COURTLAND—The comic strip “Peanuts” comes to life today and Saturday when students at Southampton High School perform the musical, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

Inspired by Charles M. Schultz’s characters, Clark Gesner created what would become the final product that debuted Off-Broadway in 1967, and has enjoyed further success in revivals and performances such this local one.

Between rehearsals, the seven students each talked briefly about their roles and backgrounds.

Warren Hastings, 16, has the title role of the hapless, but still likeable Charlie Brown.

He was encouraged by faculty members Stephen West and Melissa Edwards of the Fine Arts Department to audition for a role.

“I thought it would be cool and so I tried out,” Hastings said, adding that he had not been in a play such as this one.

Though unfamiliar with comic strip itself, the sophomore has seen the television specials.

As a member of his church choir and the school singing group New Tones, Hastings said he’s found that learning the songs for the musical has helped his voice.

“I can hit notes that I didn’t think I could hit,” he added.

Encouraged by the experience so far, Hastings already believes that he’ll do other school plays provided there’s time.

Tyler Maynard, 17, plays man’s best friend, Snoopy.

“He [West] asked me and I said OK,” he said.

Though the character is that of a dog, he’s not without a voice or opinion.

“I do get a couple of songs and words, which are directed more toward the audience than the cast,” said the junior.

Though he’s “really big in the band,” this has been his first high school play, which has also been a positive experience.

“It’s pretty fun,” said Maynard.

Hannah Overstreet, 15, got the role of Sally, little sister to Charlie Brown.

“She’s cute and adorable,” the freshman said of the character. She knows of the comic strip through her mom, who is reportedly “a big fan” and is excited about her daughter’s role.

“I’m excited too,” said Overstreet.

Though she has sung in church musicals at Black Creek Baptist and with the New Tones, this is also her first time on stage.

The experience of learning lines and lyrics hasn’t been difficult, said Overstreet, because “I’m pretty good at memorization.”

Whether or not she’ll do another play “depends on how this goes.”

Singing “Happy Birthday” was part of Boyce Ward’s audition, which landed him the role of Linus Van Pelt, one of the characters closest to Charlie Brown.

“I’ve been up on stage before giving speeches in elementary school and churches,” said the 17-year-old.

He credited Edwards with encouraging him to participate.

“I enjoy it,” said Boyce. “I figure that a musical can only be so hard.”

Zoe Beale, 18, is Lucy Van Pelt, sister to Linus, and she (Lucy) is often a thorn in Charlie Brown’s side — be it on the baseball field or pulling away a football. Yet, she said she actually can identify with the character.

“She’s very loud and very obnoxious,” said Beale with a smile. “It’s very easy to fall into that character of Lucy.”

The senior doesn’t view the play as difficult.

“It’s not so much a challenge as a new experience,” she said.

Previous to this, Beale has done productions for younger members at her church, Franklin Congregational Christian.

“I’m so excited. I love singing and I love the theater,” she said. “It’s been a big aspiration of mine to be in a musical like this.”

Beale said she’ll attend Chowan University next year, which has “a very strong acting program, and I very much want to be a part of it.”

Kirby Brooks will be Schroeder, whose love is for the music of Beethoven is best expressed on his toy piano, where Lucy is often lounging and longing.

“At first I wasn’t going to be in it,” said Brooks. “Then my dad said, ‘You gotta do this.’ Then a friend said I sounded better on stage.”

A member of the New Tones, this is the 15-year-old’s first musical, and it’s also been a good experience.

“I love it. I think it’s going to be amazing,” Brooks said, adding that he might even do plays later in life as a hobby.

Alexa Boris will be the unnamed little red-headed girl that’s the love interest of Charlie Brown.

A teacher urged her to audition and “I was one of the lucky ones,” said Boris. “I’m so excited.”

Unless you count her karaoke experiences, this musical is a first for her, but she’s not worried that it’ll be too challenging.

The musical will be performed at 9:30 a.m. today for the students and 6 p.m. Saturday for the public. Admission is $5 per person.