Area Stage Company, a pioneering Lincoln Road company admired for its strong productions of challenging plays, has lately carved out a niche in its larger Coral Gables home with ambitious musicals performed by conservatory students.

With its new production of Snoopy! The Musical, Area is easing back into professional fare, tapping some of those talented students and a couple of pros for its blended cast. The seven actors have worked with a director who knows the material as well as anyone: Arthur Whitelaw, the veteran producer, actor, writer and director who helped write the musical’s script. Whitelaw also produced and staged the original Off-Broadway production in 1982 and directed a 2004 London production.

Snoopy!, the sequel to You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, is a decent choice for a young cast. After all, the gang in the über popular Peanuts comic strips and specials is made up of kids, plus Charlie Brown’s irrepressible dog Snoopy and his little yellow bird pal Woodstock. Whitelaw’s direction is fine, David Graden’s set and costumes are cartoon colorful, and the actors are mostly up to the not-too-taxing demands of the script and songs.

The show itself is affectionate, inconsequential family entertainment. The script – by “Charles M. Schulz Creative Enterprises,” Warren Lockhart, Michael L. Grace and Whitelaw – is a collection of short scenes focused on different characters and their signature interests.

Snoopy (Joshua Dobarganes) is a sassy, independent pooch who misses his mama and dreams of a career as a famous novelist. Linus (Marc Alvarez) lugs his blanket and waits for the Great Pumpkin to arrive. Lucy (Anamari Mesa) dispenses psychiatric advice and bullies Charlie Brown (David Harrison). Tomboyish Peppermint Patty (Marilyn Caserta) wants to be pretty already so that Charlie Brown will appreciate her. Sally (Brigid Kegel) is into coat-hanger sculptures. And nervous little Woodstock (Giancarlo Rodaz) mainly delivers publishers’ rejection letters to his doggy pal.

The performers handle Michelle Petrucci’s choreography well, crisply tapping to When Do the Good Things Start? to end the first act. Among the songs by composer Larry Grossman and lyricist Hal Hackady, Snoopy’s Mother’s Day is poignant, and Patty’s Poor Sweet Baby is overflowing with faux tenderness, thanks to the impressive Caserta, who clearly has a future in musical theater.

Dobarganes, the only member of Actors’ Equity in the cast, gives a big comedic performance in the title role, as he should. Yet more than once he wanders off-key, like Snoopy breaking free of a leash.

If you’re a huge Peanuts fan or are looking for some live family-friendly entertainment, Snoopy! isn’t a bad choice. But will you do a happy Snoopy dance out the door after you see it? Probably not.