Musical Manna from Heaven, "Forever Plaid" is Reincarnated in Long Beach

In 1964 four gifted but unheard of vocalists and friends died before ever getting to pursue their dreams. Mysteriously they reappear in 2015 at the Ernest Borgnine Theatre for a limited engagement of 11 performances singing songs of a bygone era.
By: Art-In-Relation
 
LONG BEACH, Calif. - March 30, 2015 - PRLog -- Long Beach, California – Art-In​-Relation in conjunction with the Long Beach Scottish Rite with present The Plaids, a 1950's quartet of high-school chums who return from the afterlife for one final chance at musical glory. Come join for this comical, celestial theatre musical / concert event in Long Beach beginning April 23 at the Ernest Borgnine Theatre.

Stroll down memory lane with the beautiful harmonies of the 1950s. Featuring pop classics and clever patter that will have you rolling in the aisles — when you’re not humming along with the great hits of that era. Classic quartet harmonies, wrapped in a pitch-perfect theatrical confection! Forever Plaid is an off-Broadway musical revue written in 1990 by Stuart Ross with musical arrangements by James Raitt.

On a stormy night in the 1960s, four eager singers known as “The Plaids”—Sparky, Jinx, Frankie, and Smudge—are killed in a car crash on the way to their first big gig. In 2015, they get one chance to return from the afterlife and bop-shoo-bop their way through classic hits like  "Three Coins in the Fountain"; "Undecided"; "Gotta Be This or That"; "Moments to Remember"; "Crazy 'Bout Ya, Baby"; "No, Not Much"; "Sixteen Tons"; "Chain Gang"; "Perfidia"; "Cry"; "Heart and Soul"; "Lady of Spain"; "Scotland the Brave"; "Shangri-La"; "Rags to Riches"; and "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing".

“A tribute to every dreamer who never made it, but had a few moments of un-witnessed glory.” – LOS ANGELES TIMES

Tickets are $30 for preferred seating, and $20 for general admission seating. Show dates are Friday, April 24, 2015 – 8PM, Saturday, April 25, 2015 – 2:30PM & 8PM, Sunday, April 26, 2015 – 2:30PM & 7PM, Sunday, May 03, 2015 – 2:30PM & 7PM , Saturday, May 09, 2015 – 2:30PM & 8PM, Sunday, May 10, 2015 – 2:30PM & 7PM - a special Mother's Day treat!

Call 1-800-838-3006 or visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1376919 to order tickets, now!

Performances will be at the Ernest Borgnine Theatre (a beautiful and classic mid-1920’s auditorium inside the Long Beach Scottish Rite) at 855 Elm Avenue, Long Beach, CA  90813.  There is plenty of free parking and the theatre is easily accessible from both the 710/405 and 22 Freeways and is also a short walk from the Blue Line Metro Station.

Jon Peterson (SPARKY) is thrilled to be returning to the Southern California theater community and to Plaidland as Sparky in this production of Forever Plaid. Other favorite roles include Frankie (Forever Plaid), John Utterson (Jekyll and Hyde), Peron (Evita), Pharaoh (Joseph...), Top Banana (Sugar Babies), Al (A Chorus Line), Cornelius (Hello Dolly) and the Governor (Best Little Whorehouse in Texas). A musical theater graduate, Jon has also sung with Opera Pacific and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.

David Kenny (JINX) is returning to the theatre after an excruciating four year hiatus. Fortunately, this time has been filled with professional a cappella work - arranging, writing, directing, and performing in several different groups - as well as singing in theme parks all around Southern California. Previously, David has enjoyed portraying Mark Cohen (RENT), Seymour Krelborn (Little Shop of Horrors), Leo Bloom (The Producers), Doody (Grease), and Marius Pontmercy (Les Miserables).

Ray Buffer (SMUDGE) is a co-executive producer for Art In Relation, and previously founder and producing artistic director of The Relevant Stage.  Favorite and diverse roles include Jamie (The Last Five Years), Fudge (Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing) , The Creature (Frankenstein The Musical), Stanley (Smoke On The Mountain), Tevye (Fiddler On The Roof), Adam (Seven Brides For Seven Brothers), Man (I Love You You’re Perfect, Now Change!), Bill (Oliver), Jud (Oklahoma) and Lawrence (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels).  Next, he will direct for Art In Relation: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for performances in the Summer of 2015.

Jonas Sills (FRANKIE/MUSICAL DIRECTOR) is a co-executive producer for Art In Relation.  He is also the artistic director of the Los Angeles Musical Theatre Youth Chorus. Jonas made his directing debut with Art In Relation for a one day fundraising musical revue called Fresh AIR, after playing Victor Frankenstein in AIR’s performances of Frankenstein The Musical.  Jonas is lucky to make his living making music every day as a teacher, singer, actor and conductor.  He has had a dual career in the classical and musical theater realms.  Favorite musical theater roles include Candide (Candide), Jinx, Sparky and Smudge (Forever Plaid),  Nanki-Po (The Mikado), Tateh (Ragtime), Fakir (Secret Garden).  In addition, he was a proud member of the Opera Pacific Chorus, Long Beach Opera, Long Beach Camerata, and the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers.

Marie Madera Gleerup (DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER) began her passion for theatre in a church version of Godspell long ago. The creativity and support offered by that first musical cast was a refreshing change from anything she'd experienced with hobbies or activities before, and she was hooked! Dance classes followed, along with an introduction to the audition process in the Southland's musical theatre circuit. After trying a number of times, Marie was cast as a chorus dancer by the Downey Civic Light Opera, and was a member of the cast in 17 of their musicals in a row!  Her love of dance and teaching led her down the path of choreography. First, as a dance captain and assistant choreographer, Marie's first choreography show was Rodger's and Hammerstein's Cinderella, where she taught 18 people how to waltz. She has continued to choreograph community theatre productions for both South Bay and Orange County theatres. Favorite shows include Pippin, Sweet Charity, The Pirates of Penzance, Grease, Oklahoma, Bye Bye Birdie, Carousel, and, most recently, The Producers at the James Armstrong Theatre, where she also performed alongside her willing husband, Rich.  Marie also choreographs youth and children's productions, and has been on staff with Haven Academy for Les Miserables, Children of Eden, Aida, Once on This Island, The Mikado and The Wiz.

Performances are made possible through a licensing agreement with Musical Theatre International.

ART-IN-RELATION (AIR) is a new arts organization based in Long Beach, CA.  Its focus is on providing a service to the community by bringing a mixture of the familiar with new and emerging works, performed by professionals as well as new and emerging talent.

Contact
Ray Buffer
***@artinrelation.com
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Source:Art-In-Relation
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Tags:Musical Theatre, Long Beach, Forever Plaid, 50's Music, Perry Como
Industry:Arts, Music
Location:Long Beach - California - United States
Subject:Events
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Page Updated Last on: Mar 30, 2015



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