Noonan Students To Perform 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown'

MOKENA, IL — The stage is just about set and the lights are almost lit for the return of Noonan Elementary Academy's spring Drama club performance, which will be the popular and beloved "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."

This will be the first performance in two years for the Drama Club because of the pandemic. But, now that previous restrictions related to the pandemic has been loosened, the cast and crew are ready to roll.

"This is a big deal to have the Drama Club back, so we're excited," said Drama Director Marta Koonce.

Those two years off was one of the factors in choosing "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" for this year's comeback performance, Koonce said. With no money coming in to the Drama Club from ticket sales, Koonce said she wanted to put on a performance that could run with a limited set and smaller cast, but could also include enough roles for the 14 students who will be performing this year.

"And, I like the show," Koonce said. "I think it's very sweet, and it has a good message."

The students will play the characters of Charlie Brown and his sister Sally, siblings Lucy and Linus, Schroeder, and Snoopy.

Annie Villasenor, of Mokena, who will play Lucy, said she sometimes identifies with the character's "bossy" persona.

"Even being the youngest, you can still get your way, and that's basically Lucy," she said.

"I can confirm," Annie's brother Aidan Villasenor said.

Hilton Garret, of Flossmoor, and Aidan Villasenor, of Mokena, will play Schroeder, the maestro of the "Peanuts" gang. Both of them confessed to not being able to play the piano, but do have other musical talents.

"I can play the violin," Aidan Villasenor said.

"I can play the trumpet," Garrett said.

Konstantinos Karnezis, of New Lenox, and Bryce Christian, of Matteson, will play the iconic role of Charlie Brown, though neither of them is willing to shave their heads for the part. ("No hair will be harmed in the production," Aiden Villasenor reassured Patch.)

With opening night scheduled for Friday, the students said they were mostly excited just to be back on the stage doing what they love to do.

"Seeing the audience's reaction," is what Annie Viallsenor said she's most excited about, "because when you work so hard on something, it's just kind of what you want to do — see how people react to it and what they take from it."

"I'm excited just for opening night, in general," Karnezis said. "All the excitement and the nervousness and the hyperness, that's all being put into the show in full effect and effort."

Plus, there's a connection that many of the Drama Club members share: Many of their siblings have been a part of past performances with Noonan.

"It's like a tradition here at Noonan," Koonce said. "I'm very happy that the same families come back. They're great, and they support this program so much."

Show times for "You're a Good Many Charlie Brown" are at 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, and and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Noonan Elementary Academy Junior High building, 9101 Henry Drive in Mokena.

Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased by contacting belli.simon@gmail.com. Pre-purchased tickets will be held at the door for pickup the day of the performance.