Greenbrier East returns to the stage with ‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’
By Dakota Baker, The Real WV
“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” (Revised Edition) is based on the beloved comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz, which recently celebrated its 75th anniversary. Featuring book, music, and lyrics by Clark Gesner, the production also includes additional dialogue by Michael Mayer, and additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa.
At Greenbrier East High School, the choral department is bringing this classic to life with a talented student cast. The production features Micah DeRouen as Charlie Brown, Violet Wiant as Snoopy, Hannah Gill as Lucy Van Pelt, Ella Butler as Sally Brown, Gustavo Garcia-Junceda as Linus Van Pelt, and Josiah Dehaven as Schroeder.
What sets this production apart is its fully student-filled pit orchestra, an aspiring choice for a high school musical. Doug Torres, choral director, said “Not a lot of schools use students for music, but I wanted to give my students another opportunity to rise to the occasion and give another outlet for them to perform.”
The orchestra includes Lydia Jackson on violin, Asa Marks on viola, Lillian Long and Ellie Burns on flute, Emily Ford and Jessalyn Desmond on Bb clarinet, Christian Montgomery on alto saxophone, Brian Lopez on tuba, Ryan Lemon on drum set and percussion, and Ayden Moody and Isaac Tincher on keyboard.
Behind the scenes, students are also taking on essential technical roles, including Liam Polk on lights, Madelyn Bland on sound, Lilia Jesser as prop master, stagehand, and an extra actor, and Tonya Martin as assistant director and stagehand.
The motivation behind staging a musical after a long gap comes from Torres’s clear educational philosophy.
“Part of my philosophy as a music educator is to always give my students as many opportunities to perform and experience music as possible. I have music-directed shows — including Nonsense, Jackson County Players, 2023 — as well as just the acting aspect for other shows. Musicals are a special event that, when done right, truly creates a special place you won’t experience anywhere else. You only get to have one opening night of a show, and having the students be able to perform for an audience of all ages is truly special. Part of the main reason I chose to do a musical — in this case You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown — after not having one put on by the high school was to bring this experience to my students and let them express themselves as much as possible.”
Preparation for the show has been a months-long effort, stretching across much of the school year.
“We have been preparing for this musical almost the entire school year in a way. I had a show selection process that lasted the first month of school. In October and November we had audition clinics and workshops to get students prepared to audition for a show. I brought in two community members who have a strong background in theatre (both alumni of GEHS and the choral department). Auditions happened right before Thanksgiving break, we got the materials in January, but never truly got started until later in the month due to all of the snow days. Ever since February, we have been working hard and these students have been truly dedicated. Almost half of the actors on the stage were in the GVT Education musical Matilda Jr. and it truly shows their versatility and flexibility when it comes to acting. We have pit orchestra members who were involved with the WVMEA All-State Orchestra, as well as professional musician gigs. Despite all of that, all of the students have shown up and given it their all throughout the process, despite all of the challenges and other things on their plates.”
Like many productions, the show has presented its share of challenges, particularly due to its structure and musical variety.
“The biggest challenge with a show like You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is the variety that is within it. It is truly a year in the life of Charlie Brown, and it takes the audience through various days in his life, such as a baseball game, trying to fly a kite, and all of Snoopy’s shenanigans. The music shifts from one style of music to another, which creates a challenge for the students. Shows that are revues or vignettes of little scenes are always tricky to put on, but these students are exceeding my expectations. Another thing that has been a little challenging — in a good way — is the opportunity to have such a wonderful cast and an amazing pit orchestra made up of current students at Greenbrier East. Working with live music adds another special layer to the show, and that in itself has been a very rewarding challenge.”
Leading the production is Doug Torres, who is finishing his first year as director of choral activities at Greenbrier East High School. Prior to this role, he taught at Van Devender Middle School and Weir Middle and Weir High schools. At Greenbrier East, he teaches Piano I, Piano II, Music Theory, and directs three choirs: Vocal Chamber Ensemble, Concert Choir, and Spartan Chorus.
With his first production at the school now underway, Torres is already looking ahead. He describes Greenbrier East and the surrounding community as a supportive and inspiring environment, expressing enthusiasm for future performances and the continued growth of the program. For him, this production represents more than just a show, it’s part of a larger effort to build something meaningful and lasting for his students and the community alike.
The Real WV encourages you to get out this weekend and celebrate the hard work and talent of these incredible students and Mr. Torres! Your presence truly makes a difference.
