You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown Bios

John relocated to Flagstaff after retiring from George Washington HS in San Francisco after 30
years as drama teacher and director. For the past 10 years he has worked as director, stage
manager, actor and videographer for Theatrikos, Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, Flagstaff
Music Theater, The Flagstaff Foundry and Momentum Aerial. “You’re A Good Man, Charlie
Brown” is John’s first show with STARGAZER THEATER COLLABORATIVE. ” John has found
working with this company and the outstanding production team and talented cast an absolute
joy! He thanks Stargazer for the opportunity to direct for Flagstaff’s newest theater company.

​Sarah Casey is a Flagstaff local who has grown up in the music and theatre community and has participated both on and off stage, She has been the music director for recent productions of Nunsense, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for Theatrikos. And Music Director for productions of Women of Broadway, Gypsy, and Cabaret for Stargazer Collaborative Theatre. She would like to thank the cast and crew for being wonderful and supportive. Every one of them is so talented. This show has brought a kind of catharsis and hope in these troubling and uncertain times. It is so nice to see the wonder and curiosity of the world through the eyes of a child. May we all strive to support each other in finding happiness.

​Leslie Ptak Baker, a native Arizonan, began RAD ballet studies at age 4 but, eventually, musical theater and jazz dance lured her away. Outstanding ASU BFA Graduate in Modern Dance Performance and Choreography, she performed professionally in New York, Los Angeles, Montreal, and Japan, then sailed eight years, worldwide, as an entertainer and cruise director with Princess Cruises. Leslie has performed in and choreographed shows for Flagstaff Music Theater (FLOC), Theatrikos, Canyon Moon, NAU, and Fountain Hills Community Theater and taught dance for 16 years at FALA. With Stargazer, Leslie was seen flashing as “Electra” in Gypsy, choreographed the Viola nominated Cabaret, and is happy to be choreographing this fun show! Leslie has two grown children, Kieran and Kinzer, and is ecstatic to be a grandmother to Carson Rose and will be welcoming a grandson in June! She dearly hopes granddaughter Carson Rose grows up in a world that supports and respects women's rights and
perspectives. And she hopes that everyone dances fearlessly everyday.

Chase Coleman has been a professional musician for 45 years and has performed as a classical and jazz/pop pianist on six continents, in locations as varied as Carnegie Hall in NYC to port docks in Guanzhou, China and Safaga, Egypt. At present he teaches music and piano at FALA and his private studio (see program ad) and is active as a performer throughout the Southwest. He has composed the scores to two musicals, Your Place or Mine (Playwright’s Platform, Boston 1994) and Lost in the Tropics, presented at NAU in 2011 and Theatrikos in 2013. Another is in the works!

Active in the theater since high school, some favorite past Flagstaff productions as musical director include Cabaret at Theatrikos in 2012 and Stargazer in 2024, Gypsy at Stargazer in 2024, The Fantasticks at NAU in 2009, and The Full Monty at Theatrikos in 2015. As an actor, some favorite past roles include Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (Theatrikos, 2015), Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar (FMT, 2018) and Mrs. White in Clue; The Musical (FMT, 2023). He is delighted to be reliving through You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown childhood experiences both good and bad, from the safe space of the piano keyboard, his lifelong sanctuary and best friend.

​Nathan Henderson rediscovered his love of theatre in 2022 as Flagstaff pulled itself slowly out of Covid lockdown.  First performing in Flagstaff Music Theatre’s production of Something Rotten as Nigel Bottom, Nathan went on to play Douglas Panch in Theatrikos’ Putnam County Spelling Bee, the narrator in AJ Flores’ Viola nominated production of Every Brilliant Thing, Harold in Parker McGraw’s Boys in the Band, Cladwell in Flagstaff Music Theatre’s Urinetown, emceed multiple cabarets for Flagstaff Music Theatre, and made his directorial debut with Clue the Musical.  He is proud to bring you this amazing cast and production team’s tribute to finding joy in simplicity among life’s defeats and despairs.

Shaye is thrilled to be playing Sally Brown in her first Stargazer production! A senior creative writing student at NAU, she last appeared in Jacks on Broadway’s Cinderella. Other credits include Blanche DuBois (A Streetcar Named Desire), Beth March (Little Women), and Johanna (Sweeney Todd). When she’s not doing theatre you can find Shaye working as a singing server at Black Bart’s Steakhouse. She thanks you for supporting the arts and hopes you enjoy the show!

Douglas Riddle –This is Mr. Riddle’s second production with Stargazer Collaborative Theatre. He played Herr Schultz in last fall’s production of “Cabaret” and is excited to be playing Linus in his second cast of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”. He played Charlie Brown in a college production of the show in 1972 at The University of the Pacific. Doug retired in 2013 after 40 years of teaching HS Choir, with the last 24 years at Coconino HS in Flagstaff. In 1989, he was voted “Teacher of the Year” by the students and staff of Lodi, CA HS. In 2015, he received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Arizona Choral Educators. He is honored to be a part of this incredible cast and Stargazer production team!

Kate Gregory is a 16 year old violinist from Flagstaff AZ. She started playing violin at the age of six with the NAU Suzuki Strings Academy under the direction of Dr. Karin Hallberg. Over the past three summers, Kate has studied at the Los Angeles Suzuki Institute. Kate is also a member of the Flagstaff Synphony Orchestra. She is a Junior at Flagstaff High School where she plays in the FHS Symphonic Orchestra under Dr. Richard McEnaney. In her free time, Kate  loves hanging out with her dog, Mia. Kate wants to thank her parents, grandparents, and Mia for always supporting her. Kate dedicates this performance to her older sister Ella, for always motivating her to work hard, play well, and dream big. 

​Bekah has been involved in theatre since she was young, and is thrilled to be performing again with this amazing company! This will be her third production with Stargazer, and she is excited to be bringing the role of Lucy to the stage! Her recent credits include Cabaret and Gypsy with Stargazer Collaborative Threatre, the Miscast Cabaret with Simon Says Theatre, and the 25th Anniversary Cabaret with FMT.
Outside of theatre, Bekah is an aspiring law student, and will be heading to law school this fall. She is excited to perform with this talented cast and hopes you enjoy the show!

Scott Seaman - Scott is a long-time resident of Flagstaff. He studied vocal performance at BYU. Scott has performed at theaters all over Arizona including Stage Foundation Tucson and Arizona Broadway Theater. Credits include: A Swinging Christmas: The Holiday Music of Tony Bennett (Featured Vocalist), Big Fish (Edward Bloom), Tick, Tick…Boom! (Jonathan), Camelot (King Arthur), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Pharaoh), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Father Dupin), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (William Barfee). Thank you to Stargazer and the entire production team for this opportunity! Thank you to his wife and kids and family and friends for all their support and love!

America is overjoyed to return to the stage with her Stargazer Collaborative Theatre debut! This performance marks a wonderful rediscovery of her love for theatre after a ten-year hiatus. When she's not crunching numbers as an accounting assistant, America is lifting them—and everything else—as a Strongman competitor. She's grateful for this opportunity and the inspiring cast and crew of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown. She sends heartfelt thanks to her friends, community, and everyone supporting her today!

Lucas is so excited to be playing Schroeder in his first production with Stargazer Collaborative Theatre! As a junior majoring in Biomedical Sciences, Lucas loves to use his passion for performing on the stage as his creative outlet. He was last seen as Kurt in Heathers: The Musical. Other roles of his include Ren McCormack (Footloose), James (James and the Giant Peach), Spitz (Band Geeks), and Nicely-Nicely (Guys and Dolls). Lucas would like to thank the cast and crew for all their dedication and kindness, and thank the audience for watching in support! Happy Beethoven Day and enjoy the show!

Rin is so excited for you to see them play Snoopy in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! Rin loves to perform, and they were most recently in Jacks on Broadway’s production of Cinderella as Marie (Fairy Godmother). They have also been in other productions such as Heathers (Veronica), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Rona Lisa Peretti). This is Rin’s first Stargazer production, and they cannot wait for you to see all of the cast and crew’s hard work! Enjoy the show!

​Nettie is so excited to be understudying Snoopy and Sally Brown! This is her first Stargazer production and her reintroduction to theater post high school. She last appeared in her high school's production of High School Musical as Sharpay. Other credits include Maria (Sound of Music), Cinderella (Cinderella), and Dorothy (Wizard of Oz). Outside of theater, Nettie studies Philosophy, Politics, and Law and plays bass in the band Bedrot. She would like to thank her little brother and sisters for being her inspiration, in this show and always. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Brian Sanders has been a professional musician since the (first) Nixon administration, performing in such diverse venues as LA's Hard Rock at City Walk (w/an all-cop R&B Band); Auditorium Theater, Chicago (for The Spinners); Beverly Hilton (with Jack Sheldon, Herbie Hancock and Clint Eastwood); Caesars Palace (with The Temptations); Daley Plaza (for Jimmy Carter), Chicago; Indianapolis Motor Speedway; Jazz Showcase, Chicago (w/ Chicago Jazz Orchestra); Lolita’s Adult Entertainment, Rantoul, IL; MGM Grand Garden; Pomona (Cal.) Dragstrip; Second base (pre-game) at Riverfront Stadium (Cincinnati); Shrine Auditorium, LA; Shrine of the Ages, Grand Canyon; and some random Door County (WI) resort (for Carol Channing).

Sanders has pitted for stage productions including Cabaret, Elf, Putnam County Spelling Bee, Annie, Gypsy, Guys and Dolls (w/John Malkovich as Sky Masterson!), and Lagniappe '69, '70. He leads "The Local Group" (Music for Some Occasions) in Flagstaff and performs a due with pianist Chase Coleman.