Hanford, Pasco, Richland high schools open shows in April

High school students in Richland and Pasco are bringing classic shows to the stage this month.

Hanford High School’s production of the play Our Town opens April 15, Pasco High’s version of the comedy Miss Nelson is Missing! opens April 21 and Richland High’s staging of the musical You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown opens April 22.

‘Our Town’

Written by Thornton Wilder, Our Town debuted in 1938 and won numerous accolades, including the Pulitzer Prize.

It centers on a young couple, George and Emily, and their friends and relatives in the fictional Grover’s Corner, N.H.

“It’s an incredible story for students, because the script manages to capture the essential moments to which we can all relate,” said director Joanna Flaten, who is a graduate of Hanford.

The cast is led by Chase Freeman and Ashton Johnson as George and Emily. Others in the cast include Eden Hill, Trevyn Wong, Jesse Gervais, Hannah Merwin, Azana Nunez, Alex Splattstoessen and Gabriela Boarder.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. April 15-16 and 22-23 at Hanford High School, 450 Hanford St.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. They’re available at the door.

For more information, go to www.hanforddrama.org.

‘Miss Nelson is Missing!’

Adapted by Jeffery Hatcher from the children’s book by Harry Allard and James Marshall, Miss Nelson Is Missing! centers on an elementary school classroom once helmed by Miss Nelson.

When the sweet teacher disappears, “her replacement is the hard-as-nails, detention-loving, recess-canceling, homework-overloading substitute teacher Viola Swamp. With the Big Test approaching, the kids suddenly realize how much they miss Miss Nelson and they’ll do anything — including hiring a private eye — to solve the mystery,” a news release said.

The cast includes Kennedy Smith as Elvis, Ashton Silva as Kimberly, David Placido as George Jorgenson Jr., Marieli Pedroza as LaVita, Emily Hale as Phoebe, Rachel Iverson as Rachel, Michael Duran as Detective McSmogg, Princess Kannah as Principal Humleker, Zoe Thompson as Miss Nelson and Zada Torrence as Viola Swamp.

Understudies include Lucas Diaz, Mekinna Redman, Avenly Hansen and Sydney Cater

The show is directed by Pasco High teacher Heather Johnson and Tri-City theater artist Ellicia Elliott.

Performances are at 7 p.m. April 21-23 and 29 and at 2 p.m. April 30 in Gregson Auditorium at Pasco High School, 1108 N. 10th Ave.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students if bought in advanced. The price goes up to $10 for adults and $8 for students at the door. The matinee price is $5 for children and students.

Advance tickets are available from students and at Pasco High’s ASB office.

‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’

The musical comedy You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown debuted in 1967. It’s based on the Peanuts characters created by Charles Schulz, with music and lyrics by Clark Gesner.

“The audience follows (the characters) through different days of different seasons, experiencing the triumphs and obstacles of each character,” a news release said.

The 1999 Broadway revival earned Tony Awards for Roger Bart and Kristin Chenoweth, who played Snoopy and Sally.

Richland High’s cast includes Peter Hillebrant as Charlie Brown, Sierra Sage as Sally Brown, Kristina Gaumnitz as Lucy Van Pelt, Devin Smith as Linus Van Pelt, Mikah Turpin as Schroeder and Jewel Bressler as Snoopy.

Performances are at 7 p.m. April 22-23 and 29-30 at Richland High School, 930 Long Ave.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students with ID and seniors age 55 and older. Children under age 12 are free.

This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 10:13 PM with the headline "Hanford, Pasco, Richland high schools open shows in April."