Latest news with #CraigSchulz
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
How new film Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical brings beloved Peanuts comic to Apple TV+
Charlie Brown and Snoopy go to summer camp in a new, bittersweet Apple TV+ special, fuelled by a pair of Emmy Award-nominated songwriters, that is being billed as the first Peanuts musical in 35 years. 'My motivation has always been to preserve and enhance my dad's legacy,' says co-writer Craig Schulz, a son of Charles. S. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip . 'So it's really an honour to get to play with these kids.' Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical features five songs: two by Jeff Morrow, Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, and three by Ben Folds. 'If someone asked me to write for a stupid kids thing, I would find it difficult because I don't like talking down to anyone, much less kids,' says singer-songwriter Folds. 'Peanuts isn't like that. We're working in very rich, fertile soil .' A still from Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical. Photo: Apple TV+ The special opens with the kids getting ready to catch the bus to Cloverhill Ranch camp, but Sally is not so sure it is going to be great. 'Honestly, big brother, I could stay home,' she says.
Asharq Al-Awsat
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Charlie Brown and Snoopy Offer an Animated ‘Peanuts' Musical About Summer Camp
Charlie Brown and Snoopy go to sleepaway camp in a new, bittersweet Apple TV+ special fueled by a pair of Emmy Award-nominated songwriters that's being billed as the first "Peanuts" musical in 35 years. "My motivation has always been to preserve and enhance my dad's legacy," says co-writer Craig Schulz, a son of the iconic comic strip "Peanuts" creator Charles. S. Schulz. "So it's really an honor to get to play with these kids." "Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical," which premieres Friday, features five songs — two by Jeff Morrow, Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner — and three by Ben Folds. "If someone asked me to write for a stupid kids thing, I would find it difficult because I don't like talking down to anyone, much less kids," says Folds. "'Peanuts' isn't like that. We're working in very rich, fertile soil." What's the special about? The special opens with the kids getting ready to catch the bus to Cloverhill Ranch camp, but Sally isn't so sure it's going to be great. "Honestly, big brother, I could stay home," she says. Sally is initially intimidated by the camp's inside jokes and rituals, turned off by the insects, the endless climbing, no TV, cold lake water and lumpy beds. "You wake at dawn/Like you would in jail," she sings in the song "A Place Like food's not what you'd call upscale/This whole endeavor, an epic fail/And that's being diplomatic." Trust "Peanuts" to explore reluctance to leave home and fear of change. Craig Schulz, who co-wrote the script with his son, Bryan, and Cornelius Uliano, channeled some of his own childhood. "Cloverhill Ranch actually is a take-off of the one in Santa Rosa called Cloverleaf that I went to as a child and hated. I bailed out after a week and went home," he says. "So many connections in the film kind of date back to my childhood that we weaved into the film." While Sally warms to camp, Snoopy discovers what he thinks is a treasure map that will transform him into a wealthy pooch, one who will lay on top of a gold dog house. And Charlie Brown learns that this summer will be the last for his beloved but struggling camp — unless he does something. "I guess your generation would rather sit in front of the television than sit under the stars," he tells Sally. "We have to protect these kinds of places because once they're gone, they're gone forever." Charlie Brown comes up with the idea to invite generations of camp-goers back for a fundraising concert, but the skies darken on the big day, threatening to cancel the event and sending him into a "Good grief" spiral. "Charlie Brown is different in this special," says director Erik Wiese. "He's really happy. He loves this place. And so that's why when we get to that scene it's so effective because he returned back to the zero we sort of know him traditionally." Folds supplies the lovely, last three songs — "When We Were Light,Look Up, Charlie Brown" and "Leave It Better" — and credits his songwriting collaborators for setting the stage. "I entered when those first two songs existed, and I get to just sort of step in at the point where things get really complex and melancholic," he says. Folds has had a flirtation with musical theater before, having written the "Peanuts" Earth Day song "It's the Small Things, Charlie Brown" in 2022 and a few songs for the movie "Over the Hedge" in 2006. "People can easily confuse a song that sounds like musical theater with a song that should be musical theater," he says. "Really what the value of the song is that it obviates the need for a good five to 10 pages of script." This October marks the 75th anniversary of "Peanuts," and the musical arrives with a boatload of branding, from tote bags by Coach to shoes by Crocs and Starbucks mugs. Craig Schulz is already at work on a second animated musical with his son, having long ago fallen in love with the family business. "I used to always wonder how in the world my dad could go to the office every day for 50 years and write a comic strip every day," he says, comparing it to the "I Love Lucy" episode with Lucy trying to keep up with a chocolate conveyor belt. "Then I came to realize that he had his family of five kids, but I really think he enjoyed going to the studio and working with the 'Peanuts' characters even more so than his real family. He got to go in there and embrace them, draw them, make him happy, sad, whatever. It was a world that I don't think he could ever leave."
Associated Press
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Charlie Brown and Snoopy offer an animated 'Peanuts' musical about summer camp
NEW YORK (AP) — Charlie Brown and Snoopy go to sleepaway camp in a new, bittersweet Apple TV+ special fueled by a pair of Emmy Award-nominated songwriters that's being billed as the first 'Peanuts' musical in 35 years. 'My motivation has always been to preserve and enhance my dad's legacy,' says co-writer Craig Schulz, a son of the iconic comic strip 'Peanuts' creator Charles. S. Schulz. 'So it's really an honor to get to play with these kids.' 'Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical,' which premieres Friday, features five songs — two by Jeff Morrow, Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner — and three by Ben Folds. 'If someone asked me to write for a stupid kids thing, I would find it difficult because I don't like talking down to anyone, much less kids,' says Folds. ''Peanuts' isn't like that. We're working in very rich, fertile soil.' What's the special about? The special opens with the kids getting ready to catch the bus to Cloverhill Ranch camp, but Sally isn't so sure it's going to be great. 'Honestly, big brother, I could stay home,' she says. Sally is initially intimidated by the camp's inside jokes and rituals, turned off by the insects, the endless climbing, no TV, cold lake water and lumpy beds. 'You wake at dawn/Like you would in jail,' she sings in the song 'A Place Like This.' 'The food's not what you'd call upscale/This whole endeavor, an epic fail/And that's being diplomatic.' Trust 'Peanuts' to explore reluctance to leave home and fear of change. Craig Schulz, who co-wrote the script with his son, Bryan, and Cornelius Uliano, channeled some of his own childhood. 'Cloverhill Ranch actually is a take-off of the one in Santa Rosa called Cloverleaf that I went to as a child and hated. I bailed out after a week and went home,' he says. 'So many connections in the film kind of date back to my childhood that we weaved into the film.' While Sally warms to camp, Snoopy discovers what he thinks is a treasure map that will transform him into a wealthy pooch, one who will lay on top of a gold dog house. And Charlie Brown learns that this summer will be the last for his beloved but struggling camp — unless he does something. 'I guess your generation would rather sit in front of the television than sit under the stars,' he tells Sally. 'We have to protect these kinds of places because once they're gone, they're gone forever.' A concert to save the camp Charlie Brown comes up with the idea to invite generations of camp-goers back for a fundraising concert, but the skies darken on the big day, threatening to cancel the event and sending him into a 'Good grief' spiral. 'Charlie Brown is different in this special,' says director Erik Wiese. 'He's really happy. He loves this place. And so that's why when we get to that scene it's so effective because he returned back to the zero we sort of know him traditionally.' Folds supplies the lovely, last three songs — 'When We Were Light,' 'Look Up, Charlie Brown' and 'Leave It Better' — and credits his songwriting collaborators for setting the stage. 'I entered when those first two songs existed, and I get to just sort of step in at the point where things get really complex and melancholic,' he says. Folds has had a flirtation with musical theater before, having written the 'Peanuts' Earth Day song 'It's the Small Things, Charlie Brown' in 2022 and a few songs for the movie 'Over the Hedge' in 2006. 'People can easily confuse a song that sounds like musical theater with a song that should be musical theater,' he says. 'Really what the value of the song is that it obviates the need for a good five to 10 pages of script.' This October marks the 75th anniversary of 'Peanuts,' and the musical arrives with a boatload of branding, from tote bags by Coach to shoes by Crocs and Starbucks mugs. Craig Schulz is already at work on a second animated musical with his son, having long ago fallen in love with the family business. 'I used to always wonder how in the world my dad could go to the office every day for 50 years and write a comic strip every day,' he says, comparing it to the 'I Love Lucy' episode with Lucy trying to keep up with a chocolate conveyor belt. 'Then I came to realize that he had his family of five kids, but I really think he enjoyed going to the studio and working with the 'Peanuts' characters even more so than his real family. He got to go in there and embrace them, draw them, make him happy, sad, whatever. It was a world that I don't think he could ever leave.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Charlie Brown and Snoopy offer an animated 'Peanuts' musical about summer camp
Charlie Brown and Snoopy go to sleepaway camp in a new, bittersweet Apple TV+ special fueled by a pair of Emmy Award-nominated songwriters that's being billed as the first 'Peanuts' musical in 35 years. 'My motivation has always been to preserve and enhance my dad's legacy,' says co-writer Craig Schulz, a son of the iconic comic strip 'Peanuts' creator Charles. S. Schulz. 'So it's really an honor to get to play with these kids.' 'Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical,' which premieres Friday, features five songs — two by Jeff Morrow, Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner — and three by Ben Folds. 'If someone asked me to write for a stupid kids thing, I would find it difficult because I don't like talking down to anyone, much less kids,' says Folds. ''Peanuts' isn't like that. We're working in very rich, fertile soil.' What's the special about? The special opens with the kids getting ready to catch the bus to Cloverhill Ranch camp, but Sally isn't so sure it's going to be great. "Honestly, big brother, I could stay home," she says. Sally is initially intimidated by the camp's inside jokes and rituals, turned off by the insects, the endless climbing, no TV, cold lake water and lumpy beds. 'You wake at dawn/Like you would in jail,' she sings in the song 'A Place Like This.' 'The food's not what you'd call upscale/This whole endeavor, an epic fail/And that's being diplomatic.' Trust 'Peanuts' to explore reluctance to leave home and fear of change. Craig Schulz, who co-wrote the script with his son, Bryan, and Cornelius Uliano, channeled some of his own childhood. 'Cloverhill Ranch actually is a take-off of the one in Santa Rosa called Cloverleaf that I went to as a child and hated. I bailed out after a week and went home,' he says. 'So many connections in the film kind of date back to my childhood that we weaved into the film.' While Sally warms to camp, Snoopy discovers what he thinks is a treasure map that will transform him into a wealthy pooch, one who will lay on top of a gold dog house. And Charlie Brown learns that this summer will be the last for his beloved but struggling camp — unless he does something. 'I guess your generation would rather sit in front of the television than sit under the stars,' he tells Sally. 'We have to protect these kinds of places because once they're gone, they're gone forever.' A concert to save the camp Charlie Brown comes up with the idea to invite generations of camp-goers back for a fundraising concert, but the skies darken on the big day, threatening to cancel the event and sending him into a 'Good grief' spiral. 'Charlie Brown is different in this special,' says director Erik Wiese. 'He's really happy. He loves this place. And so that's why when we get to that scene it's so effective because he returned back to the zero we sort of know him traditionally.' Folds supplies the lovely, last three songs — 'When We Were Light,' 'Look Up, Charlie Brown' and 'Leave It Better' — and credits his songwriting collaborators for setting the stage. 'I entered when those first two songs existed, and I get to just sort of step in at the point where things get really complex and melancholic,' he says. Folds has had a flirtation with musical theater before, having written the 'Peanuts' Earth Day song 'It's the Small Things, Charlie Brown' in 2022 and a few songs for the movie 'Over the Hedge' in 2006. 'People can easily confuse a song that sounds like musical theater with a song that should be musical theater,' he says. 'Really what the value of the song is that it obviates the need for a good five to 10 pages of script.' This October marks the 75th anniversary of 'Peanuts,' and the musical arrives with a boatload of branding, from tote bags by Coach to shoes by Crocs and Starbucks mugs. Craig Schulz is already at work on a second animated musical with his son, having long ago fallen in love with the family business. "I used to always wonder how in the world my dad could go to the office every day for 50 years and write a comic strip every day," he says, comparing it to the 'I Love Lucy' episode with Lucy trying to keep up with a chocolate conveyor belt. 'Then I came to realize that he had his family of five kids, but I really think he enjoyed going to the studio and working with the 'Peanuts' characters even more so than his real family. He got to go in there and embrace them, draw them, make him happy, sad, whatever. It was a world that I don't think he could ever leave.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amtrak set to close one East River tube Friday night, starting 2.5 years of repairs
Federal railway Amtrak is set to shut down one of the four tubes of the East River Tunnel starting Friday night, kicking off a larger overhaul that has faced opposition from the MTA, Gov. Hochul and an unlikely consortium of local elected officials. The single tube closure, slated to last 10 days, is the first step in a two-and-a-half year repair project that will reduce the train capacity of the subterranean structure by 25%. The tunnel is used daily by Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit trains. 'While I continue to believe this work could be accomplished without a full shutdown, I understand the importance of moving this project forward,' Hochul said in a statement following a meeting with Amtrak and Metropolitan Transportation Authority leadership Thursday. 'Amtrak has agreed to provide enhanced inspections, additional shift crews and the development of an operational response plan to help mitigate potential impact on commuters throughout the duration of the project,' she added. The East River Tunnel, owned by Amtrak and first opened in 1910, consists of four tubes linking Manhattan and Queens. Two of the tubes — Nos. 3 and 4 — primarily serve the LIRR, the main user of the tunnel, allowing its service to Penn Station. The other two tubes — Nos. 1 and 2 — are used by Amtrak for service on the Northeast Corridor, and by NJ Transit for storage of commuter trains in Queens' Sunnyside Yard. Tubes 1 and 2 were inundated with salt water during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, and Amtrak has said the resulting corrosion of wires has played havoc with signaling and traction power in the tubes over the past decade. Railway officials also point to spalling concrete along the tunnel benchwall — the structure through which the tunnel's high-voltage power lines run — that they say has been caused by the saltwater exposure. On a recent press tour of Tube 2, Amtrak officials highlighted a slew of issues in the tunnel — from large gaps where the benchwall had crumbled to corrosion caused by groundwater incursion unrelated to Sandy. Only a full shutdown of each tube, the officials said, would allow work crews to rebuild the benchwalls, replace all the wiring and make tweaks to the trackbed to improve drainage. 'The reliability of these tunnels is not going to get any better,' Amtrak spokesman Craig Schulz told reporters last week. 'These tunnels are aged, they've been damaged by Superstorm Sandy, and they are in urgent need of repair.' 'The longer we delay this work, the more we risk the chance of service disruptions that are not acceptable to anybody,' he added. After Amtrak closes Tube No. 1 to all train traffic Friday night, crews will conduct 10 days of work on this tube — shoring up third-rail infrastructure and making other tweaks — before reopening it, and then shutting down Tube No. 2 next. If all goes according to plan, Tube No. 2 will then be closed for 13 months, during which time Amtrak crews will overhaul its tracks, wiring and benchwalls, effectively building a new tunnel in the shell of the old. Three months after Tube No. 2 is complete, Amtrak will shut down Tube No. 1, and give it the same treatment. During the two-and-a-half years when one of the four tubes will be shut to train traffic, the current LIRR and Amtrak schedules — both of which were slightly reduced as of November in anticipation of the shutdown — should, in theory, be unaffected. But LIRR sources tell The News that signal failures inside all four tubes are somewhat common, and that it is not unusual to have a tube go out of service for hours while Amtrak crews are making repairs on it. While one tube is down for Amtrak's upcoming overhaul, that means any relatively minor problem in another tube could leave the three railroads competing for space in just two tubes — for hours at a time. As a result, MTA leadership has questioned the necessity of a full overhaul — and expressed concerns that even an hour of operations with potentially only two tubes operating could bring commuter train service to its knees. LIRR President Rob Free said last week that Amtrak should be asking: 'What [work] is absolutely essential, and only essential, to make sure the tunnels are in good condition?' Free and other MTA brass have called on Amtrak to adopt a similar approach to what the MTA did — unwillingly, at first — to repair similar corrosion damage in the L train's Canarsie Tunnel. The MTA's eleventh-hour decision in 2019 to abandon the old electrical wiring inside the Canarsie Tunnel's benchwall and mount new wiring on exposed racks along the tunnel's length removed the need to demolish concrete infrastructure within the tunnel — averting a planned 15-month shutdown. But Amtrak officials have repeatedly claimed that approach won't work in this case — saying that while the 600-to-800-volt DC wiring in the Canarsie Tunnel could be left exposed, the 12,000-volt AC lines that run the overhead power for Amtrak and NJ Transit trains cannot. Though similar high-voltage lines have been rack-mounted in other systems around the world — a 2020 report by independent experts at London Bridge Associates said such an approach was feasible on the East River Tunnel's sister structure, the North River Tunnel beneath the Hudson — Amtrak officials say they're committed to the additional layer of fire safety and insulation that a benchwall provides. A diagram of the planned rebuild reviewed by the Daily News shows that Amtrak does indeed plan to use rack mounting for the tunnel's lower-voltage wiring — including everything from radio communication to the tunnel's signal system. The massive cables used to carry the high-voltage traction power that runs the trains, however, will be placed inside a new benchwall. In a statement issued Thursday, an Amtrak spokesman said the meeting with Hochul and MTA officials had been 'productive,' adding they would continue to monitor their work plan and make adjustments as necessary to minimize the impact on commuters. 'It is important to all of us this project is a success, so that all passengers, including Long Island and upstate New York residents and travelers, continue to have strong, reliable, on-time service now and in the future,' the statement read.
