The small and mighty cast in this year’s fall musical are taking the stage to show how simple moments can provide joy, and are forging their own close friendships in the meantime.
The fall musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” will kick off next week with performances Nov. 9, Nov. 11 and Nov. 12.
This year’s show is unique because it only has six participants: the original Peanuts gang of Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, Schroeder, Lucy and Sally. This means each character gets more substantial stage time, and everyone has at least one solo.
“We are all really close with each other now after having to practice pretty much three days a week, every week for two months now,” Chad Bishop said. “And we’ve come to have a lot of fun with each other, and I’ve made a lot of great memories from this.”
Director Allison Enneking said she likes to switch between a well-known show and a lesser-known show every other year. With last year’s show being Cinderella, she decided this was a good choice.
The show has taught the cast happiness can come in small moments. “Happiness,” a song about this exact idea closes out the show.
“The show has taught me that happiness is like really small or it can be the little things, which is really cheesy and it’s also the closing song, but it is true and it’s applicable to life, and Sally is a very reactive and emotional character that she is still happy, especially with small things,” Audrey Mach said.
Bishop agreed the show has a way of shining light on how easy it is to make people smile.
“I’ve learned that, honestly, the world could be a better place, and that it’s up to us,” Bishop said. “But it’s up to us to do the right thing – like Charlie Brown, he’s always depressed, he’s always sad, but hopefully, you know, it just doesn’t happen to anybody else.”
This show offers a different experience because of its small cast instead of usual primary roles, secondary roles and chorus members, Enneking said.
All the performers are accomplished vocalists, she said. Behind the scenes, a smaller cast means the actors have been able to get closer and have a sibling-like bond, Enneking said.
There’s no drama or tenseness in this cast, she said.
“These kids have been nothing but – they are like siblings in the best way,” she said. “They tease each other but they care about each other and they help each other out a lot, which has been awesome to see.”
Growth happens when students take on these large roles in a musical, she said. They learn self confidence, vocal independence, work ethic, time management and teamwork.
“I mean, that you could name a million different qualities and skills that a kid is going to develop from being part of a musical like this,” Enneking said.
The community has always been supportive of the arts and complimentary of the work students put in, Enneking said.
In a small district like Eudora, kids are able to get involved with many activities and sports all at once, she said.
“So these kids are really busy and are taking on the big task of being one of six kids in an entire musical all while they have so many other plates in the air also,” she said.
Nate Reazin, who also plays on the football team, said there are stark similarities between the sport and performing in a show. It has also taught him the importance of working together for a common goal, he said.
“It’s weird how similar some of the things are, like how you can see development after like so many practices and doing the same thing over and over yield better results,” Reazin said.
In addition to the regular shows, the culinary students will partner with the show again this year to prepare a Thanksgiving meal for senior citizens during the Thursday matinee.
Getting to perform for the seniors who have deep ties to the community and district is a special part of the show each year, especially because of their especially loving and welcoming attitudes, Enneking said.
“Because those folks that we perform for are people that typically have been in our community the longest,” Enneking said. “They’ve sent their kids and maybe now they’re watching their grandkids on stage. Some of them are our former employees of the district. So a lot of them have really close ties to the school itself.”
Countless hours have been put into this hilarious show, and people should come out and support their fellow high schoolers, Bishop said.
“I actually think it’s like one of our best shows that I’ve seen here. I think it’s hilarious, I don’t know if that’s because I’m in it, but I think it’s worth the five bucks just to come out and just see what we’re doing,” Reazin said.
Doors for the event will open at 10 a.m. Thursday and the meal will begin at 11 a.m. in the high school cafeteria. The show will begin at noon in the performing arts center.
To sign up for the dinner and show, email [email protected] or call 785-542-4987 ext. 118 by Monday. The lunch and show will be free for the seniors.
The show will officially open with a show at 7 p.m. Nov. 9, followed by a show at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 and a matinee at 2 p.m. Nov. 12. There is no show Friday in case the football team plays.
Tickets will be available at the door for $8 for adults and $5 for students.
The cast is as follows:
Chad Bishop as Charlie Brown
Isabella Luchsinger as Lucy van Pelt
Nate Reazin as Linus van Pelt
Megan Petersen as Snoopy
Cameren Tice as Schroeder
Audrey Mach as Sally Brown
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].
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