and, sometimes, despite how they behave.

Do you have a special connection with your character?

I have a special connection with ALL these characters. The Charlie Brown television holiday specials were always a favorite growing up! (And back then you could only watch them when they aired, around the time of the appropriate holiday: Christmas, Halloween, etc.)

What is the most exciting part about bringing this character to life on stage? 

As always, the most exciting part about doing a character at NCT is two-fold: working with the incredible creative staff/actors and then experiencing the audience reaction. It’s truly my favorite place to work.

What work have you done/will you do to prepare to play this character? 

Going into rehearsals, I’m only slightly familiar with the script and musical score, but I’m afraid I might have to dance. If so, that will take A LOT of work. I look silly when I try to dance!

Linus has his blanket that he is very attached to. Do you have an object that you are quite attached to or has special meaning for you? 

I have many objects I enjoy. I even have several collections: bottles of sand from far-away beaches I’ve walked on, salt and pepper shakers I inherited from my grandmother, and many, many more. I treasure them, but I could let them go. I nearly lost them all in the flood a few years back. I think your real “security blanket” are those people (and pets) you hold close. 

You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown will run at NCT until Sunday, Dec 23. Check out the schedule and view some fun Behind the Curtain videos about the production.

Martha vs Sally

Martha Wilkinson answers questions about herself and Sally

What attributes or traits do you share with your character?

We both ask "Why?" a lot... and we are both VERY straight forward--sometimes to a fault. Though I don't consider myself a "philosopher", I do like to search for reasons for certain things and don't always go on trust and faith. And we both get panicky about little things sometimes!

What attributes or traits of your character do you not share?

I don't share Sally's apathy or ease for problem solving...I'm kind a chronic "fixer". Also, Sally never thinks it’s her fault and I always think its mine.

Do you have a special connection with your character?

Yes. I like her frankness and admire how she can often see the bright side of things. I LOVE her romanticism about Linus.

What is the most exciting part about bringing this character to life on stage?

Getting to be a KID! I love the freedom that comes with that! And I'm excited to sing her song "My New Philosophy"!

What work have you done to prepare to play this character?

Watch little kids play together and talk, and though I will not try to copy the Peanuts characters per se, I will try to emulate aspects of her that are familiar to Schulz's comic character that we all know and love. I'll probably watch The Great Pumpkin as I do every year.

Sally has a new philosophy every other minute. What is your most recent philosophy?

Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer helps you grow, serves you, or makes you happy.


Come join the Peanuts fun at NCT!

View the performance schedule and some Behind the Curtain videos.

Shawn vs Charlie Brown

Shawn Knight answers questions about himself and Charlie Brown

What attributes or traits do you share with your character?

Charlie Brown is often very unsure of himself, and sometimes the harder he tries, the more foolish he looks. That's me all over!

Do you have a special connection with your character?

I have played Charlie Brown before and discovered how much Charlie Brown means to people. He's a sweet guy who only wants to make others happy and like him. I think everyone can relate to that.

What is the most exciting part about bringing this character to life on stage?

No matter how many times I read the PEANUTS comic strip, I always get a little jewel of wisdom from them about how to live life fully. The greatest thing about this show is that it is not limited to a mere few frames, like a comic strip is. It has so much to say about finding happiness in all the little things of life!

What work have you done/will you do to prepare to play this character?

I certainly intend to watch lots of Charlie Brown cartoon specials and relive those special moments from my childhood.

Charlie Brown always wants to fly a kite, but can never seem to keep it in the air. Is there something you've always wanted to do, but have never been able to?

I'm not a very athletic guy, but I am competitive and love playing games with others. I wish I had skills that would allow me to be a successful athlete in some way.

Make plans to join us for this show! Schedule of weekend shows, and Behind the Curtains can be found online our website.

One Team Builds it All

NCT's Technical Staff Tackles Charlie Brown

The different worlds you experience on NCT’s stage are built by the same three people. And often, that team has to straddle and conquer two worlds at once. Construction of Snoopy’s 8’ tall iconic doghouse commenced shortly after the theater began our performances of Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure in mid-September.

During the run of Sherlock Holmes, our multi-talented technical staff would orchestrate the behind the scenes needs and mayhem of Sherlock's world in the morning, and then transition into the elementary school world of PEANUTS in the afternoon.

Bill, Amanda and Michael on an oversized couch they built for
 You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.
The bigness makes adults look like kids.

Technical director Michael Redman both oversees the work and does much of the building, welding or whatever the set design requires. 

Building new worlds is no easy task, but Michael is supported by a dedicated team of two - forming a powerful trio. Scenic artist Amanda Meador wields paint brushes and sprayers with surgeon-like skill upon all the set pieces as well as the stage floor; and master electrician Bill Rios, who in addition to being a master of electricity, comfortably manipulates saws and grinders until the world on stage is sturdy and complete.

A team united!

Keep an eye on NCT's YouTube Channel for our series of Behind The Curtain videos. Topics range from how the shows get designed to how they are built and even actor and audience interviews. You may find yourself in one of them! 

See Mike slice a truck bed apart 

for last season's Holes production:

Amanda explains painting the set for

Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure

How Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure came to be

(L to R) Matthew Carlton as Dr. Watson,
David Compton as Sherlock Holmes

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself authored the first version of this script in 1896 or so. He submitted it to the great American impresario and theatre syndicate monopolist Charles Frohman, who suggested it be given to American actor/playwright/producer William H. Gillette for further development. Doyle agreed, cashed his option check and washed his hands of it. During rewrites, Gillette cabled Doyle, “May I marry Holmes?” Doyle’s reply was succinct. “Marry him, murder him, do what you like!”

The play Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle and W.H. Gillette, with Gillette in the title role, was a sensation in the 1899-1900 Broadway season and on subsequent tour throughout America, and was the first American play (and actor) to achieve financial and artistic success in London. Gillette’s performance originated many of the trademark details that the public has come to associate with the character; the houndstooth Inverness cape and deerstalker cap, the meerschaum pipe, the self-designation of his deductions to be of an elementary nature, and a scene between Holmes and Moriarty so electrifying that over a hundred years later, only geeky Sherlock Holmes nuts (we call them “Sherlockians” in America) know that the encounter is purely an invention of Gillette. He played Holmes on the stage for more than twenty years, but dominated the public’s expectations of the character for more than a century.

The play being a star vehicle for the co-author, Dr. Watson was, unfortunately, relegated to the background, functioning primarily as a sounding board for Holmes. Hollywood later compounded the situation by utilizing the good doctor as comic relief. Only readers recognized that this steadfast friendship between two seemingly mismatched companions – the stalwart man’s man and the brilliant, remote intellectual – was the central thread of the canon.

In 2006, American playwright and certifiable Sherlockian Steven Dietz adapted Gillette’s adaptation of Doyle’s own stage adaptation, retaining Gillette’s basic plot lines while bringing the characters more into line with Doyle’s original intent and, most importantly, returning Watson to his rightful place at center stage with Holmes. Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure has played at “adult” regional theatres across America, and wherever it has played, critics have acclaimed it as a wonderful piece “for the whole family.” I quite agree, in fact, I thought it the perfect play to launch our own foray into full-length presentation for our family audience.

The game is afoot, dear friends. Enjoy.

Scot Copeland

NCT Producing Director and

director of NCT's Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure