This quartet gets a second chance at musical stardom
Lights flickered and fog rolled across the stage as the show began. Audience members were treated with a unique start as the four- man show entered down the aisles, singing, lit candles in hand, as the rest of the stage stood dark.
“Forever Plaid” is a rip-roaring good time that never leaves the audience anything less than amazed. From the supernatural story line to the four-part harmony created by the Plaids, viewers of any age are sure to have a wonderful experience with this talented quartet.
The Plaids were en route to their first big performance one night when their cherry-red 1954 Mercury was struck by a bus filled with Catholic teens who happened to be on their way to see The Beatles at their American debut on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”
“The cast of ‘Forever Plaid’ — Ryan Yoder (from left to right), Ethan Park, Connor Smith, and Jordan Smith — perform in this supernatural event held Oct 12-13 and 19-20 in The Wallace Book of Life Theatre.”
The Plaids did not survive to reach their musical stardom but are given one final chance to do so when they find themselves in front of an audience in The Wallace Book of Life Theatre at California Baptist University.
Jinx, played by Ryan Yoder, sophomore music education and theatre performance double major, shares some insight on his part.
“It was difficult for me to play this character because Jinx is completely opposite from me,” Yoder said. “I’m a very outgoing person, and Jinx is very shy, so it was definitely a big challenge to get into character.”
While getting into character can be challenging, he said he likes to get into the “actor’s neutral” and draw from his personal experiences that relate to the character.
Yoder does a fantastic job of portraying the meek, but talented, Jinx and did not skip a beat when asked to comment on his experience with the rest of the cast.
“We had five weeks to put it all together, which made for a difficult show run, but we all worked very hard as a team and are proud of the production,” Yoder said.
He revealed how the cast has been affected spiritually in this production. In addition to feeling blessed to be able to work with such a talented group, he said he feels the Lord has worked in the cast’s lives by showing them how to put His glory first.
Yoder added that he feels that not only he but also the rest of the show’s cast is able to rise to any challenge with God’s help.
Lisa Lyons, director, said she enjoyed working with the cast of “Forever Plaid” and shared her favorite part of this production.
“The rehearsal process is a wonderful experience if you have great people to work with,” Lyons said.
Lyons expressed her gratitude for such friendly and talented students and said she has enjoyed teaching them.
Judge for yourself by seeing one of the final “Heart and Soul”-warming shows. “Forever Plaid” performs Oct. 19-20 at The Wallace Book of Life Theatre.
