JERSEY - The Jersey Community High School (JCHS) Theatre Department is putting the finishing touches on their upcoming spring musical, "You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown." The classic musical, based on the popular Charles M. Schultz comic strip, Peanuts, was written by American composer Clark Gesner in 1967.
The musical centers around a day in the life of Charlie Brown and features all of the beloved characters from the cartoon. According to JCHS Theatre Director Brett Beauchamp, the production boasts great music and humor that will bring back memories of the Peanuts for those who grew up with them.
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"The music is incredibly charming, and the dialogue is very funny," Beauchamp said. "For those who grew up with the Peanuts, this will be a nostalgic night of theatre." He added that the show is suitable for all ages and described it as a "light" production. "It’s just enjoyable," he said. "You don’t really have to think a whole lot."
The musical also provides a unique opportunity for the theatre department to showcase their new lighting system, making the colorful scenes even more vibrant, according to Beauchamp.
The students have been rehearsing since November and have been working tirelessly to ensure the musical is ready for audiences. "These are some great kids, they really are a breath of fresh air," Beauchamp said. "I have never given students President’s Day off from rehearsals, but this year I was going to because we were ahead of schedule and I thought, ‘I’ll give them a break,’ but, when I offered, they insisted that they still rehearse that Monday."
The musical will debut on Thursday, March 16th, at 7 p.m., with subsequent shows on Friday, March 17th and Saturday, March 18th at 7 p.m., as well as a Sunday, March 19th, showing at 2 p.m. Beauchamp is confident that audiences will have a great time at the shows. "I think they're going to have a blast," he said.
Tickets are on sale now at $10 for reserved seating and will be available until the nights of the shows, or until they sell out. For tickets, call JCHS at 618-498-5521 and ask for Diane Rogers.
The main cast consists of Gabe McPheeters as Charlie Brown, Maddilynn Harp as Lucy, Gavin Goff as Linus, Jacob “Billy” Shipley as Schroeder, Ava Tonsor as Sally, and Camden Schroeder as Snoopy.
The peanuts will be portrayed by George Pohlman as Marcie, Molly Mellas as Molly, Willow McCoy as Peppermint Patty, Alix Piazza as Lydia, Emma Beauchamp as Peggy Jean, EmmaLynn Entrikin as Eudora, Ben Westfall as Shermy, Ben “ZimZam” Zimmerman as Pig Pin, Sophia Sutton as Clara, Ace Bick as Shirley, Kimberlee Ford as Frieda, Anna Beauchamp as Violet, Makayla Allison as Emily, Amelia Miller as Charlotte, Jerimiah Kanallakan as Larry.
The orchestra consists of Margaret Bear on piano, Kiley Pickel on keyboard, Kathleen Dougherty on flute, Amber Samples on clarinet/alto, Katreona Benedict on clarinet, Sebastian Robinson on alto sax, Alexis Klein on alto sax, Eli Hetzel on trumpet, Katelyn King on trumpet, Jovee Hileman on French horn, Sarah Robles on French horn, Jacob Hetzel on trombone, Kennedy Pohlman on trombone, Matt Bittles on bass, Owen Weber on drum-set, Tyler Ayers on percussion, and Carter Allison on percussion.
The production is directed by Beauchamp, Margaret Bear is the music director, Genevieve Mossman is in charge of production design and costuming, Martha Hampstrite is theatre legend, Jaelyn Hawkins in charge of choreography, Erin Bittles is the conductor, Ben Gracey is the technical director, Cara Rojas is the assistant director, and Lu Anne Taul is the accompanist. Chloe Antoine, Savannah Hetzel, and Elise Feddersen are the assistant directors; Jacob Bellet and Cooper Gillis are the tech managers; Elena Benner, Amelia Jones, Hannah Samples, and Mallory Plunk are the stage managers; Emmy Stamper and Jayce Baro are the costume, hair, and makeup managers; Maddilynn Harp is the student director; Ava Tonsor and Emma Beauchamp are the dance captains; Gavin Goff is the play captain; Jacob “Billy” Shipley, Camden Schroeder, and Anna Beauchamp are the music assistants; Allen Snyder is in charge of set construction; Lisa Kolkmeyer is in charge of programs and banners; and Diane Rogers is the ticket manager. Snyder’s construction class consists of Mason Allen, Devin Burge, Dakota Day, Ky Glass, Nevaeh Hoots, Jesse Newby, Jackson Schultz, Tyler Wallacen, Peyton Burch, Jahzlynn Copland, Luke Fink, Kate Heitzig, Anthony Lewis, Madison Sams, Sam Vitale, Brayden Wellenreiter, Aaron Wolford. Kolkmeyer’s Adobe interns are Tyler Ayers, Alexis Fickle, Alex Steinocher, Jace Hasty, Kayla Eilerman and Gage Wock.
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