OREM — It may have been an expanding hole in the ozone layer. It may have been wishing on a star. Or it may have been the strength of music. For whatever reason, four wholesome harmonizers magically got a chance to come back to Earth to perform after being hit and killed by a school bus taking teenagers to see the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. The result, a wildly popular musical called "Forever Plaid," made legends out of the characters of Sparky, Smudge, Jinx and Frankie.
Now the quartet finds itself on Earth once again, puzzling over its unexpected return to the planet and trying to design a new Christmas show. The result is "Plaid Tidings," the holiday edition of "Forever Plaid."
"'Plaid Tidings' is a charming show that provides a new entertainment option for the season," said Adam J. Robertson, SCERA's president and CEO. "The famous 2-minute 55-second version of the Ed Sullivan show so popular in 'Forever Plaid' is presented with some crazy holiday twists."
Some of those twists include an appearance by the Chipmunks, the Rockettes and a Plaid Caribbean Christmas that is described as "putting the 'Day-O' in Excelsis." Many of the favorite songs in "Forever Plaid" have been given clever lyrical changes to reflect the holidays, and there are many Christmas standards that have been "Plaid-erized."
Director Robinne Booth is using the talents of David Whitlock (Sparky), Shawn Mortensen (Jinx), David Smith (Smudge) and Chad Taylor (Frankie) and is drawing upon the nostalgia of the old Perry Como Christmas specials to create a sweet, funny and sentimental show with great family appeal. In one segment, a video of an actual Perry Como holiday TV special plays and the quartet sings along with it.
Booth is also using a group of professional dancers to suggest New York's Radio City Music Hall's Rockettes. She has also cast children — a little girl as the angel tree topper who delivers heavenly messages to the Plaids and several other children are used as Raggedy Ann and Andy and as presents under an oversized Christmas tree, which is the focal point of Whitlock's set design. A larger-than-life fireplace with Christmas stockings serves as the backdrop.
"It's got something for everyone," Booth said. "It's got upbeat music and a fast pace, great choreography and tight harmonies, hilarious personalities and nostalgic songs from the past."
Kathryn Laycock Little is music director, Katie Higbee and Shawn Mortensen are choreographers, Debbie Bowman is costume designer and Daniel Whiting is stage manager.
If you go
What: "Plaid Tidings"
Where: SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 S. State, Orem
When: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 14-22
Cost: $12/$10 children, seniors, students
Phone: 225-2569
Web: www.scera.org