View source for Snoopy! The Musical

{{Short description|1975 musical}}
{{About|the stage musical|the 1988 animated television adaptation|Snoopy! The Musical (TV special)}}
{{Infobox Musical
|name= Snoopy!
|subtitle=The Musical
|image= Snoopy!!! The Musical - Original Off-Broadway Showbill, 1982.jpg 
|caption= Showbill cover of the original Off-Broadway production
|music= [[Larry Grossman (composer)|Larry Grossman]]
|lyrics= [[Hal Hackady]]
|book= Warren Lockhart<br> Arthur Whitelaw<br> Michael Grace
|basis= [[Charles M. Schulz]]'s [[comic strip]] ''[[Peanuts]]''
|productions= 1975 [[San Francisco]]<br>1982 [[Off-Broadway]]<br>1983 [[West End theatre|West End]]<br>2003 West End revival<!-- Include original production and major market productions only in the IB -->
|awards=
}}
'''''Snoopy: The Musical''''' is a [[musical comedy]] with music by [[Larry Grossman (composer)|Larry Grossman]], lyrics by [[Hal Hackady]], and a book by Warren Lockhart, Arthur Whitelaw, and Michael Grace. The characters are from the [[Charles M. Schulz]] [[comic strip]] ''[[Peanuts]]''. This sequel to the musical ''[[You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown]]'' focuses more on the life of [[Snoopy]]. Since its premiere, the musical has been a popular choice for regional, international, and [[amateur theatre]] performances.

==Productions==

=== Original San Francisco ===
''Snoopy: The Musical'' premiered on December 9, 1975 at the Little Fox Theatre in [[San Francisco]], California. Directed by Arthur Whitelaw, featured Don Potter as the title role. The costume design is by David Graden, with lighting by Ken Billington, orchestrations and vocals by Laurence J. Blank, produced by John Anderson, and choreography by Marc Breaux. The show opened to mixed reviews, not quite as critically acclaimed as ''You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown''.  The show closed on July 5, 1976.<ref>[https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/44685/snoopy-original Listing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022142004/https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/44685/snoopy-original |date=2020-10-22 }} ConcordTheatricals.com, accessed October 20, 2020</ref><ref>Suskin, Steven. ''Show tunes'' (2000), Oxford University Press US, {{ISBN|0-19-512599-1}}, p. 350</ref>

=== New York ===
The musical was produced [[Off-Broadway]] at the [[Lamb's Theatre]] opening December 20, 1982. Directed by Whitelaw, with [[David Garrison]] as Snoopy. The show performed 152 performances until it closed on May 1, 1983. The crew included Paul D. Hughes, Martin Markinson, Gene Persson, and Donald Tick as producers, Ronald Melrose as musical director, Marc Breaux returning as choreographer, David Graden returning as costume and set design, Ken Billington returning as lighting designer, James Walsh as general manager, Richard Humleker and C. George Willard as press representatives, and Melissa Davis as production manager. The [[Off-Broadway]] received similar reviews to the San Francisco production. Later, when [[Lorna Luft]] replaced Peppermint Patty, a new song was written for her, entitled "Hurry Up, Face". This song was used in later productions, including the West End.

A benefit [[concert]] presentation of ''Snoopy!'' was held at the Peter Norton Symphony Space in [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]], on April 12, 2004.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/84004-Sutton-and-Hunter-Foster-Christian-Borle-and-Ann-Harada-Set-for-All-Star-Snoopy-Benefit-Concert "''Snoopy!''"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629162953/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/84004-Sutton-and-Hunter-Foster-Christian-Borle-and-Ann-Harada-Set-for-All-Star-Snoopy-Benefit-Concert |date=2011-06-29 }} playbill.com</ref> Directed by Ben Rimalower, with [[Christian Borle]] starring in the title role, with Broadway star [[Sutton Foster]] as Peppermint Patty.

=== Toronto ===
The musical was first produced legitimately in Canada by the Toronto Civic Light Opera Company in January 1983.  Directed by Joe Cascone, the cast starred Brad Donovan as the title role. The company revived the show in 1995 with Cascone now playing the title role.

=== London ===
The musical first opened previews September 16, 1983. The musical ran at the [[West End theatre|West End]] [[Duchess Theatre]], opening September 20, 1983<ref>[http://www.thisistheatre.com/shows/duchess83.html ''Snoopy'' at the Duchess Theatre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091116171938/http://www.thisistheatre.com/shows/duchess83.html |date=2009-11-16 }} thisistheatre.com, accessed July 30, 2009</ref> and starred Teddy Kempner as Snoopy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/65766/snoopy-london-version |title=Snoopy!!! (London Version){{!}}Concord Theatricals |access-date=2020-12-09 |archive-date=2020-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205085138/https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/65766/snoopy-london-version |url-status=live }}</ref> The show closed on November 11, 1984, after 479 performances. ''Snoopy!!!'' was critically  acclaimed, and was a success, leading to a revival in 2003.

''Snoopy'' was revived at the West End [[Jermyn Street Theatre]] in February 2003 for 14 performances.<ref name=mark/> It was directed by Joseph Pitcher and featured Stephen Carlile as Snoopy and Neil Gordon-Taylor as Charlie Brown. The musical ran at the New Players Theatre in [[London]], in July 2004, with several cast members from the Jermyn Street production and again directed by Whitelaw, the original director. Robin Armstrong replaced Snoopy, and Stephen Kynman replaced Charlie Brown.<ref>Loveridge, Lizzie.[http://www.curtainup.com/snoopythemusical.html "A CurtainUp Review:Snoopy the Musical"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091116114925/http://www.curtainup.com/snoopythemusical.html |date=2009-11-16 }} curtainup.com, February 17, 2003</ref><ref>[http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/news/snoopy.htm "Snoopy! The Musical Returns,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610013146/http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/news/snoopy.htm |date=2011-06-10 }} britishtheatreguide.info, 12 June 2004</ref>

=== Brisbane, Australia ===
The musical played at The Queensland Performing Arts Center in The Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane (The Queensland Theatre Company) from October through December 1986. It then transferred to The Gold Coast in January 1987. Directed by Greg Gesch, starring Jack Webster as Snoopy, Patrick Phillips as Charlie Brown and Zoe Bertram as Lucy.

=== San Marcos, Texas ===
A revised version, under the name ''The World According to Snoopy'' came to Texas State University from February 14–19, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/snoopy-musical-will-get-re-imagined |title=Snoopy!!! Musical Will Get Re-Imagined{{!}}Playbill |access-date=2020-04-20 |archive-date=2020-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108120730/https://www.playbill.com/article/snoopy-musical-will-get-re-imagined |url-status=live }}</ref> The musical was directed by Kaitlin Hopkins and starred a cast of students. Grossman was directly involved with this production: besides revising the book and adding or removing songs, Grossman collaborated with [[Andrew Lippa]] (who had previously contributed new music to the 1999 Broadway revival of ''You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown'') on the new song "Husband Material".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Beaver |first1=Lynn |title=Review: THE WORLD ACCORDING TO SNOOPY - A Dazzling Debut |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/austin/article/BWW-Review-THE-WORLD-ACCORDING-TO-SNOOPY-A-Dazzling-Debut-20170214 |website=BroadwayWorld |access-date=27 January 2023 |archive-date=27 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127050224/https://www.broadwayworld.com/austin/article/BWW-Review-THE-WORLD-ACCORDING-TO-SNOOPY-A-Dazzling-Debut-20170214 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Cape Town, South Africa ===
The musical ran at the Artscape Arena in Cape Town, South Africa in February 2018, starring Jaydon Farao in the title role of Snoopy. The musical was produced by G&S, directed by Darryl Spijkers, musical direction by Kathy Lin, Set Design by Waldo Buckle and Zain Cassiem and Costume Design by David Pamplin.

== Synopsis ==
''The show is a "series of self-contained vignettes".''<ref name=mark>Shenton, Mark.[http://www.whatsonstage.com/reviews/theatre/london/E8821090487279/Snoopy%21+The+Musical.html "Snoopy!The Musical"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616071841/http://www.whatsonstage.com/reviews/theatre/london/E8821090487279/Snoopy!+The+Musical.html |date=2011-06-16 }}, whatsonstage.com, 21 July 2004</ref>

;Act I
As the curtain rises, each character enters and finds [[Snoopy]] atop his doghouse, and they all describe "The World According To Snoopy". Later, [[Lucy van Pelt|Lucy]] and [[Charlie Brown]] have a brief discussion of why he has chosen Snoopy for a pet ("Snoopy's Song"), which almost leads to Lucy getting Charlie Brown to buy a new pet. Snoopy, hoping to please his owner, decides to try to follow Charlie Brown's directions better. Meanwhile, [[Woodstock (Peanuts)|Woodstock]] begins his day ("Woodstock's Theme"), but to his dismay, he seems to have fallen in love with a worm. [[Peppermint Patty]] has similar problems with love, wishing that she could be prettier to impress Charlie Brown ("Hurry Up, Face").

In school, the group hopes that the teacher will not call on them to answer a question about the famous poet [[Edgar Allan Poe]]. The girls are having trouble, while the boys are confident ("Edgar Allan Poe"). Linus says everything correct, with Charlie Brown saying the opposite.  On [[Mother's Day]], Snoopy reflects on how much he misses his lost mother ("Mother's Day"). Meanwhile, [[Sally Brown|Sally]], Peppermint Patty, and Lucy have a happy discussion on what they've learned in their lives ("I Know Now").

On [[Halloween]], [[Linus van Pelt|Linus]], along with a reluctant Snoopy, awaits the arrival of the [[Great Pumpkin]] in the pumpkin patch ("The Vigil"). To his dismay, the great pumpkin never arrives, like every year. The next morning, the group looks up at the clouds where they imagine [[Mount Rushmore]], [[dragons]] and [[horse|twenty milk-white horses]] ("Clouds"), but when asked what he sees, Charlie Brown can only sadly say, "A [[horse|horsie]] and a [[duck]]ie."

Snoopy enters as the Easter Beagle to hand out bright Easter eggs to everyone, except Charlie Brown. A dejected Charlie Brown, musing on the new independence of his pet, is left alone ("Where Did That Little Dog Go?"). Similar events progress, and Lucy, Peppermint Patty, and Sally try to sell Snoopy for less than a dime ("Dime a Dozen"), though Snoopy is quick to realize that he must mend his ways and wishes that he could start over ("Daisy Hill").

Life soon goes back to normal and the gang seems to have forgotten those events. They are however, beginning to think, as Lucy says, that they live "in the most boring place in the whole stupid world!", all of them asking the same question, if anything good will happen. They decide to organize a party, but Snoopy isn't allowed. Snoopy decides he will have his own party and still will have a fun time ("When Do the Good Things Start?")

;Act II
The show reopens with the whole gang thinking about how friends help each other all the time ("Friend"). Unfortunately, ''Playbeagle'' (a play on ''[[Playboy]])'' has decided not to publish Snoopy's manuscript, but Snoopy's spirits remain undaunted even amid the throes of rejection, as he begins [[It was a dark and stormy night|his new story]] ("The Great Writer"). The story is only a spoof off classic movies, and is rejected by the writers.
Later, Peppermint Patty  expresses her love for Charlie Brown ("Poor Sweet Baby"), but soon says that "it'll never happen" out of embarrassment. Sally asks Linus if he can go to the movies, but he rejects. However, Sally is still confident that one day Linus will marry her ("Husband Material")

Sally, seeing leaves fall from a tree, remarks that there is something to learn from the cycle of life ("Don't Be Anything Less Than Everything You Can Be"). While sitting atop his doghouse, Snoopy receives a letter delivered by Woodstock: he has become Head Beagle. Snoopy celebrates his success happily, ready for anything ("The Big Bow-Wow").

Later, the gang begins a discussion of [[Christmas]] and innocence. Then, looking up at the starry sky, Charlie Brown remarks "I think that there must be a tiny star out there that is my star." They reflect on their friendships and realize that if one person changes their world, they might as well be friends forever ("Just One Person"). Linus remarks to Charlie Brown, "Well, as Lucy always says, he isn't much of a dog." Snoopy replies, "But, after all, who is?" After the show, a bow is sung with a reprise of "Don't Be Anything Less Than Everything You Can Be".

== Musical numbers ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Act I
* "Overture" - Orchestra (different music in West End production)
* "The World According to Snoopy" - Company
* "Snoopy's Song" - Snoopy and Company††
* "Woodstock's Theme" - Orchestra
* "Hurry Up, Face" - Peppermint Patty(†)
* "Edgar Allan Poe" - Peppermint Patty, Lucy, Sally, Linus, and Charlie Brown
* "Mother's Day" - Snoopy†
* "I Know Now" - Sally, Peppermint Patty, and Lucy
* "The Vigil" - Linus
* "Clouds" - Company
* "Where Did That Little Dog Go?" - Charlie Brown
* "Dime a Dozen" - Lucy, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, and Sally†
* "Daisy Hill" - Snoopy
* "When Do The Good Things Start?" - Company†
{{col-break}}
;Act II
* "Entr'acte" - Orchestra† (original "Overture" music in West End production)
* "Friend" - Company‡
* "The Great Writer" - Snoopy
* "Poor Sweet Baby" - Peppermint Patty
* "Husband Material" - Sally⹋
* "Don't Be Anything Less Than Everything You Can Be" - Sally, Linus, Peppermint Patty, and Charlie Brown
* "The Big Bow-Wow" - Snoopy
* "Just One Person" - Snoopy and Company
* "Don't Be Anything Less Than Everything You Can Be" (reprise) - Company†
{{col-end}}
:† Added for the West End production and later
:††Not included in the original cast recording
:(†) Added for the Off-Broadway production
:‡ Act one finale from 1975 to 1982; Not included in any productions from 1982 to 2017
:⹋ Added for the San Marcos production; Music by [[Larry Grossman (composer)|Larry Grossman]] and lyrics by [[Andrew Lippa]]

==Major production casts==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Character
! [[San Francisco]]<br>{{small|(1975)}}
! [[Off-Broadway]]<br>{{small|(1982)}}
! [[West End theatre|West End]]<br>{{small|(1983)}}
! West End revival<br>{{small|(2003)}}
|-
! [[Snoopy]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Don Potter
| style="text-align:center;" | [[David Garrison]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Teddy Kempner
| style="text-align:center;" | Stephen Carlile
|-
! [[Charlie Brown]]
| style="text-align:center;" | James Gleason
| style="text-align:center;" | Terry Kerwin
| style="text-align:center;" | Robert Locke
| style="text-align:center;" | Neil Gordon-Taylor
|-
! [[Lucy van Pelt]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Janell Pulis
| style="text-align:center;" | Kay Cole
| style="text-align:center;" | Zoë Bright
| style="text-align:center;" | Sarah Lark
|-
! [[Linus van Pelt]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Jimmy Dodge
| style="text-align:center;" | Stephen Fenning
| style="text-align:center;" | Mark Hadfield
| style="text-align:center;" | Stuart Piper
|-
! [[Sally Brown]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Randi Kallan
| style="text-align:center;" | Deborah Graham
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Susie Blake]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Clare Louise Connolly
|-
! [[Peppermint Patty]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Pamela Myers]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Vicki Lewis]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Nicky Croydon
| style="text-align:center;" | Kellie Ryan
|-
! [[Woodstock (Peanuts)|Woodstock]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | Cathy Cahn
| style="text-align:center;" | Anthony Best
| style="text-align:center;" | Alex Woodhall
|}

===Notable cast replacements===
;Off-Broadway
*'''Snoopy''' - [[Jason Graae]]
*'''Peppermint Patty''' - [[Lorna Luft]]

==Recordings==
Around 1976, the original cast album was released with all songs from the original production. The musical was re-released on CD in 1991, while on digital in 2000, with a strange glitch making all the songs in caps lock. 
{{Infobox album
| name       = Snoopy!!! The Musical: Original Cast Recording
| type       = soundtrack
| longtype   = cast recording
| artist     = Original Cast of ''Snoopy!!!''
| cover      =
| alt        = 
| released   = {{Start date|df=yes|1976}}
| recorded   = September 7, 1975
| venue      =
| studio     = [[Wally Heider Studios]], [[San Francisco]]
| genre      = {{flatlist|
* [[Show tune]]
* [[comedy music|musical comedy]]
}}
| length     = {{duration|m=41|s=09}}
| label      = DRG Records
| producer   = [[Larry Grossman (composer)|Larry Grossman]] and Jim Ed Norman
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}
All tracks are written and composed by [[Larry Grossman (composer)|Larry Grossman]] and Hal Hackady.
{{Track listing
| extra_column = 
| title1 = Overture" / "The World According to Snoopy
| length1 = 2:03
| title2 = Woodstock's Theme
| length2 = 0:49
| title3 = Edgar Allan Poe
| length3 = 2:39
| title4 = I Know Now
| length4 = 2:30
| title5 = The Vigil
| length5 = 3:21
| title6 = Clouds
| length6 = 2:55
| title7 = Where Did That Little Dog Go?
| length7 = 2:31
| title8 = Daisy Hill
| length8 = 2:49
| title9 = Friend
| length9 = 3:48
| title10 = The Great Writer
| length10 = 6:04
| title11 = Poor Sweet Baby
| length11 = 3:05
| title12 = Don't Be Anything Less Than Everything You Can Be
| length12 = 2:55
| title13 = The Big Bow-Wow
| length13 = 2:57
| title14 = Just One Person
| length14 = 2:43
| total_length = 41:09
}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Snoopy!!! The Musical: Original London Cast Recording
| type       = soundtrack
| longtype   = cast recording
| artist     = Original London Cast of ''Snoopy!!!''
| cover      = Snoopymusical.jpg
| alt        = 
| released   = {{Start date|df=yes|1983}}
| recorded   = September 12, 1983
| venue      =
| studio     = [[Abbey Road Studios]], [[London]]
| genre      = {{flatlist|
* [[Show tune]]
* [[comedy music|musical comedy]]
}}
| length     = {{duration|m=57|s=02}}
| label      = That's Entertainment Records
| producer   = Norman Newell
| prev_title =
| prev_year  =
| next_title =
| next_year  =
}}
In 1983, the original West End original cast album was released. In 1998, it was released on CD, and in 2004, it was released on digital. The cast recording had the new songs for the West End production, including "Hurry Up, Face" from the 1982 Off-Broadway production. All tracks are written and composed by [[Larry Grossman (composer)|Larry Grossman]] and [[Hal Hackady]]. In 2018, in the collection ''Broadway to West End'' highlights from the original cast album were released, excluding "Overture", "Woodstock's Theme", "Hurry Up, Face", "Mother's Day", "The Vigil", "Dime a Dozen", "When Do the Good Things Start?", "Entr'acte", and "Don't Be Anything Less Than Everything You Can Be" (reprise).

{{Track listing
| extra_column = 
| title1 = Overture
| length1 = 3:08
| title2 = The World According to Snoopy
| length2 = 1:41
| title3 = Snoopy's Song
| length3 = 2:20
| title4 = Woodstock's Theme
| length4 = 0:35
| title5 = Hurry Up, Face
| length5 = 2:17
| title6 = Edgar Allan Poe
| length6 = 2:50
| title7 = Mother's Day
| length7 = 3:36
| title8 = I Know Now
| length8 = 3:07
| title9 = The Vigil
| length9 = 3:35
| title10 = Clouds
| length10 = 2:54
| title11 = Where Did That Little Dog Go?
| length11 = 2:33
| title12 = Dime a Dozen
| length12 = 2:03
| title13 = Daisy Hill
| length13 = 3:17
| title14 = When Do the Good Things Start?
| length14 = 3:54
| title15 = Entr'acte
| length15 = 1:51
| title16 = The Great Writer
| length16 = 6:04
| title17 = Poor Sweet Baby
| length17 = 3:20
| title18 = Don't Be Anything Less Than Everything You Can Be
| length18 = 2:47
| title19 = The Big Bow-Wow
| length19 = 3:25
| title20 = Just One Person" / "Don't Be Anything Less Than Everything You Can Be Reprise
| length20 = 3:36
| total_length = 57:02
}}

==Response==
Reviewing the Off-Broadway production during its Boston tryout, Carolyn Clay of ''[[The Phoenix (newspaper) | The Boston Phoenix]]'' said that the show "is small and cute and very eager; there is just more whimsy than meat on this pup's bones." Clay was particularly miffed at the lead character's attenuated appearances: "rather than hoof himself dog-tired in the service of art, [Snoopy] grants his presence judiciously, particularly in the show's wearyingly jejune first act — the low point of which comes when Snoopy’s canary chum Woodstock, played by Cathy Cahn, turns out to be a mime (perhaps the cat has her tongue)."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clay |first1=Carolyn |title=Dog day afternoon - Snoopy!!!: the paws that refresh |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_boston-phoenix_1982-11-16_11_46/page/n76/mode/1up |access-date=October 2, 2024 |work=The Boston Phoenix |date=November 16, 1982}}</ref>

In his review of the 1982 Lamb's Theatre production, [[Mel Gussow]] wrote: "If the musical [''Snoopy!!!''] were nose-to-nose with Mr. (David) Garrison's performance, it would be a subject for celebration. Sadly, this sequel ...is a hand-me-down...the show meanders all over play-school country. The book, which is credited to three individual writers as well as a task force called 'Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates' is a pastepot of ''Peanuts'' dialogue that wanders into various other neighborhoods in order to accommodate the score."<ref>Gussow, Mel. "Stage: Snoopy is Back On Doghouse Singing", ''The New York Times'', December 24, 1982, p.C6</ref>

In the 1983 West End production ''The Guardian'' reviewed "The astringency of the jokes is belied by Hal Hackady's lyrics which place great stress on the American success ethic... This innocent-looking revue certainly makes its point that the child is father of the wisecracking man; but I still can't help feeling that brevity is the soul of strip".

In reviewing the 2004 London production, the ''Whats On Stage'' reviewer noted "...this is a show for all ages and all seasons - and as a sunny summer's entertainment, could hardly be bettered. The musical retains the fast, sharp comic appeal and instantly recognisable characterisations of the line-drawing originals, but also irresistibly brings it to human form by buoying up its snapshot scenes with the tuneful ease of the light, bright melodies of composer Larry Grossman's settings to Hal Hackaday's apt, witty lyrics."<ref name=mark/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.lortel.org/lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&title=Snoopy Snoopy!!! The Musical] at [[Internet Off-Broadway Database]]
*[http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_s/snoopy.htm Listing at guidetomusicaltheatre.com]
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0174222/ Internet Movie Database, ''Snoopy:The Musical'', 1988]

{{Peanuts filmography}}

[[Category:1975 musicals]]
[[Category:Off-Broadway musicals]]
[[Category:Musicals based on comic strips]]
[[Category:Peanuts music]]
[[Category:Works based on Peanuts (comic strip)]]