BROADWAY PLAYERS' MUSICAL MAY 5-8

When Dave Olson and Tana Howard stepped into a Charlie Brown comic strip, they were able to renew grade school memories. They haven't stopped acting like kids ever since.

Although both lived just a few miles apart for several years, Olson in Jackson and Howard in Cape Girardeau, one of their last conversations was as classmates at Jefferson Grade School.

But fate brought them together for a project that has enabled them to reel in the years and have a little fun in the process. Both will be performing in the musical "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" for the Broadway Players May 5-8.

Once again they can act like kids and not feel the least big guilty. "It's been a blast so far," said Olson.

"It's a lot of fun being able to play a kid as an adult," said Olson, who played golf with Howard's father for years before realizing who his links partner's daughter was. "Tana's dad suggested I try out for the part of Charlie Brown in the musical because he knew I sang at my church," said Olson.

"I couldn't believe I got the part. But what was even more surprising was getting out of my car for the tryout and seeing Tana for the first time in such a long while," said Olson, who is an account consultant for AT&T communications. "I recognized her right away and she knew who I was," added Olson.

Olson plays Charlie Brown and Howard plays Snoopy. The musical, under the direction of K.C. Martin, will run from May 5-8. The May 5 show will take place at the Drury Lodge beginning at 8 p.m. The May 6-7 shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will take place at the Concord Theater. A May 8 performance will also take place at Concord at 2:30 p.m.

"This has been a lot of fun so far," said Howard, who has been participating in community theater productions since the seventh grade. "They couldn't find a male to play the part of Snoopy, so they decided to let a ham like me try," quipped Howard. "None of the people in the cast are professional actors or actresses, but they're great. I think once I got my lines down I was able to have some fun with the role. I just hope I do okay with the Red Baron speech."

Olson had to suppress his normal reactions as an adult in order to climb into the character of Charlie Brown. "Normally as an adult you try to contain your anger when someone gets upset over something, but as a kid you just let your true feelings out," he said. "Everybody in the cast is just exceptional. I just can't put into words how good these people are to work with. Lucy is even better than the comic strip character."

Stephanie Pelts plays Lucy. "Lucy is very crabby and bossy," said Pelts, whose last stint with the Broadway players was as an assistant director in "Cheaper By The Dozen."

"If Lucy doesn't know the answer to something, she just makes it up and convinces everybody it's right," said Pelts. "She's a character you can really put your whole heart and soul into. I like the idea of a musical where adults get to act like kids. There's some fun in that."

Olson is convinced Pelts has captured the essence of Lucy. "When she's hollering and screaming at Linus, it's so believable," said Olson.

Phillip Davis, who plays Linus, was looking for something to do after playing in Jackson High's production of "Krazy Kamp". He found just the right part in "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown."

"I was kind of bored and needed something to do, and this seemed right for me," said Davis, a senior at Jackson High School. "My drama teacher Mrs. (Joyce) Schroeder, told me about the musical, so I just showed up and tried out," said Davis, who plans on pursuing an acting career when he moves on to Central Bible College in Springfield, Mo., next fall.

"This should be a good experience for me," he said. "Linus is a child prodigy," explained Davis. "He's only five years old but knows all about philosophy and psychology Added Davis,"And he's just terrified of his sister Lucy. It's been a lot of work so far, because there are a lot of lines to learn, but I've enjoyed it."

Said Martin, who is directing his first musical,"This is really a comic strip brought to life through a musical. It's been a lot of fun to work with the cast because they're talented and seem to adapt to their roles real well."