WG children perform in musical production

By Amy Jenkins

Several Willow Glen residents are featured in the Children's Musical Theater San Jose, Rising Stars production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Nov. 15-18 at the Sobrato CET Theater, 1401 Parkmoor Ave.

Nine-year-old Willow Glen resident Taylor Misiak plays the smart-but-naive Marcie in the production of the popular comic strip. Misiak learned how to act at 4 years old, when her mother found out CMT was close to her house and offered plays for all ages, she said.

"I play Marcie, who goes to school with Peppermint Patty, sits behind her in class, obeys her orders and plays baseball just because Peppermint Patty is pitching," said Misiak, who has performed in three other CMT productions. "Marcie doesn't know anything about baseball, though."

Peppermint Patty, the sweet-natured jump-rope friend, is played by Willow Glen resident Nena Salazar.

Misiak, who is in fourth grade at Hammer Montessori, said CMT has taught her how to stand in front of people and not get nervous, raised her self-esteem and taught her how to sing well.

Thirteen-year-old Madison MacDonald and her family have been residents of Willow Glen for 12 years. This is MacDonald's first production, and she will play Violet.

"The rehearsals are intense, but Madison is having a great time with it," Kim MacDonald, Madison's mother, said. "This is a very organized, professional group, and the directors are wonderful."

The orchestrated score offers songs such as "Book Report," which is sung by Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and Schroeder as they tackle problems with finishing homework. The whole cast joins in a chorus of "Happiness" at the end of a long, but happy, day.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown was a big success in New York, where it ran for more than four years to packed audiences. The performance is patterned after the artist Charles Schulz's early life and typical adventures in his childhood. Clark Gesner is responsible for turning the comic strip characters into a stage play.

Various CMT alumni are involved in leading the production. Doug Santana directs the cast of 65 performers, ages 9-14. Jeff Amorosa directs the musical and vocal direction, and the choreography is by Sonja Rouillard.

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Tickets are $15 for adults and $11 for children 12 and under. To order tickets for the production, call the CMT box office at 408.288.5437, or visit the box office at 1401 Parkmoor Ave.

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