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Clark Gesner (March 27, 1938 – July 23, 2002) Clark Gesner at the Internet Movie Database was an American composer, songwriter, author, and actor. He is best known for composing the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, based on the Charles M. Schulz comic strip Peanuts.Peter, Thomas. "Top 10 Lists Announced for Most-Performed Plays and Musicals in High Schools" . Playbill.
None of his other musicals (most notably The Utter Glory of Morrissey Hall in 1979) had been able to match the success of ...Charlie Brown, though he had small success in regional productions (mostly Animal Fair in 1990).
Gesner's song "Happiness" became a hit standard in the 1960s, being recorded by various artists. The latter was also recorded in a smooth jazz version by David Benoit in May 2000, shortly after Charles M. Schulz's death, on an album entitled The album made it to #2 on the Billboard charts chart.David Benoit. - Charts & Awards: . - Allmusic. - Retrieved: 2008-07-20
Drafted into the United States Army in 1961, Gesner spent his two-year military career at Governor's Island and in Manhattan selling theater tickets at the USO in Times Square, where he regularly attended Broadway theater productions. He subsequently joined ASCAP in 1962.
At the time, Gesner had no plans for a musical based on this pre-production "concept album." However, producer Arthur Whitelaw, who would later go on to write another musical based on Peanuts, encouraged Gesner to turn the album into a musical. "'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown' Background, History, and Production Notes" imagi-nation.com
/ref> went into rehearsal in New York City on February 10, 1967. " Charlie Brown" Prior to its opening, the musical had no actual libretto; it was several vignettes with a musical number for each one. On March 7, 1967, the musical premiered Off-Broadway and was a big hit, running for 1,597 performances.Viagas, Robert. "Today In Theatre History: March 7". playbill.com, March 7, 2011. Walter Kerr in The New York Times called the show "a miracle", saying, "Almost everything works, because almost everything is effortless."Brantley, Ben. "THEATER REVIEW; Your Sister's Gutsy, Charlie Brown" nytimes.com, February 5, 1999.
Since its premiere, ...Charlie Brown has become an international success, spawning two Broadway theatre productions (a 1971 transfer and a 1999 revival), "Cast (Rapp, Bart & Wong), Dates & Pre-Bway Tour Finalized for Charlie Brown". Playbill. Oct 28 1998. over nine U.S. tours, 1970 US Tour listing a 1968 West End production, and a 2008 Manhattan concert performance,Gans, Andrew. "Deckman, Karr, Crowle, Floyd, Larsen and Miller Cast in Charlie Brown Benefit Concert", playbill.com, Oct 21 2008. along with productions in Baltimore, Baltimore listing Maryland,BWW News Desk. "'You're A Good Man Charlie Brown' Comes To Way Off Broadway 5/18-27" broadwayworld.comm May 27, 2010 New Jersey, New Jersey listing Toronto, Toronto listing and Altoona Altoona listing among others.
The Jello Is Always Red, a musical revue of cabaret songs with book, music and lyrics by Gesner, was staged off-Broadway in New York in 1998 by The York Theatre Company. The show played from June 3 to 28, 1998 at the York Theatre, lasting 11 previews and 21 regular performances.
Animal Fair, a show with book, music and lyrics by Gesner, is a series of vignettes that depict everyday animals in human situations. It premiered in 1990 at the Denver Center Theatre and was subsequently produced by Brooklyn's Gallery Players in 2001. Clark Gesner Retrieved 21 November 2010.
The Bloomers, a musical with music and lyrics by Gesner, and book by Garet Scott based on The Letter by Somerset Maugham, was first produced in May 2000 at the off-off-Broadway Red Room. Theatre World 1999-2000 By John Willis
Among Gesner's other works is a yet-to-be-produced musical based on the cartoon character Betty Boop. Gesner collaborated with Garet Scott on several off-off-Broadway movie parodies, including Down! Down! Down! Thirty Second To Hell, A Town Called Shame, and Bongo Fever. Playbill: Clark Gesner Shows His Bloomers At NYC's Red Room May 10-21 Retrieved 21 November 2010.
Some of Gesner's well known compositions include " The Ivy League Look", a song for the Triangle Club, The Ivy League Look Sat 14 Feb 2009 - Filed under: 1950s, Historic Texts, Top Drawer — Christian and "Little Known Facts", a musical number from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
As an actor, Gesner performed regionally in theatre productions, including 1776, Lend Me a Tenor, and Carnival!, among others.BackStage Clark Gesner, 63, Writer-Actor. AllBusiness, Friday, August 2, 2002 He sang on the original concept album of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown as Linus van Pelt and sang with Barbara Minkus on four on the original cast recording of the Off-Broadway cast of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Original Cast Album) {Bonus Track Version}
°°Nomination shared with Andrew Lippa
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