When some people think of the 1950s, they think of Happy Days, a time of hotrods and greasers. Other people fondly remember a time of innocence, when parents and children listened to the same music, watched TV together and every family worked hard to attain the American Dream.
This is the time period of Forever Plaid, ETSU Theatre’s October production, in conjunction with the ETSU Department of Music.
The play, which opens Oct. 21, “is more of a musical than a play with a lot of 1950s songs, including ‘Love is a Many Splendored Thing,'” said ETSU professor of theatre Pat Cronin, who is directing the play.
Forever Plaid is the story of four high school boys – Sparky, Smudge, Jinx and Frankie – who get together to form a vocal quartet in hopes of becoming famous.
The four practice nights and weekends in the basement of Smudge’s family’s plumbing supply business and lead a not-so-social life.
The boys come up with the name “Forever Plaid” and begin singing at family gatherings and supermarket openings.
The play begins 20 years after the quartet is killed, by a bus of nuns, on the way to its first big gig at an airport lounge, Cronin said. The quartet comes back to perform its show one last time.
For the first time in years, ETSU’s Division of Theatre and Department of Music are “combining resources,” as Cronin puts it, and the two areas are finding much harmony.
“I’ve always like musicals and doing musicals, and I kind of got to know Pat
since he came to ETSU and I wanted the opportunity to work with him,” said Dr. Tom Jenrette, director of ETSU Choral Activities and director of music for Forever Plaid. “I wanted to learn from him.
“[Pat and I] were having lunch together in the Cave and I just casually mentioned Forever Plaid and that was the beginning and there it went.”
The music resources include four singers in the four lead roles: Jacob Witten, Zack Lalor, Ricky Hilton and Cody McCullah.
“I am a complete novice in this type of show so I am listening and learning from all those around me,” said Ricky Hilton, a graduate student portraying Frankie.
In fact, Forever Plaid‘s quartet is very similar, Jenrette said, to the men’s singing group he’s been directing at ETSU since 1989, 7 to 10 BucsWorth. “And [the group] is about guys just like those in the play, guys who like to sing together,” he said. “So the show seemed appropriate.”
But it’s not as easy as it might sound, Jenrette said. “It’s hard,” he said. “It’s definitely work. It’s not like a fun after-schoolsocial activity. Everything about the show is harder than first meets the eye.
“It’s hard on these four guys because they never leave the stage. It seems
like a small show because it has a small cast, but for these four guys, it’s
hard work, but they’re doing a stellar job.”
In addition to director Cronin, theatre brings to the table an all-student production team, which includes a student choreographer and student costumers, set designers and technical crew, Cronin said.
Theatre and music’s best are all teaming up in Bud Frank Theatre to serenade Forever Plaid audiences.
“This play will be and is one that makes you laugh and cry,” Hilton said. “[It’s] a real joy to watch.”
This play is a fun, family show that you should not be afraid to bring your children or grandparents to, Cronin said.
“We are doing a real family show with lots of real family tunes,” he said.
“[Forever Plaid] is a rare show … one that the whole family cannot just put up with but actually enjoy from [age] 8 to 80.”[Forever Plaid] is above all else a fun night in the theatre,” Cronin said, “with great songs and a message about being true to your dream that is as timely now as it was 30 years ago.”
The play Forever Plaid will run Oct. 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and on Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. in the Bud Frank Theatre, Gilbreath Hall (Building 3). For reservations, call 439-7576.

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