Clark Gesner (center) with the original cast of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"
Clark Gesner (March 2, 1938 – July 23, 2002) was an American composer, who wrote, directed and composed the musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."
Early life[]
Clark Gesner was born on March 2, 1938, in Augusta, Maine. He later moved to Brooklyn, New York, before attending high school in Plainfield, New Jersey, and going to Princeton University.
In 1955, Gesner wrote and composed for the television show Captain Kangaroo.
He was drafted into the army in 1961, though he spent his two years at Governor's Island and in Manhattan. In 1962 he joined ASCAP, and worked for the television show Mister Mayor in 1964.
Work on You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown[]
Gesner wrote some songs based on the Peanuts comic strip in the early 1960s, but could not get permission from the United Features Syndicate to record them. Eventually, Gesner sent Charles Schulz a tape of the songs, and soon received permission to make a Concept Album. He didn't plan a musical out of the album, but Arthur Whitelaw- who would go on to write Snoopy!!! The Musical- convinced him to turn his songs into a stage show.
Rehearsals for "You're a Good Man" began in New York City on February 10, 1967. It premiered Off-Broadway on March 7 of the same year, running for 1,597 performances.
The original production was nominated for two Grammy Awards, one for Best Score from an Original Cast Show Album and one for Best Musical Show Album, and won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Production.