'Plaid Tidings' kicks off at Bucyrus Little Theater

The Bucyrus Little Theater invites the community for its Christmas production “Plaid Tidings.”

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, Saturday, Dec. 2, Friday, Dec. 8, Saturday, Dec. 9, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, and are available on the Bucyrus Little Theater website. The organizers hope hundreds will show up to get themselves into the Christmas spirit.

“It’s nostalgic, Christmas music, and more 1960s music,” said the Bucyrus Little Theater Board President Cindy Light. “It’s a fun show to get everybody into the Christmas spirit.”

Synopsis

Light said the play is about four men Francis, Jinx, Smudge and Sparky, who were in a music group in the 1960s and were killed in an accident and then were returned to Earth for a posthumous performance.

Soon after, heavenly Rosemary Clooney, a character referencing White Christmas by Michael Curtiz, gave them a call to let them know “that they're needed to put a little harmony into a discordant world,” reads the announcement on the Bucyrus Little Theater official website.

At first, said Light, the band members did not know what to do because they were not able to perform much even when during their first earthly existence, and they just strived to be back-up singers for more famous bands.

However, finally, after being returned to the Earth with a noble mission, they started to get back in the group, were able to believe in themselves and put on a really great show, said Light.

The cast

"Plaid Tidings" is directed by Rick Walker, who also plays the role of Jinx in the upcoming performance. According to the Bucyrus Little Theater official Facebook page, Walker has more than 30 years of experience in acting, music directing, and choreography.

The three other actors are Randy Mann, Jason Chandler, and Keagan Nicolaides. The pianist is Bev Roby, and on bass is Danny Conley, said Light.

Mann, who plays Francis in “Plaid Tidings” is retired from his 36-year teaching career in music. He is currently the director of all men's group "UNITED in Harmony," as well as the director of the Galion Community Chorus' annual performance of "The Messiah,” according to the Bucyrus Little Theater Facebook page.

The theater noted that Chandler is known for his performances in numerous Bucyrus Little Theater productions, and most recently the award-winning show "Disenchanted!"

Finally, Nicolaides’s car broke down in front of the theater on the day of the auditions, said the theater on Facebook, and Nicolaides, now playing Smudge, was able to add "actor," to his impressive list of skills, which includes plumbing, electrical, and flooring work.

The show is almost all music, as Light noted, and is able to bring the audience in Christmas spirit in no time.

“It’s very upbeat, there is nostalgia, back for times past, and absolutely, Christmas spirit,” said Light.

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: 'Plaid Tidings' kicks off at Bucyrus Little Theater