The “Peanuts” gang sprang to life as middle-school students staged an expanded version of the musical comedy “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

2012 "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" (slideshow)

Based on the classic comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, the show was originally written for a cast of six. Director/choreographer Tony Young and crew expanded it to feature 25 students in grades 6 – 8, highlighting characters such as Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Pigpen, Schroeder, Snoopy, Woodstock and their many friends. “After all, Schulz did give us more than 50 memorable characters to play with,” said Young.

The students made the most of the opportunity, shining in public performances Nov. 16 – 17, 2012, at Dillingham Hall. First produced off-Broadway in 1967, the book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner (with additional dialogue by Michael Mayer and additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa), provided particularly meaningful material for the adolescent performers.

Whether in songs and dances featuring the entire ensemble, such as “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “Glee Club Rehearsal,” and “Happiness,” or in smaller numbers such as “My Blanket and Me,” “Suppertime,” and “My New Philosophy,” the cast of Punahou students conveyed the humor and warmth of a show about persevering through life’s ups and downs.