The entire company of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” performs “Book Report” in the Parkersburg High School production that opens at 7:30 p.m. March 19. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG — Good grief!

A musical based on one of the most beloved comic strips in history will be presented at Parkersburg High School.

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” based on the Charles Schultz characters in “Peanuts,” will open at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19, with shows at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 20-21 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 22.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students and will be sold at the door, cash or check only.

“Peanuts” is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

Schroeder played by Wyatt Jones, Woodstock played by Sophie Yoke, Linus played by Phillip Mixson on the doghouse and Snoopy played by Dorothy Clark on the floor rehearse “Baseball Game” in a scene from “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The show opens at 7:30 p.m. March 19 with performances at 7:30 p.m. March 20 and 21 and 2:30 p.m. March 22. (Photo Provided)

“We haven’t done a kids show for a while,” director Lori Zyla said.

This year, the theatre class had enough students available to cast the show, a musical, said Zyla, the theatre director and forensics coach at the school.

“I have to choose the show that fits the talent we have,” she said.

“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” follows the “Peanuts” characters and is a story of friendship and happiness. It was written by Charles Gessner, Andrew Lippa and Michael Mayer.

Playing Charlie Brown is Zach Gaston, a sophomore, who had his heart set on the role.

Zach Gaston, left, in the title role as Charlie Brown leads the entire company of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” in the opening number. The show opens 7:30 p.m. March 19 at Parkersburg High School. (Photo Provided)

“I really wanted to play Charlie Brown,” he said. “That’s the role I tried out for.”

Gaston has played Charlie Brown in other productions. He is involved in shows on the Valley Gem and with the Parkersburg Actors Guild, where he was in “Annie” and is the assistant music director in the guild’s Guild Builders current production of “Finding Nemo Jr.”

The difference with this production is it’s a lot more animated,” Gaston said.

Among his favorite parts of the show is the number “Supper Time” sung by Snoopy with the cast joining in.

Playing Charlie Brown’s dog Snoopy is Dorothyy Clark, a junior, who has appeared in numerous shows in local theater including “Peter Pan” and “The Outsiders,” which was recently produced by the MId-Ohio Valley Players.

The company of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at Parkersburg High School performs “Beethoven Day.” The show opens at 7:30 p.m. March 19 at the high school, where tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students. (Photo Provided)

“I really, really wanted to be Snoopy,” Clark said.

Clark said she has enjoyed the comic strip since she was a young child and has seen the “Peanuts” TV shows, including “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.”

“Those are household favorites of mine,” Clark said.

The character of Lucy is played by Keira McPeek, a senior who is basing her performance in part on the character Karen she played last year in “Mean Girls: High School Version” at PHS. Lucy and Karen have similar dispositions, McPeek said.

“You know, they’re both a little dim,” she said. “They’re not the brightest.”

Lucy, played by Keira McPeek, watches Schroeder, portrayed by Wyatt Jones, practice the piano in a scene from “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” opening at 7:30 p.m. March 19 at Parkersburg High School. (Photo Provided)

She, too, enjoyed the “Peanuts” holiday specials growing up.

Linus, Lucy’s blanket-toting brother, is played by Phillip Mixson, a senior.

“This will be my first ever show,” he said. “I’m a little nervous, but things should go well.”

He tried for Snoopy, but was cast as Linus.

“I’m not disappointed,” he said.

Charlie Brown, played by Zach Gaston, brings Snoopy, played by Dorothy Clark, supper as Woodstock, played by Sophie Yoke, looks on in a rehearsal for “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” opening at 7:30 p.m. March 19 at Parkersburg High School. (Photo Provided)

Mixson is a varsity captain of the soccer team and performs with the A Capella and Chamber choirs. He also was in the All-State Choir.

“I have confidence in my singing, then I do my acting,” he said.

Playing the part of the piano-playing Schroeder is Wyatt Jones, a sophomore who made his stage debut last year as the principal in “Mean Girls.” Jones says he’s a nerd to begin with, making Schroeder appealing.

“I thought I might as well play a part I already know how to play,” he said.

Jones is having a good time with the production.

“It’s pretty fun,” he said. “I like hanging out with my friends.”

The part of Woodstock is played by freshman Sophie Yoke.

Yoke is comfortable on the stage. She was in “Mean Girls” last year and in shows at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players.

“Very much so,” she said.

Yoke said she half-heartedly told people during the auditions she was going to be Woodstock, then it got serious when it appeared she was going to be cast.

“I was very excited when I got the role of Woodstock, actually,” she said.

Sally, Charlie Brown’s younger sister, is played by Allison Miller, a sophomore who debuted last year in the “Mean Girls” ensemble. She was hoping to get the role of Sally, who she describes as polite, yet strong.

Miller is a member of the Chamber Choir, so the singing aspect of the performance is the easiest, she said. She also has similarities to Sally.

“We’re both the younger siblings,” Miller said.

In addition to the main characters, the ensemble includes Hayden Carey, Derek Roberts, Emma Deem, Adelaide Vann, Alyssa Daughtery, Maddie Richards, Clay Adams and Parker Delbaugh.

Show crew, in addition to Zyla, are music director Mike Lockney, choreographer Cara Smith, stage manager Anna Floyd, assistant stage manager Addison Somich, technical director Lily Farinash, sound designer Dominick Summers, Sammie Farinash, Karma Walsh and Savannah Smith on the lighting crew, Conner Whitehair and Evan McCleary on the sound crew, Sam Bailey, Isabelle Rollins and Lauren Smith on the stage crew and Rollins as the house manager.

Phillip Mixson as Linus leads the company in a performance of “My Blanket and Me” in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” The musical opens at 7:30 p.m. March 19. (Photo Provided)

Linus, played by Phillip Mixson, comforts his sister Lucy, played by Keira McPeek, as the ”Peanuts” gang plays in the background in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at Parkersburg High School. From left, standing, Clay Adams, Derek Roberts, Emma Deem and Adelaide Vann. Seated are Alyssa Daughtery and Maddie Richards. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. March 19 at Parkersburg High School. (Photo Provided)

Lucy, played by Keira McPeek, offers her psychiatric services to Charlie Brown, played by Zach Gaston, in the Parkersburg High School production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Based on the “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles Schultz, the show opens at 7:30 p.m. March 19 at Parkersburg High School. (Photo Provided)

Snoopy, played by Dorothy Clark, and Woodstock, played by Sophie Yoke, receive more valentines than Charlie Brown, played by Zach Gaston, in a scene from “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” opening at 7:30 p.m. March 19 at Parkersburg High School. (Photo Provided)