By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Paula Huser Children’s Theatre of Hays will present “A Charlie Brown Christmas” this weekend at the 12th Street Auditorium.
Show times will be 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. Cost of admission is $5 and a food donation for the local food pantry. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.hctks.com.
The Paula Huser Children’s Theatre is an annual production that showcases child actors ages 7-14. Older students are mentored as directors and to manage lights and costumes.
Come the night of the shows, the students will take over managing the show, including assistant director Dylan Werth. Werth is a junior at Thomas More Prep-Marian and most recently played Jack in the TMP production of “Into the Woods.”
Werth also has been involved in Hays Community Theatre for two years, which he became acquainted with through his aunt Wendy Richmeier, who is directing the play.
“It is very difficult with children, since they are all new and have never been directed before, but the thing that keeps me coming around is to make a foundation for the children so if they want to keep coming back and performing they have a place to do it,” Werth said.
Richmeier explained why the Hays Community Theatre board chose “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
“It’s short. It is only an hour or so long. It is a lot of fun. It is one that everybody of all ages of the community will know,” she said.
This show is based on the 1965 Charlie Brown Christmas special that has been broadcast for years on television, complete with music and dancing.
The program had 58 children audition, and the program did not want to cut anyone, so it split the production into two companies — an A and B cast. There are 11 speaking parts and the rest of the children sing and play extras. The casts will alternate nights of production.
Richmeier said she has enjoyed working with children, but there have been challenges. Many of the children have never been on stage before and never taken direction.
“It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “We have a lot of new blood.”
Richmeier encouraged the public to attend the show.
“We would just like to invite everybody down to come see what the kids have put together. Come see your favorite childhood classic that has been on TV for years” she said. “This is ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ just like on TV.”