From center left, Charlie Brown (Lucas Cope), Sally (Olivia Olin) and Linus (Lian Weir) sing and dance while Snoopy (Katie Schneider) looks on during rehearsal of Snoopy:The Musical which opens at the Vanity Theater on Friday.
Young actors rehearse for "Snoopy: The Musical" opening Friday at the Vanity Theater.
“Snoopy: The Musical” opens Friday at the Vanity Theater with the popular Peanuts Gang taking center stage. Not only will the show have the seven main characters, but nearly 40 youth will take part in the production after earning a spot from participating in a theater workshop.
Director John Blair and Lisa Kochert Warren, choreographer and producer, put on the youth workshop in February. The purpose of the workshop was to target children who might not ever attend an audition. Blair and Warren wanted to give children the opportunity to be a part of a stage production. The two seasoned youth workers believed the workshop would be well attended — and it was.
“We know the young people in Montgomery County love theater and that has been proven time and time again,” Blair said. “The Vanity Theater gives kids a great opportunity to come to a safe place and experience the joys of being on stage with no worries and not being judged.”
Nicholson Elementary second-grade student Ruba Brewer said he was starting to feel a little nervous about opening night.
“I am kinda scared,” Ruba said. “This is my first time on a stage and I don’t want to mess up.”
Emery Allen, a New Market Elementary third-grade student, is feeling different about being on the Vanity Theater stage. She is a seasoned veteran of several local theatrical productions. She said she participated in the workshop because she had friends involved who had never been on stage. She said helping her friends has been fun.
“I thought the workshop was fun,” Allen said. “I have had to help my friends quite a bit actually.”
The youth will participate in the production in two different groups divided into ages. Kindergarten through third-graders and grades four through eight. Each group will be involved in a large production including singing and dance.
Blair said the inexperienced youth have been tremendous to work with.
“The kids, including the little ones, have been fantastic,” Blair said. “They were well-behaved and listened well. They have done everything we have asked them to do.”
Snoopy: The Musical, which is sponsored by the Journal Review, will have seven adult entertainers. It is a musical comedy by Larry Grossman and Hal Hackady. The characters are from the Charles M. Schulz comic strip Peanuts. The production, which is a sequel to the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” focuses more on the life of Snoopy.
The musical is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The production also can be seen at 7:30 p.m. March 17 and 18 and at 2 p.m. March 19.
Tickets are available online at www.sugarcreekplayers.org or by calling the theater at 765-362-7077.
