Brownsville students bring ‘Peanuts’ to life in ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’

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The theater department at Lopez Early College High School brings Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang to life in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” which opens Thursday evening for a three-day run in the Lopez Theater.

The production features a live student/faculty orchestra, and involves the entire fine arts department at Lopez.

Tickets are $14 online and $16 at the door. Performances are at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, with a 3 p.m. matinee on Saturday.

The show instantly transports the audience into Charlie Brown’s world, featuring Lucy Van Pelt and her brother Linus, Snoopy and his pal, Woodstock, Peppermint Patty and the rest of the Peanuts gang from Charles M. Schulz’s beloved comic strip.

Adanehi Solis plays Charlie Brown, Nadia Rangel is Lucy, and Samuel Ochoa, her blanket-toting brother, Linus.

As the second act opens, Snoopy, played by Arianna Espinoza pilots the Sopwith Camel (doghouse) in pursuit of his arch enemy, the cursed Red Barron.

“Someday I’ll catch you Red Barron,” Snoopy promises his rival.

“This musical brings Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang to life. It’s funny, there’s a lot of humor in it. Snoopy’s hilarious, and Snoopy doesn’t even say that much. It’s the mannerisms of who Snoopy is,” Director Holly Putegnat said just before the second act of Wednesday’s dress rehearsal began.

“We have a lot of brand-new cast. We have only one cast member who’s ever done a musical, because unfortunately our calendar didn’t allow a musical last year, so we skipped a year. Brand new cast, brand new kids, brand new excitement. A lot of energy and a lot of first-time students on the stage. It’s been a wonderful experience for everybody. I’ve enjoyed myself,” she said.

Besides Putegnat, the artistic team includes musical and vocal direction from Megan Contreras. Mike Garza conducts the orchestra, Sandy Zuchora is the choreographer, and Roxana Cantu is the artistic director.

Set design is also by Putegnat, with set construction by her third and fourth period technical theater classes and seventh- and eighth-period theater arts classes.

Set and prop painting is by Cantu, Mauricio Saenz, Pete Martinez and visual arts and theater arts students.

Senior Sarah Escobedo designed the theater poster, while the hallway posters were designed by Elena Ortiz’s graphic design class.

Other cast members include Jaylen Cain as Sally Brown, Tony Tenorio as Schroeder, Karli Inguez as Violet Gray, Judith Tamayo as Peppermint Patty, Luis Nava as Shermy, and Janelly Sierra as Marcie.

Camila Blanco plays Woodstock, Suri Trejo is Charlotte Braun, Leslie Hernandez plays Frieda, Alyssa Gutierrez, Patty, and Samantha Garcia, Peggy Jean.

The student orchestra includes Danessa Cuellar on flute, Josue Serrato on Clarinet, Kaylee Garcia, alto saxophone, Julianna Bard, percussion, and Juan Gonzalez, drum set.

The faculty orchestra features Moises Garza on reeds, Colin Minkler, piano, and Rogelio Barajas on electric bass.

The Lopez Golden Stars dance team also appears. They include Melanie Macias, Itzel Frausto, Michelle Gonzalez, Jessica Mellado, Gema Rivera, Zaylie Rodriguez, Alexa Alcantar, Sol Zaccarias, Sonia Lerma and Luis Rubio.

Angel Lopez is the stage manager, and Alejandro Fernandez his assistant. The lighting technician is Nicolas Villarreal. Sound Technicians are Amaris Aviles and Raquel Emily Ibarra. Spot lights are by Bonnie Hernandez and Sydney Hernandez.

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