Gary in the Morning interviewed the stars of the show Callan Roberts (Francis), Zac Richey (Smudge), Quinn Rig (Jinx) and Kelan Smith (Sparky). If you missed it live on the air, you can listen to the complete interview below.
MOUNT CARROLL – Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP), the premier professional theatre of northwest Illinois, will close their 2022 Season with the Christmas musical, Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings. The legendry Plaids come back to Earth to spread yuletide joy with the greatest holiday hits of the ages beginning December 1 and running through December 11.
Filled with Christmas standards that have all been “Plaid-erized,” our boys are back to do their Christmas Special. At first, Francis, Jinx, Smudge and Sparky aren’t sure why they’ve returned to Earth for another posthumous performance, but a phone call from the heavenly Rosemary Clooney lets them know that they’re needed to put a little harmony into a discordant world. Sprinkled among the Christmas offerings are audience favorites, like their riotous three-minute-and-eleven-second version of The Ed Sullivan Show – this time, featuring the Rockettes, the Chipmunks and The Vienna Boys Choir, as well as a Plaid Caribbean Christmas that puts the “Day-O” in Excelsis!
Plaid Tidings is directed by TLP Alumn, Lee Adami. Lee was a member of TLP’s company and creative team for nearly twenty years beginning in early 1980. Lee now resides in Galena. Music Director for Plaid Tidings is Oliver Townsend, Set and Props Design is by Josie Parish, Lighting Design by Logan Lowe, Sound Design by Sasha Gonzales, and Costume Design by Zandra Siple. The remaining production team is comprised by Darren Mangler (Production Manager), Chelsey Steinmetz (Production Stage Manager) and Elaina Vesley (Assistant Stage Manager).
The Plaids are played by “real life” quartet, Callan Roberts (Francis), Zac Richey (Smudge), Quinn rig (Jinx) and Kelan Smith (Sparky). Before they were singing and dancing in their snazzy plaid jackets, they were “Singin’ for Grandma”, a Chicago-based barbershop quartet founded in December of 2018. Named for one of their favorite college professors who always advised them to “sing for grandma,” these Columbia College grads formed a group focused on singing original songs and arrangements of classics for friends, family, classmates, and professors. Their very first song was a Valentine’s Day tune performed for the teacher that gave them their namesake. Each member of the group brings their own knowledge and flair, and they’ve always been experts at sharing the spotlight.
Subscriptions for TLP’s 2023 Season are available at the discounted price of $135 through December 31. TLP’s next season of shows includes Grease, The 39 Steps, The Sound of Music, 9 to 5, Bright Star, and Jersey Boys.
Plaid Tidings opens December 1 and runs through December 11. Information and tickets for all Timber Lake Playhouse events are available online at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org or by calling the Box Office at (815) 244-2035. The Box Office is open daily from 10:00 until 5:00 and until intermission on show days.
