Arts After Hours set to begin its spring season

LYNN – A third weekend of performances has been added to Arts After Hours? spring musical, and the organization will be kicking off its second-annual music series later this month.Arts After Hours Managing Director Corey Jackson said “You?re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” will have 13 performances, as opposed to the typical eight.?We?ve had so much success with our first two shows, and, this being a family show, we wanted to have more of an opportunity for people to see it,” he said.The extended run is part of a broader plan by Arts After Hours to have six shows a year that last five weekends each, Jackson said. He added that he wants to implement that kind of schedule over the next two to three years.?We want to produce much more activity in the downtown area. That?s our goal,” Jackson said.?You?re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” which will be performed later this month and in early June at LynnArts, consists of vignettes from “A day in the life of the Peanuts gang,” Jackson said. Scenes include Linus singing about his blanket, Snoopy upset over dinner being delayed and a baseball game, where the pressure is on Charlie Brown to win the day.?You get a glimpse into all the characters that obviously a lot of adults in Lynn grew up with, and topics and themes that the kids will be able to relate to,” he said.Jackson said the adult actors match the qualities of their young characters.?It?s really cute having the adults play the 6-year-old characters,” he said. “It?s blending the line between adult and child, and I think kids will get a kick out of it, too.”In addition, all ticket holders will receive a four-pack of tickets to a North Shore Navigators home game at Fraser Field.?This is another value that we?re able to add on our tickets, that people don?t just get a show, but they get a baseball game with their kids,” Jackson said.The organization?s music series will begin next week (May 12) at LynnArts with Arts After Hours alumna and regional actress Shonna McEachern. McEachern was in Arts After Hours? first two shows, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and “I Love You, You?re Perfect, Now Change,” and will be doing a cabaret performance as part of the series.The series also includes local cabaret artist Lynda D?Amour on July 28. The month of July will furthermore have Arts After Hours? third-annual Back Yard Bash music festival on July 14 at the Lynn Museum park. The event was the organization?s inaugural event in August 2010, and this year local bands OldJack and Kingsley Flood will perform.Jackson said he hopes to have the Back Yard Bash evolve into a music festival of Massachusetts bands that could potentially span multiple days.As Arts After Hours approaches its second anniversary, Jackson said he had one word for how he felt: “amazing.”?I?m floored every day about how the community is latching onto it and supporting it,” he said.Sarah Mupo can be reached at [email protected] You Go? ?You?re a Good Man,Charlie Brown? will beperformed at the NealRantoul Black Box Theater at LynnArts, 25 Exchange St. There will be a 7:30 p.m. show on May 24, 25, 26 and 31 and June 1, 2, 7 and 8. There will be a 3 p.m. show on May 26 and 27 andJune 2, 3 and 9. Tickets are$20-$25. For tickets, call the box office at 781-205-4010 or visit artsafterhours.com.Shonna McEachern will perform at the Neal Rantoul Black Box Theater atLynnArts, 25 Exchange St, on Saturday, May 12, at8 p.m. Tickets are $20 for a table and $15 for general seating. For tickets, callthe box office at 781-205-4010 or visit artsafterhours.com.