by Alycia Skerry
7/28/2017

Holliston High School rising seniors Amanda Willis and Viraj Shriwardhankar will play featured roles in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” presented by a brand new Metrowest theatre company, Backstage Repertory Company (BRC). The show brings the beloved “Peanuts” to life in a colorful, life-affirming production which highlights the talents of young actors from the area.

Amanda Willis, who plays Snoopy, expressed her excitement about being involved with the company’s debut. “It’s such an amazing opportunity to be part of the start of a company. We’re working really hard to get the name well-known, and we’re all really excited to be part of the first show because it’s all very new to everyone. It’s not like some people are more experienced,” she said.

The show, which features not only the familiar main cast of Peanuts characters but also an ensemble of supporting favorites, has been not only a theatrical experience but also an opportunity for the cast to make friends. “We’re all in this together and we’re all having a good old time,” Willis added.

Viraj Shriwardhankar, who plays Franklin, emphasized the enthusiasm of his peers. “There’s a high energy to the cast… everybody is so talented,” he said. This lends to the show’s comedy and fast pace. “There’s never a slow moment to the show and everything is just so funny,” Shriwardhankar said.

“This is all meant to be,” director and artistic director of BRC Brian Hickey said when asked how it feels to be involved with the company’s first show. “They’re so talented, there’s so much enthusiasm… the cast is just working so hard to pull it together and they are so unbelievably talented. So it’s unbelievable! I’m speechless,” he said.

The show, and Backstage Repertory Company, make their home at Marketplace Theatre in Bellingham. “It’s a very light-hearted, fun show for all ages… it’s just a fun show and everyone can get involved. Since it’s such a small theater, it’s kind of like you’re up there on stage with them,” Amanda Willis said.

According to Hickey, the audience can look forward to “an unbelievably talented group of kids putting on an exciting show that is very family-friendly, yet very, very funny… The enthusiasm onstage is palpable, that the audience is going to just leave feeling better about themselves and about life.”

The show runs at the Marketplace Theatre, 799 S. Main St in Bellingham on July 27, 28 and 29 at 7:30 PM and July 29 and 30 at 2:00 PM.

TICKETS on sale now at brc.booktix.com and will be available at the door.
For more info, contact Backstage Repertory Company at backstagerc@gmail.com or visit their facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/backstagerc/