Memorial High Students Bring the Peanuts Gang to the Big Stage

Students are, left to right, Regan Hicks, Ty Sponsel, Julia Westwick, Patrick Greer, MItchell Dahmer and Kieren Cremins.

The Peanuts gang come alive May 19-21 when Memorial High School Theatre presents “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” 

Theatre students have been hard at work to bring the musical version of Charles Schulz’s lovable cast of characters to the stage – Charlie Brown dreaming of the Little Red-Haired Girl; Lucy wooing the indifferent Schroeder; Snoopy “fighting” the Red Baron; Sally pouting about a bad grade; and Linus thoughtfully philosophizing.  In the end, Charlie Brown and his friends discover what it means to be a “good man.”

Director Nicole Morgan said it’s one of her favorite shows to do.  “It speaks to all of us, because there’s a little bit of each of those characters in all of us.”

Senior Patrick Greer, who plays Charlie Brown, agrees.  “Everyone has a little Charlie Brown in them – we’ve all felt at some point that no matter how hard we try, we end up losing,” he said.  “But at the same time, it’s a light-hearted comedy, and Charlie Brown finds happiness in the end.”

The students have loved reaching back into their childhood to play the Peanuts characters.

Students Julia Westwick and Mitchell Dahmer play Lucy and Linus.

Senior Mitchel Dahmer plays the blanket-toting, thumb-sucking, and philosophizing Linus.  “The lisp is fun, and the blanket is very soft.  It’s also fun—at 6’3”—to be playing a very small character,” he said.

Julia Westwick, a junior who performs the role of Lucy, said “I like getting to act like a little kid again.  All of the emotions are heightened.  And it’s fun to be bossy!”

Schroeder is played by Kieren Cremins, a sophomore, who said the best thing about playing Lucy’s piano-playing love interest is “being smarter than everyone else.”

Ty Sponsel’s role as Charlie Brown’s loyal pooch is fun but challenging in a different way.  “I’m not speaking, so all of my reactions to the other characters’ dialogue have to be twice as big,” the senior said.  “I get to run around the stage and bark and howl, which is pretty interesting.”

People of all ages will enjoy the show, according to Regan Hicks, a junior who plays Sally.  “It’s a wonderful show, because the characters are so relatable and hilarious, and the music is fantastic.”

Shows are Thursday-Saturday, May 19-21, at 7 p.m nightly, with a matinee on Saturday, May 21, at 2:30 p.m. at the Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 935 Echo Lane.

Tickets are available at www.mhstheatre.com and at the door if available.

On Saturday, May 21, at 1:45 p.m., join Memorial High Theatre for Snoopy’s Bagel Bites and Biscuits, a character meet-and-greet for children of all ages.  Tickets are $10 and will include games, prizes, photo opportunities with the characters, and a pre-show snack.  The children then parade together into the auditorium for the 2:30 p.m. show.

Doors open at 1:30 for the Saturday show. Tickets are available at www.mhstheatre.com (purchase at the ticketing checkout page after selecting tickets), with a limited number available at the door.

For details, contact Nicole Morgan at nicole.morgan@springbranchisd.com, or call 713-251-2535.