The singing accentuates the acting, and the dancing accentuates the singing.

In theatrical circles, musical performers are known as triple threats due to their ability to act, sing and dance. Lancaster Mennonite School (LMS) is enlisting the talents of about a half-dozen triple threats to pull off the production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."

"Musical theater is really a heightened art form," said Katelyn Coryell, Lancaster Mennonite's first-year director. "Singing happens when words aren't enough for the depth of the moment, and dancing happens when singing isn't enough for the depth of the moment. A musical definitely takes a different approach than a play. I find musicals to be super, super fun just because they're larger than life."

LMS will present "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" as its winter musical on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22, 23 and 24, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 25, at 3 p.m. The performance will be staged within the confines of the High Fine Arts Center at Lancaster Mennonite, 2176 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster.

"It's set in a day of the life of Charlie Brown, and it's like watching a singing and dancing comic strip," said Coryell. "When Charles Schulz wrote the comic strip in the 1950s, he did not intend it to just reach children. He had the kids as the central characters talking about issues that face adults. The musical continues that mission. It's a message for everyone. Seeing my kids handle that material with grace has been incredible."

The cast of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" is made up of 13 Lancaster Mennonite students. They are supported by four stage managers and 10 members of the sound, lighting, makeup and costume crew.

Senior Julia Fisher will star in the role of Charlie Brown, senior Ilse Ness will play Snoopy, junior Mara Carlson will tackle the role of Lucy Van Pelt, junior Kayden Beidler will portray Linus Van Pelt and sophomore Landon Nyveldt will play Schroeder.

"I have really enjoyed exploring the character of Charlie Brown and the world of the Peanuts," said Julia. "All of the characters are innocent children, but they still connect with very grown-up feelings. Charlie Brown is a very sad 6-year-old, but he still tries to make other people feel happy. This is a very impressive thing for a 6-year-old to do. Even as teenagers and adults, we are not always there for other people when we are feeling sad or upset."

"The show is giving them an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge," said Coryell. "It creates a lot of light bulb moments. That's probably the most rewarding part for me."

"But I also hope (the students are) learning effective communication skills," Coryell continued. "This is a collaboration. Hopefully they're growing in their passion and understanding of other people. I hope they're giving themselves permission to fail and they're learning to pick themselves up again. Theater is an awesome way to learn to approach life that way."

Auditions for the musical presentation commenced around Thanksgiving, not long after the completion of LMS' fall play. The cast and crew have been rehearsing after school every Tuesday through Friday since.

"I put in significant time outside of rehearsals because I like to come in prepared," said Coryell. "I find it helpful to have a plan or landmarks. Having those landmarks is important to me as a director and my cast, because when you hit them, it lets us know where we are."

Of course, the shows represent the payoff. They're rewards for all the hard work done behind the scenes.

"On the nights of the performance, (the students) have a lot of different things in their minds - the lyrics of the songs, the notes, their choreography," said Coryell. "There are a lot of moving parts. There are a lot of butterflies and that's OK. All that matters is that you get the butterflies flying in the right directions."

To get tickets for Lancaster Mennonite School's performance of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," go to http://www.lancastermennonite.org/events/hs-winter-musical-youre-a-good-man-charlie-brown or call the LMS box office at 717-740-2456.