Good grief, ‘Charlie Brown’: ‘Peanuts’ creator’s daughter attends students’ musical

If Charlie Brown had ever tried to get a celebrity to attend his school play, it seems inevitable that something, just something, would have gone wrong.

Fortunately, Charlie Brown doesn’t attend Northwood High School.

The Irvine school, which is presenting the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” through Saturday, played host Thursday evening to a member of the “Peanuts” family — Jill Schulz, daughter of Charles Schulz, who created the classic animated characters. The words “good grief” may be in order.

Students on the Northwood High drama department’s publicity team figured that contacting a member of the late cartoonist’s family was worth a try. Sophomore Renee Firth said she and her classmates found Jill Schulz on LinkedIn and sent her a message inviting her to the show.

Renee, who calls herself a longtime “Peanuts” fan and said her family watches “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” around Halloween each year, was surprised when a response came a day later.

“I was very excited,” she said. “I was a little bit surprised about how fast it came back, and I was impressed, but mostly excited that we were going to have this opportunity.”

The school’s performance of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” written by Clark Gesner and first performed in 1967, unofficially honors two anniversaries: Peanuts debuted in newspapers 65 years ago, and Charles Schulz died 15 years ago, on Feb. 12, 2000.

Dan Chmielewski, whose daughter is an assistant stage manager in the Northwood show, said he has a hunch why the invitation worked.

“I think if I would have sent Jill Schulz an email asking her to the show, she would have said no,” he said. “But the fact that the kids sent it, I think, is what did it.”

According to Jill Schulz, that analysis isn’t far off. The Santa Barbara resident, who directs the action sports entertainment company All Wheel Sports Productions, said she was moved by the students’ initiative. She said her daughter is involved in theater and that she enjoys seeing musicals when she can.

“I looked at [the email] at first and I assumed it was their show director,” Schulz said. “Then I realized it was the kids, and I thought that was great. I love that, I respect that, and I love Broadway musicals. If I could start my life over, I would love to have singing skills and be able to do what they do.”

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IF YOU GO

What: “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”

Where: Northwood High School, 4515 Portola Pkwy., Irvine

When: 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday

Cost: $18 for adults, $15 for students and seniors

Information: (949) 936-7262 or https://www.northwoodhigh.org