(Orange City) — A free showing of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” will be held in Orange City tonight as part of the On Stage Orange City series. The musical theatre production will be in Orange City’s Windmill Park at 7:00pm August 6, with the Knight Center at Unity Christian School as the rain locations. It will also be presented August 8 at 7:00pm at Central Park in Sioux Center.
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is an average day in the life of Charles M. Schulz’s Charlie Brown — from Valentine’s Day to baseball season, his moods ranging from wild optimism to utter despair, with his best friends — both human and not.
It’s a familiar story and a fun musical, said Lois Estell of The SchoolHouse Company. “It’s our first official musical. We’ve done shows with music in them, but this year the majority of the show is sung or has underscoring. Best of all, we have an orchestra pit!”
The SchoolHouse Company is drawing from both the Orange City and Sioux Center artistic pool, said Estell, plus bringing in Chris Haak from Sioux Falls to play flute, clarinet and alto saxophone. Haak switches between the instruments at a moment’s notice, she said. “He makes it look so easy!”
Actors are Drew Lemke as Charlie Brown; Amanda Vander Stelt: Sally; Lois Estell: Lucy; Tanner Van Wyhe: Linus; Zach Wright: Schroeder; and Trevor McMahan: Snoopy.
Orchestra members are Hannah McGarvey, director; Pam DeHaan, piano; Chris Haak, reed; Ashley Wielenga, strings; Lexy Kraayenbrink, bass; and Braden Jahn, percussion.
The free show is 90-minutes long.
The SchoolHouse Company has presented theatre in Orange City and Sioux Center for the past six years.
The Onstage Orange City event is sponsored by the Pizza Ranch Restaurant and Onstage Orange City contributors, in conjunction with the Orange City Arts Council. Pizza Ranch will offer concessions: pizza by the slice, cactus bread, soda, water and candy.
The Sioux Center production is sponsored by the Sioux Center Recreation and Arts Council.
Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Rain location in Orange City is the Unity Christian Knight Center August 6 and Centre Mall in Sioux Center August 8.
