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When it came to selecting "Snoopy!!! The Musical" as Cheswick Christian Academy's spring production, all the ingredients already were there says the show's director, Star Laliberte.

The way she sees it, you take a confident dog owned by an insecure boy with a sensitive, laid-back sister, add the melodramatic Lucy and her genius brother Linus; introduce Peppermint Patty, the boisterous tomboy, and a bird named Woodstock, who is the best friend of that confident dog, and you end up with some very interesting conversation.

It's one that continues at 7 p.m. Friday at the Forum Theatre on the Penn State, New Kensington Campus, in Upper Burrell.

"This is only the second year that we have done a musical like this and only the second musical I have directed," Laliberte says. "I am so proud of these kids and even more proud to have the opportunity to work with them."

It can be difficult scheduling rehearsals when students come from 13 school districts and need to arrange for transportation home, she says. "Our kids have to show up at practice having done their homework for the musical. It requires a lot of individual work on the part of each cast member," she says.

Laliberte says she's happy that the kids take pleasure in participating. "When they feel like they have conquered their lines or nailed a song, you can see it all over their faces. I love it!" Laliberte says.

"I enjoy the practices as we learn our lines and laugh at the things we have to do sometimes. We grow closer through it all," says senior Alicia Maust of Natrona Heights, who plays Peppermint Patty.

If needed, she could stage a mini-rehearsal at home, because her brothers Eric, a sophomore, and Andrew, who is in eighth grade, are in the cast. "I like that I get to act with my brother and sister," says Eric, who plays Charlie Brown. Eric says he has been preparing for his role by watching Peanuts' movies and reading the comics. He finds the characters "unforgettable."

Last year, he played Charlie Brown in the prequel, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."

His brother Andrew is Linus this year. "Linus' parts in this play are hilarious," Andrew says. He's the smartest character in Peanuts, and he believes many outrageous things."

Christian Laliberte, a freshman from New Kensington, has been getting to know his family dog a lot better in his preparations to portray Snoopy. "I've spent some time following my dog Sherman around," he says. "I am trying to be Snoopy this year, instead of just playing Snoopy."

He played the role in last year's musical, too. "I really enjoy becoming a character that I have known about for years and always enjoyed reading about," he says. "I really like the humor in this show. It is a lot of fun to play out."

This, says junior Kelly Quigley of New Kensington, who has the role of Lucy, "is going to be a blast."

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