Laís Gabriela Flores gives a monologue during a rehearsal for Marietta College's production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" on Monday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

A pair of student theater productions are offering audiences two sharply contrasting interpretations of familiar characters, as performers and crew present “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” and “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” in repertory. The shows run April 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18 at 7 p.m.

The productions are staged in rep, meaning the shows are performed one right after another. Additionally, cast members perform in one show while serving as crew for the other, an approach faculty say is designed to deepen students’ understanding of all aspects of theater.

Andy Felt, artistic director and director of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” said the musical centers on themes of innocence, nostalgia and human connection, drawing from the enduring appeal of Charles Schulz’s Peanuts characters.

“It’s completely pure and innocent,” Felt said. “There’s something that is super nostalgic … but there’s also something that’s affirming about the values that we have.”

Felt described the characters as embodying “everything that’s good about America in a very innocent, pure way,” adding that the production aims to reconnect audiences with a sense of childhood wonder.

The cast of "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" at Marietta College rehearses a number Monday evening. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

“Our guiding light in the production … was, does this inspire feelings of childlike whimsy? Is there wonder in it?” he said.

Unlike a traditional musical with a central plot, Felt said the structure of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” resembles a series of comic strips brought to life on stage.

“It really is (more) like reading the comic strip … than it is one story,” he said.

That episodic format presents unique challenges for performers, who must create emotional continuity without a single narrative arc, while still capturing the recognizable traits of iconic characters.

Felt said attention to detail — even down to elements such as the color of Schroeder’s piano — reflects the production’s effort to balance audience expectations with creative interpretation.

Maurice Riley (Charlie Brown) sings during a rehearsal for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" at Marietta College on Monday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

“We know that audience members want to be comforted by what they see on stage,” he said.

In contrast, “Dog Sees God,” directed by Sophie Wheeler, explores darker themes, reimagining the Peanuts characters as teenagers navigating issues such as bullying, trauma and identity.

“It’s a play told from the perspective of the Peanuts kids in high school,” Wheeler said. “It also deals with hardships that teenagers face … and how important it is to find community in the people around you.”

Wheeler said presenting the two productions together highlights a progression from childhood innocence to the more complex realities of adolescence.

Felt said that contrast was central to the decision to stage the productions in repertory.

From left, Riley Anslow (Lucy) rehearses a scene alongside Jackson Bandy (Schroeder) for Marietta College's production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" Monday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

“That idea of two shows that are so drastically different … just watching the childlike innocence and wonder … and then watching the loss of innocence … in one night was something that I thought was going to be worthy of doing,” he said.

The repertory format also serves an educational purpose, allowing students to gain experience both onstage and behind the scenes.

“The idea of doing a rep is that the cast of one production is the backstage crew of the other production,” Felt said. “Being backstage makes you a better performer … and having to get on stage makes you a better technician.”

Students involved in the productions said the format is demanding but rewarding.

Jackson Bandy, a junior portraying Schroeder in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” also works as assistant costume designer and wardrobe for “Dog Sees God.”

Riley Matchinga, who plays Snoopy, performs a song during a rehearsal for Marietta College's production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." (Photo by Gwen Sour)

“My favorite part of working on the show has probably been the overall experience of doing two shows in rep,” Bandy said.

He described balancing performance and technical responsibilities as “overwhelming,” but said it provides valuable preparation for professional theater environments.

Riley Anslow, a junior performing in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” while assisting backstage, said the experience has been both challenging and meaningful.

“What I’m most excited about is just basically playing the characters that I’ve grown up watching with just a bunch of my friends,” Anslow said.

Anslow also contributes to set changes and props, helping move scenic elements during performances.

From left, Jackson Vargo (Linus) performs alongside Riley Anslow (Lucy) in Marietta College's production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown". (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Lee Hankinson, who plays Van’s sister in “Dog Sees God,” said portraying a character with emotional complexity has required a different acting approach.

“I don’t have a lot of physical acting, so it very much has to be verbal,” Hankinson said.

In addition to performing, Hankinson serves as choreographer for “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” managing musical numbers and adapting to production changes, including last-minute shifts in music accompaniment.

Students said the collaborative nature of the productions has strengthened the ensemble.

“I think this is going to be a cast I’m going to mourn, because we all just get along, that everything just clicks,” Anslow said.

The productions also present an unusual experience for audiences, who can view both shows in a single evening with a brief intermission between them.

Felt noted that while “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is family-friendly, “Dog Sees God” includes more mature themes, and audiences are encouraged to review content advisories.

Still, he said the pairing offers a unique opportunity to reflect on how perspectives change over time.

“It really is that same group of characters … and what happens from one stage of life to another,” Felt said.

Tickets are available at mariettacollege.yapsody.com.