Conklin’s “Heavenly Singers” Return to Five Points in “Forever Plaid”

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“Forever Plaid,” a long-time favorite of fans of Conklin’s Barn Theatre, opens a limited engagement Friday at Five Points Washington, the theatre company’s special home this year.

The musical will play three shows, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., in the Caterpillar Performing Arts Center at Five Points.

“We are thrilled to be able to once more get the cast together for one of my favorite shows of all time,” said Mary Simon, owner of Conklin’s Theatre and the director and choreographer of  “Forever Plaid”. “It has always been one of our most requested repeats, even after we had a ‘farewell performance’ in 2009! We’re happy to oblige one more time here in the incredible theatre at Five Points.”
 
“Forever Plaid” was written by Stuart Ross with musical arrangements by James Raitt. It is the tale of Frankie, Jinx, Sparky and Smudge, a delightful quartet of singers who are returning from the afterlife to give the performance they never got to give in life.

The Plaids were killed when their auto was sideswiped by a busload of Catholic school teens on their way to see the Beatles debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Throughout the show, we learn a lot about the guys and get to enjoy a wonderful concert of hit parade tunes like “Three Coins In The Fountain,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Cry,” “Perfidia,” and “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing,” all performed in the Plaid’s fabulous close-harmony style, along with hilarious choreography.

The highlight of the show is the Plaid’s three-minute version of the complete Ed Sullivan Show.
 
The original Conklin’s company of Plaids, which began performing the show together in 1997, have returned for this engagement. They are Dan Challacombe as Frankie, Pat Gaik as Jinx, Chad Kirvan as Smudge and Dave Windsor as Sparky. Alex Buzzell joins the quartet at the piano, with Al Hedstrom on bass.
 
Tickets for the show are $25 for adults and $8 for children and students through college. Reservations can be made in person at the Five Points Washington facility, 306 N. Wilmor Road in Washington, or online at www.fivepointswashington.org. To order by phone, call (309) 444-8222 or (309) 444-8600.