Theatre on a Shoestring




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The Story


Once upon a time, there were four guys who loved to sing. The out-of-fashion and fictitious Plaids were lovable losers who met in their high school audio-visual club and discovered that they shared an affection for music and entertaining. So, they got together and dreamed of becoming like their idols -- The Four Aces, The Four Lads, The Four Freshmen, The Hi-Lo's and The Crew Cuts. They rehearsed in the basement of Smudge's family's plumbing supply company. It was there that they became FOREVER PLAID -- a name that connotes the continuation of traditional values of family, home and harmony.

Although rock ‘n’ roll was racing down the fast lane like a candy apple "‘vette," FOREVER PLAID believed in their music. They sang at family gatherings, fund-raisers, and eventually graduated to supermarket openings and proms. They supported their fantasy by holding down day jobs and after devoting nights and weekends to their singing, they finally landed their first big break at the Airport Hilton Cocktail Bar -- The Fusel-Lounge. Sadly, however, as they were en-route to pick up their custom-made Plaid Tuxedoes, they were slammed broadside by a school bus filled with teen-age girls on their way to witness the Beatles make their U.S. television debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. They were killed instantly.

Through the Power of Harmony and the Expanding Holes in the Ozone Layer in conjunction with the positions of the Planets and all that Astro-Technical stuff, they have been allowed to come back to perform the show they never got to do in life! But it won't come easy. Each questionably talented Plaid has a flaw, be it jittery nerves, indigestion, a slight speech impediment or the inability to tell his left from his right. Plus, they are shaken and confused by what the fates have done to them, nervously eyeing the audience as they stumble about trying to synchronize their clumsy choreography and uncertain four-part harmonies.

There's more to the show than just hearing well-sung versions of nostalgic tunes. It's about pursuing dreams no matter the odds as the four-some undergoes a transformation from bumbling geeks to confident performers. The audience will join the singing actors on an engaging journey back to a more onnocent era when chaperoned teen-agers sought dreamy-eyed romance at the high school prom.



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The Cast


Francis - Ryan Meagher
Sparky - Anthony Scholze
Jinx - Scott Brooks
Smudge - Jacob Brooks


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The Band


Piano -- Angela Brooks
Bass -- Ted Meagher


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The Production Team


Director -- Laurie Swigart
Stage Manager -- Amanda Hobson
Technical Manager -- Robyn Schubert
House Managers -- Minday and Casey Johnson
Publicity -- Diane Hanson, Steph Wachter
Set Design -- Laurie Swigart
Lighting and Sound Design -- TJ Smith
Costume Design -- Laurie Swigart
Costume Mistress -- Patty Elsen
Makeup Design -- Liz Lefevre
Choreography -- Kari Headington, Laurie Swigart
Follow-spot -- Robyn Schubert
Scene Construction -- Todd Brooks, Nate Scholze
Roger Swigart, Kevin Hobson, AJ Johnson
Seamstresses -- Patty Elsen, Sandy Westenburg, Kathy Schubert
Scene Painting -- Lindsey McNown, Laurie Swigart
Jenni Lukasek, Kim Wood, Robyn Schubert
House Staff -- Jenni Lukasek, Kim Wood
Julia MacCallum, Liz Lefevre, Abby Sherin
Food Preparation -- Sandy Clemmerson


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The Show


(Photos taken during dress rehearsal)

Family Portrait

Deus Ex Plaid
Deus Ex Plaid
That's Jinx
That's Jinx
The band
The band
Which?
Which?
Make it Mine
Make it Mine
Sparky's first solo
Sparky's first solo
We could all look like this!
We could all look like this!
Re-mem-ber
Re-mem-ber
Crazy 'bout ya!
Crazy 'bout ya!
Ouch!
Ouch!
Maybe so
Maybe so
It's stuck!
It's stuck!
Smudge's collection
Smudge's collection
Spanish attitude
Spanish attitude
Checkin' the nose
Checkin' the nose
Hi there
Hi there
Transformation
Transformation
Look...no nosebleed
Look...no nosebleed
The Clickers
The Clickers
Right or left?
Right or left?
Get down, Sparky!
Get down, Sparky!
The Golden Cardigan
The Golden Cardigan
Day-O
Day-O
Smudge's debut
Smudge's debut
Mercury!
Mercury!
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
Lady of Spain?
Lady of Spain?
Hoya ta ho!
Hoya ta ho!"
Fire-eater
Fire-eater
OOPS!
OOPS!
Thanks, lady!
Thanks, lady!
Va-room!
Va-room!
Love is...
Love is...


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