Finding Happiness with Charlie Brown at New Minowa Players

We hike Pulpit Rock for the views — and for the stories waiting at the top. Support Decorah News today. DECORAH — The Peanuts gang is coming to life on the New Minowa Players stage this winter with You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (Revised), a musical revue celebrating the beloved Charles Schulz's comic strip. Performances run Jan. 22–25 and 30–31, 2026. The production celebrates the Peanuts' 75th anniversary, making the show both a nostalgic tribute and a fresh reminder of why Schulz's characters continue to resonate generations later. Rather than following a single storyline, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown is a series of vignettes and musical numbers that capture everyday moments, including playing baseball, flying kites, wrestling with homework, pining after crushes, and searching for happiness. Directed by Sheryl Scheffert, the show holds personal significance for her as both an artist and a longtime Peanuts fan. "I've directed this show before and was hankering to do something with a small cast, and this is one of my favorites," Scheffert said. "My personal history with Peanuts is getting the Des Moines Register as a kid and having Dad read the comic to us before we could read." Scheffert hopes audiences leave the theatre feeling a sense of joy and recognition. "There's a time in childhood before we start realizing, 'Oh, I should be like this or like this,' and then later in life, 'Maybe I don't have to be like this,'" she said. "Before all of that happens, there's a window of 'we are who we are,' and that's what I feel this show represents." The cast includes both familiar New Minowa Players faces and newcomers. Rick Scheffert returns as Snoopy, marking his third time portraying the iconic beagle. "It's a fun thing to play a dog," he said with a laugh. "Like Snoopy, I feel every now and then that I've got to bite someone. For a show without a plot, it's very well-written and just fun." Rick Scheffert as Snoopy in NMP's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Revised) Cydney Weitzel Making his New Minowa Players debut is Gavin Mueller of Riceville, who takes on the title role of Charlie Brown. Mueller said traveling to Decorah for the production proved to be a rewarding leap of faith. "Theater is what I love," he said. "There aren't too many opportunities in my area this time of year, so I took a chance on coming to Decorah, and it's been one of the best decisions I've made." Mueller said he feels a strong personal connection to his character. "Like Charlie Brown, I relate to not always knowing what to say and striving to be as honest as I can be," he said. "I love the show's message of happiness. It's truly there if you can find it." Gavin Mueller as Charlie Brown in NMP's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Revised) Cydney Weitzel Doug Nalean-Carlson brings his classical piano background to the role of Schroeder, the serious young musician devoted to Beethoven. "I have classical piano training, and my wife describes me as a temperamental musician, so I suppose that's fitting for this character," he said. "Schulz's genius is tapping into those relationships between children, adults and pets, and how kids have these deep thoughts that can be easy to overlook." Nalean-Carlson said he believes the show offers a gentle but powerful reminder. "We all have this scary but wonderful freedom to choose to be happy," he said. Tickets and additional information are available at newminowaplayers.ludus.com. Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.