It’s been two years since the last TAHS Drama Club show, but after a long wait, the curtain will rise again on April 1st and 2nd.

In 2020 the Drama Club was set to perform Newsies when the show, and everything else, was canceled just two weeks before opening night when the pandemic hit. The wait between shows has made this year’s cast and crew even more excited to put on a great production.

“There was an overwhelming feeling of joy when we all went into the auditorium for the first time to start rehearsing this year’s show,” said Tyrone Choral Director and Drama Club Advisor Laura Harris, “Over the past two years, the Drama Club, just like many other school clubs and teams, had to deal with not being able to do things that were very important to them. Between having to cancel their production of Newsies and then not being able to do a show at all last year, everyone was really excited to get back to doing what they all love, performing.”

This year’s show is You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, the 1967 musical comedy by Clark Gesner, based on the famous Peanuts cartoon characters created by Charles M. Schulz.

According to stageagent.com, Charlie Brown is “a crowd-pleasing classic” and one of the most popular choices for high school productions because of its relatively small cast and simple staging. A perfect choice for the drama club to get back into live productions after two years without a show.

“I wanted to do something that would fit our cast members’ voices and levels of experience on stage,” said Harris.

The audience will be treated to a fun show full of nostalgia and great musical numbers.

“The whole gang is here: bossy Lucy is hopelessly in love with piano prodigy Schroeder who doesn’t give her the time of day. Perfectionist Sally is still mocking blanket-toting Linus. Snoopy is in the doghouse, and “blockhead,” himself, Charlie Brown, is in rare form…The sweet, joyful innocence of the Peanuts gang is maintained, but a fresh insouciance and playfulness is revealed,” said stageagent.com in their synopsis of the show.

Senior Wilson O’Shell plays the lead role and is “super excited” for the show, adding that rehearsals are ahead of schedule and everyone is having a great time.

“I play as the very unconfident and awkward Charlie Brown. Charlie always tries to fit in and do the right thing, yet no matter what he does he messes it up every time,” said O’Shell.

Sprankle, who plays Charlie Brown’s little sister Sally, is also looking forward to opening night.

“The cast is really, really talented and after two years of being put on hold the energy that the cast radiates is really cool to experience,” said sophomore and cast member Rebekah Sprankle “It is an insanely fun show and something that audiences of all ages will enjoy.”

Junior Marley Grazier is the student choreographer for the show. She works with the cast every Tuesday and Thursday on dance numbers.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the cast come together as a family and seeing all of the hard work pay off. They have been working so very hard and continue to surprise me not only with their dancing but with their commitment,” said Grazier.

Harris is also getting a lot of support from other teachers and students to help make the musical happen.

Carpentry teacher Dan Plummer and his students are building the sets and students from Eric Feather’s and Deanna McCreary’s art classes are painting the scenery.

“From an artistic standpoint the sets are simple because they are in a cartoon style, but it’s been a fun project because all students, regardless of their level of talent and experience can contribute to the set painting,” said Feather.

Fourth-grade teacher Ashton Schultz is the stage manager and is being assisted by tenth-grade English teacher Jonathon Holmes, who was a member of the TAHS Drama Club when he was a student at TAHS.

Holmes and Schultz will take care of everything that goes on backstage during the performance.

“I’m excited to be able to work with the Tyrone Drama Club again. I’ll be backstage and ‘running the ropes’ the nights of the performance, but I’ll also be working with Mrs. Harris throughout the practices as we stage and block the play,” said Holmes.

Tickets went on sale to the public on February 28 and are selling fast. They are eight dollars for reserved seating, and six dollars for general admission and can be purchased in the high school main office during regular school hours.

The cast is as follows:

Charlie Brown: Wilson O’Shell

Lucy: Isabella Rhodes

Sally: Rebekah Sprankle

Linus: Austin White

Schroeder: Ryan Patterson

Snoopy: Jake Isenberg

Woodstock- Abby Kaspick

Pigpen- Nathaniel Patterson

Peppermint Patty- Cassidy Miksich

Marcie- Rose McKernan

Shermy- Weston O’Shell

Frieda- Rhaya Gority

Ensemble- Lydia Seltzer

Ensemble- Marina Beck

Ensemble- Elizabeth Fryer

Ensemble- Katherine Lehner

Ensemble- Ethan Cooley