Young Actors to Bring Peanuts Comic to Life

Charles Schultz's comic strip character Charlie Brown could never catch a break, losing at baseball, struggling to find a Christmas Tree, searching his empty mailbox on Valentine's Day ...

But Charlie got some respect in the 1967 Broadway musical You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.

A young Monroe cast will perform the 1998 revival of the play in an Arts and Imagination and New England Repertory Theatre production on July 29, 30 and 31. All shows will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Jockey Hollow Middle School auditorium.

Judy Abbatiello, the choreographer, watched children rehearse their lines on Monday afternoon.

"We have a very talented cast," she said, "a young cast this year, but they're very talented, very focused and they worked real hard. I think we're in good shape."

The summer theater program is for children in grades 5 to 10.

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown is directed by David Halliwell. Tickets cost $12 and may be purchased at the door or by calling 203-261-7557.

The music director is Kristen Turkosz, the set designer is Brooke Burling and Patti Kallas is in charge of costumes and props.

Burling shined a spotlight on the stage Monday as Halliwell called out instructions in a booming voice. A group of young singers stood in front of Burling.

On stage, Snoopy (played by Stephen Kallas, 15) sat on the roof of his doghouse and Linus (Jonathan Billings, 12) stood in the foreground with his blanket.

Lucy (Emily Jarnutowski, 15) sang to Charlie Brown (Buddy Wade, 13) as Sally (Joi Walker, 11) stood on the left side of the stage with Schroeder (Chris DiTaranto, 15), who sat Indian-style in front of his piano.

In a later scene, all of the children from the back of the auditorium joined the main cast on stage to dance and sing, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.

Learning to entertain

The children practiced for three weeks leading up to the show.

"In the program they take acting, dance and voice classes in the morning and we rehearse in the afternoon," Abbatiello explained. "It's a great theater experience for them. It's a full theater experience."

The scope of this goes beyond performing on stage. Abbatiello said one boy, Matt Elani, 12, signed up for the classes specifically to be a stage manager.

The summer program costs $650 for four weeks, including classes and rehearsals from 8:45 to 2:45 p.m. Monday to Friday and three performances at the end.

Susan Halliwell — David Halliwell's wife — founded the New England Repertory Theatre before starting a children's version in 1991, according to Abbatiello.

The New England Repertory Theatre is now run as one of the Monroe Public School system's Arts and Imagination programs.

"They learn how to perform," Abbatiello said of the theater students.

Many go on to perform in high school productions at Masuk. Abbatiello said Emily Jarnutowski and Stephen Kallas have already been in musicals there.

Some go on to rise to even greater heights.

"We have a number of students who are now professionals," Abbatiello said. "Stacie Morgan Lewis was on Broadway in You're in Town, Titanic, Wicked and Sunday in the Park with George."

Raviv Ullman signed with Disney under the name Ricky Ullman to play Phil of the Future on the Disney Channel, Abbatiello said, adding he has also been on the TV shows Law & Order and House.

Even more important to Abbatiello are the lasting friendships the children form with each other in the summer theater program.

For some who have grown older, ties to the program still remain.

Rob Halliwell, David and Susan's son, came back from California to teach acting classes this year.

"My son is a dance major at Ohio State and he taught some dance classes for them," Abbatiello said of the current crop of students. "Both boys are second generation. They grew up in this program."

The New England Repertory Theatre program keeps children's dreams alive, she added.

"It's definitely an inspiration for them and it gives them a spark," Abbatiello said. "Lots of them love it and they just continue."