Charlie Brown

TIFTON — Tift County’s Blue Devil Players are unveiling “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” Thursday.

It’s a show director and drama teacher Jake Alley is familiar with, having played the title character as part of a Valdosta State University production.

“I’ve always loved this show,” said Alley. “It’s a simple story with a beautifully message: There’s more to life than the materialistic things we have; there’s the people in our lives. I think this is the perfect time for a message like that.”

After auditioning last year, the cast and crew started rehearsals in August.

“I wanted to do a small show with a small cast,” said Alley. “We’re able to work closer together than we would with a big, grandiose musical.”

Alley describes the last couple of months as a whirlwind for the 14 students involved with the show — seven cast members and seven crew members.

“They fell in love with the show, learning it, listening to it,” said Alley. “This is the first show we’ve been this prepared for. We’ve been running with lights and mikes for a week now. We’ve had costumes for two weeks.”

It’s also the first show run fully by students.

While they’ve been aided by Alley’s direction and set design, lighting design by TCHS librarian Lauraleigh Shealey and parents who helped build the set and props, once the curtain goes up on opening night, it’ll be student-run.

“My goal is to not have a single adult on stage,” said Alley. “I hope that’s what we start doing.”

Clocking in at 90 minutes, the one-act musical starts 6 p.m. Thursday. It continues at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, as well as 3 p.m. Sunday.

A Friday morning show will be held for the students of G.O. Bailey.

All shows are at the Tift County High School Performing Arts Center.