The Evergreen Chorale to Present FOREVER PLAID, 2/21-3/9

The Evergreen Chorale presents "Forever Plaid" February 21 through March 9 at Center Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen, CO, 80439. Performances are Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $22 Adults; $18 seniors (62+)/Students, $15 children, $17 groups of 10 or more and available by calling 303-674-4002 or online at www.evergreenchorale.org.

The musical is a flashback to the innocence of the 1950s, and tells the story of four young men (the "Plaids") who were on their way to perform on the Ed Sullivan show when they had a fatal car crash. As the show opens, they have come back for the ultimate encore, and are given a chance to perform their show one last time for a live audience. The light-hearted show is appropriate for all ages.

Forever Plaid opened in 1990 and became a smash off-Broadway hit, and has since been performed for audiences around the world. A clever script and a score featuring 50's favorites such as Heart and Soul, Three Coins in a Fountain, Chain Gang, and Sixteen Tons takes the audience back to the heyday of the close harmonizing "guy groups" such as the Four Aces and the Ames Brothers. It was written, directed, and choreographed by Stuart Ross with musical and vocal arrangements by James Raitt, and is presented through special arrangements with Music Theatre International (MTI).

Audiences will enjoy the playful repartee between the four Plaids, whom they will recognize from previous Chorale productions. Brian Sides (Smudge) portrayed Juan Peron in Evita, as well as many other roles in Chorale productions. Chad Hewitt (Frankie) played John Adams in last spring's production of 1776, opposite Robert Dickert (Jinx) as Thomas Jefferson. Bill O'Meara's (Sparky) most recent role was as a tenor solo in the Chorale's performance of Handel's Messiah in December 2012. DJ Himstedt rounds out the cast as the on-stage pianist with Jon Cullison on bass and Dean Oldencott on drums.

The show is directed by local resident and Elk's Lodge president Jack Schnepp, with musical direction by the Chorale's artistic director, Christine Gaudreau. NancyLee Manus, last seen in the fall production of Jekyll & Hyde, is the choreographer; Elisa Campbell is the stage and production manager, and costumes have been created by Shirley Esher. The set has been designed by Tammy Williams, and Erika Kae is returning as lighting designer.

In addition to Forever Plaid, the 90-member Chorale will produce three choral concerts this spring - a concert, Chichester Psalms, with the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra on April 25 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cherry Hills Village and on April 27 at Rockland Community Church in Golden, and two pops concerts, the first on June 30 at the Arvada Center with Rocky Mountain Brassworks, and the second on July 4 at Evergreen Lake with the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra.

"Forever Plaid"

Feb 21 - Mar 9

Fri/Sat @ 7:30 p.m.; Sun @ 3 p.m.

$22 - $15

Purchase tickets online at www.evergreenchorale.org or call 303-674-4002.

Center Stage, 27608 Fireweed Drive, Evergreen, CO. 80439

Suitable for all ages.

Pictured: Chad Hewitt, Robert Dickert, Bill O'Meara, and Brian Sides. Photo by John V. Gaudreau.

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