You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (Revised) Cast

John Branwell (Snoopy) is very excited and honored to be playing the role of everyone's favorite beagle! John's first production with what co was 5 years ago, appearing in "The Old Time Radio Show". Most recently, he appeared as director Victor Le Pewe in "Drop Dead", the first production for what co in our new venue. Besides very active in theater (both musically and artistically) while attending Kearny High School, John went on to be casted in the role of Daddy Warbucks in a production of "Annie", where he had the golden opportunity to work along side his daughter, Olivia. He is a third generation native Kearny resident and has maintained his Podiatry practice in this great town for 23+ years. He serves as co-chairperson of the annual Oratorical and Art Contests sponsored by The Kearny Optimist Club, where all grammar and middle school Kearny students are encouraged to participate. And as a fun fact, John made his television debut in September 2018 as a contestant on "Wheel of Fortune"! John owes his accomplishments and success to the two greatest parents and is forever grateful to Percy (his 22 month old Jack Russell Terrier) for the inspiration and enthusiasm as his portrayal of a dog's life in today's production!

This is his 14th production with WHATCO, having played roles in, Little Shop, Forum, Schoolhouse Rock, ELF, and Beauty and the Beast. Little Mermaid, Arsenic and Old Lace, It’s A Wonderful Life, Bleacher Bums, Godspell, Cinderella, the 2 radio plays, and A Christmas Carol, and The Fantasticks. Theater has always been a big part of my life since I started in my early teens at the Halfpenny Playhouse on Midland Avenue. Over the years I have traveled far and wide to perform and I’m happy to have a theater group in Kearny again and the chance to be a part of it. As a teenager I go involved in the theater and it has changed my life. It has brought me wisdom, power, most of my friends and experiences I never would have had. I would not be where I am today without it. So thank you to all the directors, musicians, actors and all involved for sharing your talents with me. And to you the audience, Thank You, who support and enjoy the magic of the theater.

Ro is excited to be joining West Hudson Arts & Theater Company for the production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, having recently appeared in Gypsy (Tessie Tura) with the Brundage Park Players and Man of La Mancha (Antonia) with the Theater League of Clifton. Previous credits include: Cinderella (Ensemble), Play On (Louise), La Traviata (chorister), The Barber of Seville (Ensemble), Madame Butterfly (chorister), Joseph and The Technicolor Dreamcoat (Ensemble), Ragtime (Ensemble), Noises Off (Belinda Blair), M*A*S*H* (Captain Bridget McCarthy). In addition to staged shows, Ro regularly sings with the para-professional choir, Ember, and studied Classical Vocal Performance at Seton Hall University.

Christopher is ecstatic to be making his debut at WHATCo this Spring! He returned to the stage after a six-year hiatus last Summer when he performed in Shrek the Musical (Lord Farquaad) at Spotlight Players in Matawan, NJ. Some of his notable roles include George Orwell’s 1984 (Jules), A Christmas Carol (Ebenezer Scrooge), and Curtains (Lt. Frank Cioffi). He graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Anthropology, however, he recently decided to pursue a different career path. He is currently working as a Broadway Press Agent at Boneau/Bryan-Brown in New York City. He represents multiple Broadway/Off-Broadway shows, including Death of a Salesman (2022 Revival), Almost Famous (2022), KPOP (2022), Peter Pan Goes Wrong (2023), The Cottage (2023), Rock & Roll Man: The Alan Freed Story (2023), Ali (2024), and many more. He’d like to thank his family, friends & Sebastian for their immense support, and YOU, for supporting New Jersey’s community theatres! Instagram: @jerseybones

Frankie Perez is so very excited to be on stage and acting a fool again in WHATCo's YAGMCB! Some of his favorite roles include William Barfeé (Spelling Bee), Shrek (Shrek the Musical), Rod (Avenue Q), Beast (Beauty & The Beast), Sammy (The Wedding Singer), and many more. Adulting is hard folks, it stops you from doing some of the things you love, BUT YOU MAKE IT WORK. He'd like to thank every person who has supported him in auditioning again (you know who you are) from the bottom of his heart. Once you're a theater nerd, no matter how long you're away, "Happiness" is always finding your way back.

Maria Ruppert is very excited to be a part of her first production with WHATco as Sally Brown in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. She has loved the stage and this show since she was a little girl. Some of her favorite memories include car rides with her mom, listening to musicals and learning every part. Some of her favorite past roles include Mayzie (Seussical) at St. Anne Stages, Mayor of Bikini Bottom (SpongeBob Squarepants) and Sister Mary Leo (Nunsense) at RosenPAC, Nadine (Wild Party at OLT), Florika (Hunchback of Notre Dame), Adella (The Little Mermaid), Enid Hoopes (Legally Blonde), and Tommy Boy (Newsies) at Rhino Theater. She is also a member of Triad Choir, The Players Guild of Leonia, and a virtual theater group called Enter Stage Left. In her off-stage life, Maria has a BS and MS in chemistry and music and works as a Senior Application Lab Chemist (Personal Care) at Gattefossé, a sales rep and coach at MudSweatTears, and a Princess for parties and events. (#doallthethings) She loves her friends, family, Juan and obviously her dogs Lucas & Columbia. She is super happy to have met and be working with such wonderful talented people at WHATco!

Michelle has been in productions with WHATCo since she got the role of Kira in Xanadu in 2012. Some of her favorites include Godspell (Celeste), 24 hour Musical: Back to the 80s, Cat in the Hat (Sally), Cinderella (Cinderella), Sleeping Beauty (Flora), Grease (Sandy), and Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Love to my family for their support and to the cast for their incredible hard work. A big THANK YOU to all of you for supporting this theater, enjoy the show! Happiness is being here with YOU.

Samantha is excited to make her WhatCo debut with such an amazing cast! She has previously acted in numerous local and community theatre productions in Rhode Island and Massachusetts over the past two decades. Some of her favorite roles include Soupy Sue (Urinetown), Mayor Maggie (Bat Boy), and Esther (Cartoon). Samantha would like to thank her husband, Brian, and their pup, Winston, for their support, and her best friend, Megan, for her encouragement to return to the stage.

Nichole Vaiknoras is delighted to be making her WHATCo debut! Nichole last appeared as Jan in Bedroom Farce with the Players Guild of Leonia. She has also appeared as Torrey in Freaky Friday, Fraulein Kost in Cabaret, the witch in The Witch in 204, and Snoopy in YAGMCB. Nichole wants to thank her husband (the Charlie Brown to her Snoopy), and the fabulous cast and crew for such a wonderful show!

Jonathan Rueda has been an actor since high school. He attended Bergen Community College, New York Film Academy, where He received an associate degree including a certificate for film acting. This is his first time working with What co art and theatre company. He is very excited and honored to be on stage with an amazing cast and crew.

Holly Stefanik (Violet) is thrilled to be returning to the WHATCo stage! She was recently seen as Gayle in Almost Maine! Some other recent performance credits include Beauty and the Beast (Mrs. Potts), Legally Blonde (Margot) and Chamber Music (Woman with Gavel). She has also recently directed 21 Chump Street and Tony Ricci Has Acid Reflux at Drew University. Holly graduated from Drew with her B.A. in Theatre Arts, where she won the Oxnam Playwriting Award for her play In The Name of the Mother. She also previously worked off-off-Broadway stage managing Bro-tox in 2020. Huge thanks to her family, friends and the entire Charlie Brown team for all their love and support! Enjoy the show!

Angelina Aragona (Blanket) is a second year fourth grade teacher. In 2017, she received her associate degree in theater with a concentration in Acting at Bergen Community College. In 2021 she graduated from Ramapo College where she double majored in Acting and Elementary Education. She then obtained her master’s degree in Special Education in May of 2022. She also has a passion for dance and was trained by Studio L for 14 years in tap, jazz, and ballet lyrical. She is thrilled to be on the West Hudson Arts stage for the first time! Recent credits include: Play that Goes Wrong (Sandra) at Bergen County Players, Bloody Mary (Lourie) and The Night Stalker (Valerie) at Players Guild of Leonia, Ragtime (Immigrant) at Bergen County Players, Picnic (Rosemary Sydney) at Bergen Community College, Pippin (Player) at Bergen County Players, The Library (Elizabeth) at RCNJ, Anon(ymous) (Helen Lauis and Bird) at RCNJ, Urinetown (Billy Boy Bill) at RCNJ, Hamlet (Queen Gertrude) at BCC, Oh Coward! (Woman #3) at BCC, What I Did Last Summer (Bonny) at BCC, South Pacific (Ensign Janet MacGregor) at BCC. She would like to thank her cast, crew, directors, friends, and family for their support!