Spirit of Grace Singers present: "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"

In preparation for their New York debut at the renowned Carnegie Hall, Weyburn's Spirit of Grace singers have organized a musical to raise funds for their upcoming trip. The opportunity to perform at the world-recognized venue came to choir director Kendra Gonczy last Summer, who then asked if her teen group could join the 100-person choir of Greystone alumni singers on the stage. Now they set out to wow their community with four performances of the Broadway musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," in order to cover their travel expenses.

"We're just all really excited because we love doing musicals," said Brinlee Klapak, who will play Lucy Van Pelt. "It's cool that we get to do music and perform while fundraising for another great opportunity with music. It's been a lot of fun and we're really looking forward to the shows as they come closer!"

The musical will follow a typical day in the lives of our most beloved "Peanuts" characters, with plenty of references to the original comics and familiar antics that are sure to please crowds of all ages. Despite only starting their rehearsals at the beginning of January, the Spirit singers said they feel confident taking the stage thanks to the help of their dedicated directors.

"We owe it to our directors, Kendra Gonczy and Colleen Weimer," said Jillian Payak, playing Sandy Brown. "They're so awesome, and they've really put everything together for us. I'm glad to have them helping every step of the way and supporting all that we do."

The young performers shared that the excitement for their trip to Carnegie Hall is powering their drive to deliver a great show for their spectators at the Tommy Douglas Performing Arts Center, and that being on stage at home should help prepare them for the nerves that come with performing in New York.

"Every time you perform, you just get a little more comfortable with it," explained Donald Alexander, assuming the role of Charlie Brown. "I think it's safe to assume that if we have a big audience here, we'll probably have an even bigger one in New York. We're getting our practice run, dealing with nerves and working with others, which will help us later when we take the stage with a hundred other singers at Carnegie."

Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at two storefronts in Weyburn ahead of the late February performances. Alexander, who will play Charlie Brown, recommended securing tickets early to ensure you don't miss this laugh-out-loud event.

"I hope everyone can come down to Charlie Brown at Tommy Douglas. It's going to be a great show for all ages. It'll be great for kids, and parents who know the Charlie Brown comics will especially love it. There is limited seating, so try and get tickets fast because you won't want to miss out," he invited.