You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown was produced by the Vibrant Colors Collective Multicultural Student Theatre Company for their annual Fall Retelling production. The goals of this project were to reimagine the classic stories of Charlie Brown and its musical production through a multicultural lens with a cast entirely made up of people of color.

As the scenic designer of this production, working in Northwestern’s black-box student theatre, I had an entirely blank slate on which to design a show that showcased the age-old stories of Charlie Brown while highlighting the unique themes of the multicultural production. Informed by research on the musical’s history and the Charlie Brown series, I designed a show that focused on diversity, color, and multicultural joy.

The set's centerpiece was a sun with rays of light emitting from it under a larger-than-life, cartoonish tree. By building a raised platform, painting precisely measured rays, and rigging a tree with curtains in the center of the set, we built an environment characterized by color, wonder, and joy. Surrounded by clouds, interactive props, and Snoopy’s classic doghouse, the stage was set for an immersive, unique, and diverse production.