Middle Schoolers Take the Stage in 'Charlie Brown' This Weekend

More than three dozen performers will take the stage beginning Thursday night as puts on the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

The story tells the tale of Charlie Brown and “the Peanuts gang” through their daily adventures.

Director Carol Gambino said all three middle school grades are well represented in the cast of actors and singers, including a few sixth grades boys – “you never have enough boys” – plus seventh and eighth graders.

Tryouts were held just before Thanksgiving and rehearsals have been held almost every afternoon after school from 2:30 p.m. to 5 or 6 p.m.

The cast had a technical run-through on Tuesday and a dress rehearsal on Wednesday.

“They’re ready, they’re ready to go,” said Gambino, a teacher at .

In a note from the director in the program, Gambino said she first saw “Charlie Brown” in the 1960s and has always been one of her favorites.

Earlier this week, during a rehearsal, Gambino said she recently directed “Charlie Brown” at Manchester Summerstage, where she had increased the number of cast members by adding a chorus, Woodstock and rabbits.

“I’ve done it before and I love it,” she said, and so she brought it to Miles River.

From large to small, each student who came to try out was given a role.

“We cast them all,” Gambino said.

In addition to Gambino, music teacher Abby Frost is the music director and producer. There are two student stage managers - Jacob Crosbie and Lia Whitman. Middle and high school students built the set and parent Mary Callahan made the costumes. Middle school drama teacher Brett Burnett is the technical director.

Unlike , there’s no snowstorm headed our way to force any performances to be rescheduled. Show times are and in the Ferrini auditorium at .

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and available at the door.