Caledonia Argus

School musical Friday and Sunday

Posted: 3/23/04

By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

Three months of work by students and teachers boil down to two days this weekend, when Caledonia High School presents ìYouíre a Good Man Charlie Brown.î

The musical will take place on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. in the school auditorium.

The story is inspired by the popular Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schultz. Actors perform a series of short vignettes featuring Charlie Brown and the gang during a typical day.

David Riley is directing the play along with Eliott Kranz, the music director. Colin Marnach is cast in the title role; Charlie Brownís sister Sally is played by Stephanie Lundt; his best friend Linus is Carolyn Privet; and Linusís big sister Lucy is played by Kelly Kuecker. Tristan Hammell plays Schroeder and Aleisa Klinski takes on the role Snoopy. Other students involved in the production include Heidi Larson, Assistant Director/Stage Manager, Andrew Neumann and Adam Stevens on lights and sound, and Heidi Miller and Hannah Nack serve as stage hands.

Gene Power is directing the pit orchestra in which Julia Quanrud plays the piano, Kelsey Renk is on the trap set, Greg Schieber bass guitar, Jaclyn Kruckow saxophone, Safiyyah Abdul-Alim auxiliary percussion, Anna Bulman clarinet, and Anne Pohlman flute.

The amount of work involved is a reminder of why high school musicals are as rare as a German in Spring Grove. Kranz and Riley started planning the play before Christmas, and students have been practicing since they returned from Christmas vacation.

ìWeíve been at it virtually daily ever since,î Riley said on March 19.

But neither he nor Kranz are complaining. ìWeíve had a lot of fun. Things are going well, we had a lot of fun at last nightís performance,î Riley said. He thinks the cast and crew have laid the groundwork for future musical. ìMaybe we can build upon it,î he said.

ìThe three of us have been really lucky to work together as well as we have,î he added.

Itís been tricky coordinating all the different aspect involved in a musical. For example, Kranz had supplied the music with his piano up until Sunday night, when Power and his pit orchestra joined the fray.

Lots of new stuff

Riley said itís only the second play to be performed in the new auditorium since it opened in 2002, and itís the first musical. ìThereís a lot of new stuff. Weíre trying to figure out how to make it work.î

Julie Stafslien, the school audio-visual technician, has done an outstanding job with technical things like microphone set up, Riley said. ìWe feel satisfied with the product that weíve got.î

ìThereís a lot of new stuff. Weíre trying to figure out how to make it work.î

Kranz said the biggest musical challenge has been getting the students to overcome fear of singing independently, and getting a big sound from them.

ìThe voices are so independent. That makes things hard, especially for younger singers where theyíre not used to singing by themselves,î Kranz said.

Asked what people will get from the play, Kranz said, ìI think they will just get an enjoyable something they can come to and watch and laugh. I think the theme of it is happiness for Charlie Brown.î

Fans of the comic will enjoy familiar scenes come to life including Charlie Brownís attempt to get his kite airborne, Linusís neurotic attachment to his blanket, Lucyís psychiatric help booth, Schroederís celebration of Beethoven, Sallyís tragic experience with an ice cream cone, and suppertime, the highlight of Snoopyís day.

Riley said the actors are a good group of kids who have held up well in the 2-1/2 months of practice. ìTheyíre not showing signs of being tired of each other or us.î

Kranz echoed that. He recounted a conversation that he heard at a recent practice. ìSomebody said, ëThis is finally fun, itís not work anymore.í They are a great bunch of kids.î

Student Stephanie Lucht said the play has been a lot of fun and a lot of work.

All of the actors get along well, Kelly Kuecker said. They are friends in real life, Colin Marnach agreed.

ìItís a good old-fashioned play,îTristan Hammell said.

Cost is $5 for all seats, but seating is limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are only available at the door.

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