Charles Schulz, Ruby Persson and Gene Persson at the 1975 San Francisco opening of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN.

Ruby Persson

Ruby started out as an actress in the 1970's, working in Television, Film and Stage, with numerous National Commercials, highlighted by starring as the title role in the Broadway Musical RAINBOW JONES and going on to play Lucy in the televised Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. In the late 90's working with the Bess Cutler Gallery in Soho, NY, Ruby curated the first major exhibit of Japanese Animation Production artwork, featuring prominently the works of Hayao Miyazaki. In 1999 she became the exclusive distributor (world-wide excluding Japan and Asia) for Studio Ghibli's Limited Edition Cel Art. Ruby now lives and works in New York City as a POP ARTIST and is the creator and CEO of Animecellar.com, Inc.

Gene Persson

January 12, 1934 - June 6, 2008

Co-producer of the original production of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN in 1967 and the 1999 Broadway revival, Mr. Persson has overseen productions of the show all over the world, making CHARLIE BROWN the most produced show in the history of the Theatre, worldwide and, according to Charles Schulz, one of the four most important events in the history of PEANUTS.

A highly successful Theatre producer for the past 45 years, Mr. Persson has also produced more than a dozen Feature films and/or TV Specials, starting with the award winning films DUTCHMAN and THE RULING CLASS, along with the HALLMARK HALL OF FAME on television. Besides YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN and SNOOPY, his Theatre credits have been highlighted by three plays with Tennessee Williams, THE RED DEVIL BATTERY SIGN, THIS IS (AN ENTERTAINMENT) and THE GLASS MENAGERIE (UK Revival); all of the early LeRoi Jones (now Amiri Baraka) plays, DUTCHMAN, THE TOILET and THE SLAVE. The first five plays by noted British Playwright Peter Barnes, starting with THE RULING CLASS, CLAP HANDS, HERE COMES CHARLIE, LEONARDO'S LAST SUPPER and NOONDAY DEMONS and more than two dozen other premiere presentations from various playwrights, including the only Broadway musical ever written entirely by a woman, RAINBOW JONES by Jill Williams and the only First Class play ever directed by Sean Connery, I'VE SEEN YOU CUT LEMONS by Ted Allan, which was presented on London's West End.

Mr. Persson started out as a child actor at age 11, appearing in several dozen Feature films and ended up appearing in approximately fifty TV shows in the mid-fifties, during the early days of live TV drama.

He has also worked as a Director in Theatre and Film for the past 40 years and spent two years as Managing Director of The Actors' Studio in the early 70's. Numerous political shows included BROADWAY FOR PEACE at Lincoln Center in 1968 and READ-IN FOR PEACE IN VIETNAM in that same year.

Personal highlights from numerous Theatre books, that have included Mr. Persson: THE SEASON by William Goldman ( featuring the socially conscious play of the season, THE TRIAL OF LEE HARVEY OSWALD), THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS by Donald Spoto, the biography of Tennessee Williams (outlining the productions done with Mr. Williams) and SCHULZ by David Michaelis, the biography of Charles M. Schulz (outlining a 35 year relationship), due to be released in mid 2007.

Mr. Persson and Arthur Whitlaw controls the world-wide live stage performance rights to the Peanuts characters.