CL students in ‘Charlie Brown’ on TCHS stage

Two Canyon Lake students are on stage this week and next performing the musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at Temescal Canyon High School. Tara Abell, a long-time Canyon Lake resident, is the director.

Canyon Lakers Anderson Myers plays the role of Shroeder and Sydney Manning is The Blanket.

Anderson Myers, who plays the role of Schroeder, rehearses prior to the performances this week. Anderson, a Canyon Lake resident, is part of Temescal Canyon High School’s “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” musical which runs tonight, tomorrow and three days next week.

The popular musical is being performed at the Jeanie Corral Performing Arts Centre on the TCHS campus today (Friday) and tomorrow (Saturday) as well as Thursday, Friday and Saturday of next week. The shows begin at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased on the GoFan app or online at GoFan.co. Adults are $12 each and Students are $8 each.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, this is Temescal Canyon’s first musical in two years. Only three students in the show have performed in a TCHS production before, so most of the cast will be making their stage debut with this production.

“Despite all the newcomers, it’s one of the most diligent casts I have ever worked with – ever,” Tara said. “They have made every rehearsal a joy, just like elementary school recess. These kids are having a blast with each other and it’s obvious. You can’t help but be caught up in the fun. This light-hearted musical is exactly what we need right now.”

The show, a revue of songs and vignettes based on the beloved Charles Schulz comic strip, is ideal for audiences of all ages. A production of the show ran on Broadway and won Tony Awards.

All of the Peanut characters are part of the show. Crabby Lucy is busy running her psychiatry booth when she isn’t pestering piano prodigy Schroeder, who doesn’t give her the time of day. Perfectionist Sally is still flirting with blanket-toting Linus, Snoopy is in the doghouse, and “blockhead,” himself, Charlie Brown, is in rare form.

Brief vignettes span the day from the morning school bus ride to a nighttime stargazing. The vignettes include some of the gang’s most memorable situations and characters such as the Kite-Eating Tree, the Little Red-Haired Girl, a baseball game, and Snoopy’s battles with the Red Baron.

In this revised version, with additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and dialogue by Michael Mayer, the sweet, joyful innocence of the Peanuts gang is maintained, but a fresh reexamination and playfulness is revealed. The new script features new songs, particularly funny dialogue, and new, catchy orchestrations.