5a8ac66112f7f22c3f66b2cfd206f7fa.jpg

MANVILLE: Christ the King School to present musical

By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
   For the first time in about eight years, Christ the King School students are performing a school play.
   The Christ the King Players will perform “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown,” a musical based on the comic strip by Charles M. Schulz and written by Clark M. Geiser. The production will be held in the school auditorium at 7:30 p.m. April 24. There’s no admission charge, but donations will be accepted.
   ”We started with a zero-dollar budget as a new program,” said Maria Stadtmueller, who with Shelly Lorincz, another parent of a student at the school, is directing the play. “We had to raise the money to rent the microphones, pay for the wood and paint and the royalties of the play.”
   She added royalties charged for school productions are much higher when an admission fee is charged, so in order to avoid the higher cost, the school chose not to charge admission. Holding only one performance further lowered costs.
   Ms. Stadtmueller also noted sponsors helped fund the play and set highlights — such as Snoopy’s doghouse or Schroeder’s piano. Other costs were covered by paid advertising in the program.
   The choice of the play proved to be popular when it came time to cast the parts.
   ”There are six main characters — we picked it based on not knowing how many kids would come out for it and we wanted to make sure that we could do it with just six people,” she said.
   But after the December auditions, the cast of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” was set at 16 students. Rehearsals began in January and to date, more than 50 have been held.
   ”The kids are ready and they learned their music,” said Ms. Stadtmueller.
   Despite the high turnout at tryouts, only four boys joined up — Charlie Brown and Snoopy will be portrayed by girls (Samantha Komoroski and Karen Stadtmueller, respectively).
   Students from the Immaculata High School Band are helping as the pit band in rehearsals and on the show night. They also helped prepare the cast members by recording the music, enabling the performers to study and learn the music.
   Choreography for the show was done by Ms. Stadtmueller with help from her daughter, Anna.
   Parent Mark Cyr built the sets — including Snoopy’s famous doghouse, Lucy’s doctor stand, Schroeder’s piano and Woodstock’s tree. Other parents helping include Christine Minsavage, art director, and Kathy Pope, prop director.
   The cast includes Morgan Clyne (Lucy), Andrew Collabela (Linus), Oscar Zegara (Schroeder) and Alexis Nerger (Sally). The other friends of Charlie Brown are Veronica Puzio (Peppermint Patty), Heather Lorincz (Marcie), Brigid Lorincz (Little Red Haired Girl), Danielle Gibbs (Violet), Kaylynn Shuleski (Emily), Amanda Myers (Eudora), Kenneth Cebedo (Pig Pen), Allison Charneski (Frieda), Danny Peltack (Shermy) and Quinton Gibbs (Woodstock).
   Samantha said she was excited to be playing Charlie Brown and has no problem pretending to be a boy.
   ”Most people think that memorizing all these lines isn’t hard, but with all these weeks of practices, it is kind of easy. As long as you practice, it is no pressure.”
   The Home School Association raised money from its annual basket auction to purchase a new curtain for the stage, which arrived in time for this production.
   Senior citizens are invited to attend the dress rehearsal at 7 p.m. April 23.