Clark Gesner facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Clark Gesner
Gesner (center, with flower) with director Joseph Hardy and the original 1967 cast of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Background information
Born	(1938-03-27)March 27, 1938 Augusta, Maine, United States
Died	July 23, 2002(2002-07-23) (aged 64) New York City, New York, United States
Occupation(s)	Composer, author, actor

Clark Gesner (born March 27, 1938 – died July 23, 2002) was an American composer, songwriter, author, and actor. He is best known for creating the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. This popular show is based on the famous Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz.

While his other musicals didn't become as famous as ...Charlie Brown, he did have some success with shows like Animal Fair. Gesner's song "Happiness" became a big hit in the 1960s. Many artists recorded it. A smooth jazz version of "Happiness" was recorded by David Benoit in 2000. This recording reached #2 on the Top Jazz Albums chart.

Growing Up

Clark Gesner was born and grew up in Augusta, Maine. Later, he moved to Brooklyn, New York. He went to high school in Plainfield, New Jersey. There, he loved writing and performing in theater shows.

Gesner then attended Princeton University. He was part of the Triangle Club, which was the university's theater group. At Princeton, he started writing and producing his own musical comedies. After graduating, he stayed connected to Princeton. He often supported other theater groups on campus.

In 1961, Gesner joined the United States Army. For two years, he worked in Manhattan. He sold theater tickets at the USO in Times Square. This allowed him to regularly see many Broadway theater productions. He joined ASCAP in 1962.

Early TV Work

Clark Gesner found work in New York City as a writer and composer for television shows. He worked on Captain Kangaroo starting in 1955. He also wrote for Mister Mayor in 1964.

Later, he wrote for other well-known children's shows. These included Sesame Street and The Electric Company. For The Electric Company, his music or writing was used in over 700 episodes.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

The First Songs

In the early 1960s, Clark Gesner began writing songs. These songs were inspired by Charles Schulz's Charlie Brown comic strip characters. At first, he couldn't get permission to use the characters. This permission was needed from the United Features Syndicate.

Eventually, Gesner sent Schulz a tape of some of his songs. Schulz liked them and soon gave him permission. Gesner then recorded these songs in 1966. This recording was known as a "concept album." At that time, Gesner didn't plan to turn it into a full musical. However, a producer named Arthur Whitelaw encouraged him. Whitelaw suggested that Gesner should make the album into a musical.

The Stage Musical

The stage version of the concept album was called You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Rehearsals for the musical began in New York City on February 10, 1967. Before it opened, the musical didn't have a full script. It was a collection of short scenes, called vignettes, each with a song.

On March 7, 1967, the musical opened Off-Broadway. It was a huge success! The show ran for 1,597 performances. Walter Kerr from The New York Times called the show "a miracle." He said, "Almost everything works, because almost everything is effortless."

Since its first show, ...Charlie Brown has become a worldwide hit. It has had two Broadway productions. There have been over nine U.S. tours. It also had a 1968 West End production in London. The musical has been performed in many cities around the world.

Other Creative Works

Musicals and Plays

Clark Gesner's second Broadway musical was The Utter Glory of Morrissey Hall. This show was not as successful as Charlie Brown. It closed after only one regular performance.

He also wrote The Jello Is Always Red. This was a musical show with songs, story, and lyrics by Gesner. It played off-Broadway in New York in 1998. Another show he wrote was Animal Fair. This musical featured everyday animals in human-like situations. It first opened in 1990.

The Bloomers was a musical with music and lyrics by Gesner. It was based on a play called The Letter. It was first performed in 2000. Gesner also worked on a musical based on the cartoon character Betty Boop. He also teamed up with Garet Scott on funny movie parodies.

Some of Gesner's well-known songs include "The Ivy League Look". This song was for the Triangle Club. Another famous song is "Little Known Facts" from You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Clark Gesner was also an actor. He performed in many theater productions. These included 1776, Lend Me a Tenor, and Carnival!. He sang on the original concept album of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. On that album, he sang as Linus van Pelt. He also sang on four extra songs for the original cast recording of the Off-Broadway show.

Television Work

Gesner wrote for NBC Experiment in Television in 1967. This was just before he finished You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. In 1968, The Ed Sullivan Show used his songs "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" and "Happiness." Both songs were very popular then. "Happiness" was also used in a TV special called A Family Thing in 1968.

Gesner also helped write the TV special Out to Lunch (1974). His music can be heard in several other TV shows and specials. These include The Electric Company (1977), You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1985), You Don't Look 40, Charlie Brown (1990), and Diva (2010).

Writing for Newspapers

Gesner also wrote theater reviews. He wrote for a local newspaper called the Brooklyn Heights Press. This paper was part of the Brooklyn Eagle chain.

Later Life

Clark Gesner passed away from a heart attack on July 23, 2002. He was 64 years old. He died in downtown New York City. He was never married.

Awards and Nominations

Clark Gesner received several awards and nominations for his work.

°°Nomination shared with Andrew Lippa