Classic Characters Help Raise Money for Choir
That buzz. You know the feeling. Like the air has a bit of zip to it, an electricity. You can feel it in the locker room before a big game. With the audience right before a concert, and the one I've experienced often, backstage before a Theatre performance.
You can certainly feel that buzz building on the Frontenac stage right now, as the high school choir prepares for a unique fundraiser.
Forgoing the usual ways to raise money the choir decided to sing for their supper instead, or more accurately sing for their Kansas City competition trip.
Their fundraising methods may be unconventional, but their choice of musical subject? Anything but. The Frontenac choir will transform into America’s favorite cartoon children, the Peanuts gang. Complete with Charlie, played by Landon Clemensen, Snoopy (Londyn Himebrook), and all their friends.
The play, called “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, skips the traditional storytelling pattern and instead gives us back-to-back fun vignettes of the Peanut’s world. Complete with the famous psychiatry booth to fix all your troubles.
When asked about the choice of Charlie Brown choir director Seth Harley said the audience was deeply considered. “We wanted to put on a performance that worked for all ages.”
Landon Clemensen agreed as he walked me around the set, pointing out the iconic dog house and Peanut colored set boxes. “Everyone knows Charlie Brown.”
Clemensen is no stranger to the stage or the sports field. He hopes that this performance will allow the community to show their support for the Arts. “We use the money for our competition trip,” he explains as he sits down for a photo. “We compete at Worlds of Fun in Kansas City and we want to do more if we can.”
The trip is clearly important to all the kids. Himebrook (Snoopy) shows up for promo photos in full makeup and a bright smile. A quick and happy, “Sure!” greets me when I ask if she minds sitting on Snoopy’s dog house. Her cast members follow suit, happy to pose in character for photos and talk about the show.
They are absolutely excited, and it's hard not to catch that feeling. These kids have undoubtedly worked hard. Not just to put on a good performance, but also to earn the funds to continue the music they love.
That spirit Frontenac Friends, is definitely something to admire and support.
The performance will be Sunday, December 8th at 2:30 p.m. and Wednesday, December 11th at 7 p.m. in the Frontenac High School gym. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Let's fill those seats, and support our high school choir as they chase those dreams.
(Complete cast list is below.
You’re A Good Man, CHARLIE BROWN
FRONTENAC HS CHOIR
Seth Harley Director
Cast
Landon Clemensen
Claire Boyce
Masyn Mutz
Londyn Himebrook
Lily Peterson
Daniel Sellars
Ensemble
Kiya Benander
Jesse Carter
Faith Docherty
Taylor Holt
Kaitlyn McCubbin
Jayde Milligan
Brynne Mitchell
Genesis Moran
Chloe Oehme
Marlie Pennington
Issac Rader
Teagan Snell)
