PLAID
TIDINGS
is
San Diego
’s newest holiday attraction! This yuletide version of Forever
Plaid, one of San Diego’s all-time favorite musicals, makes
its local debut for Broadway/San Diego ~ A
Nederlander Presentation, at one of the city’s cultural
jewel-boxes, The Spreckels Theatre,
in a special two-week engagement, November
17 – December 3; with Opening
night Saturday, November 18 at
8PM.
As
a special treat to
San Diego
, Tony Award®-nominated
creator Stuart Ross directs PLAID
TIDINGS, with
three original San Diego Plaids:
Stan Chandler
,
David Engel
and
Larry Raben
, returning in their original roles, with
San Diego
actor David Humphrey rounding
out the eternally squeaky-clean quartet. They
are available now for phoners, and starting next week for live appearances –
and of course, they would love to sing a number for your audiences!
PLAID
TIDINGS
is a brand-new show that offers the best of Forever
Plaid tied-up in a nifty package with a big Christmas bow
on top! Filled with Christmas standards that have been “Plaid-erized,”
our boys are back to do their Christmas Special. Sprinkled among the
holiday 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; back-up
vocals for Perry Como, and a Plaid Caribbean Christmas which puts the
“Day-O” in Excelsis! This is one holiday treat that is truly
“heaven-sent!”
STUART
ROSS
is proud and grateful to be back in
San Diego
with this Seasonal Plaid Celebration. As writer and director of the original Forever
Plaid he considers
San Diego
to be a one of the Plaidest cities in the world. Playing for a total of
19 weeks on the stage of the Old Globe and nearly six years at the Theatre in
Old
Town
, it is a joy to be home. In addition to the
San Diego
production Mr. Ross directed the original New York production, which ran for
five years and many of the long running productions around the country and
internationally.
A longer bio follows.
All
four actors have a long association with those special jackets – Stan, Larry
and David were in the original
New York
production and innumerable others as well. Larry and David had known
each other prior, but became a couple during the NY run, and even though each
follows the demands of their careers, they remain a couple. Larry played
Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks’ The Producers
on Broadway and just returned from directing Sweet
Charity in
Buenos Aires
– David recently starred in The Full
Monty in
Florida
; and has been working with Stuart developing Plaid
Tidings for the past four years. They collect original 16mm
films, and have been entertain their friends with outdoor themed movie
screenings long before the trend caught on. Their lovingly restored 1953
Buick Special is a film star as well.
Stan Chandler
was in Cabaret on Broadway and
is well-known to
Southern California
audiences, starring in many musicals, often with his wife Kirsten. And
David Humphrey is a local San Diegan who has acted and directed across the
country.
STUART
ROSS
(writer /director) In New York Mr. Ross wrote the script and co-wrote the
lyrics for the
New York
's Public Theatre's production of his new musical Radiant
Baby - a new musical based on the life of artist Keith Haring..
(Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Lucille Lortel award nominations for
Best Musical). His wildly irreverent adaptation of Gilbert and
Sullivan's The Gondoliers was
presented in workshop, for The Roundabout Theatre Company in
New York
. Stuart co-wrote the script (with Mark Hampton) and directed
THE BOSWELL SISTERS at
San Diego
's Old Globe Theatre. On Broadway Stuart co-wrote the book (with Barry
Keating) to the Tony nominated musical Starmites
as well as The Radio City Music
Hall Easter Show. Off-Broadway he wrote A
Leap Of Faith (a one woman show for Faith Prince),
The Heebie Jeebies, Not-So-New Faces, Tea With Bea and
Fun With Dick And Jane: The Musical.
As a director he has worked as some of the countries most
prestigious theatres, including Manhattan Theatre Club,
San Diego
's Old Globe Theatre, Primary Stages, The Alley Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse,
Goodspeed Opera House and The Walnut Street Theatre among others. For
the past few seasons, Mr. Ross has been active in Los Angeles theatre,
directing such productions as Promises,
Promises starring Jason Alexander and Jean Smart and Brigadoon
starring Marin Mazzie, Jason Daniely, Deborah Gibson and Orson Bean (Reprise)
, Dan Kagan's 'Antisemitropolis'
starring Marion Ross and Caroline Aaron) and Paper
Moon-The Musical starring Jean Smart and Greg Jbara (Falcon
Theatre). For television, he directed episodes of “Frasier” and
“Veronica's Closet.” He has also staged and created special material for
PBS’ Great Performances 'An Evening At The Pops' starring Jason Alexander.
Mr. Ross has written countless sketches for stage and has created many
industrial shows and Nightclub performances both as writer and director. In
this field, he has worked with such great performers as Diahann Carroll, Mary
Martin, Faith Prince, Jason Alexander and Jaye P. Morgan. For eight seasons
Stuart has worked as a Director/Dramaturg and/or writer at the National Music
Theatre Conference, Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center. For the past six years he
has been a panelist for the ASCAP Foundation/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop.
He is currently founding director for The Garage For Musical Theatre- a not
for profit company solely for the development of creators of musical theatre.
He is the recipient of the Joseph Jefferson Award, The NBC New Playwrights
Grant, The State Department Grant For Cultural Exchange.
STAN
CHANDLER (Jinx)
Stan made his Broadway debut singing “Tomorrow Belongs to Me” in the Hal
Prince revival of Cabaret,
starring Joel Grey. But he is perhaps best known for creating the
nose-bleeding role of Jinx in the Off-Broadway smash hit Forever
Plaid. Stan can be heard on the original cast album, and has gone
on to direct the show for many regional theatres across the country. San Diego
audiences may remember that Stan won the San Diego Drama Critics Circle award
in 2004 for his performance in I
Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change at the Theatre In Old Town.
Southern California
audiences have seen Stan in a wide variety of roles; Nikos in Zorba
at Reprise! Broadway’s Best in Concert, Tom in the west coast premiere of The
Thing About Men, Fred/Petruchio in Kiss
Me Kate, Younger Brother in Ragtime
(Ovation nomination), Kodaly in She
Loves Me, the Baker in Into the
Woods, Tony in West Side Story,
Edward
Rutledge in 1776, (Ovation
nomination), the Duke of Windsor in the world premiere of Only
a Kingdom, and a cornucopia of characters in Jacques
Brel. Stan and his wife Kirsten Chandler have released their own
debut album entitled A Quiet Thing,
which has received rave reviews from the likes of The Los Angeles Times,
Variety and Playbill, and is available in record stores and online. As a
couple, they have performed in concert at
New York
’s Town Hall, with the California Philharmonic at the Disney Concert Hall in
Los Angeles
, and in many other prestigious venues. Most importantly, the couple recently
created their finest production to date: Addison Jack Chandler, who was born
December 20, 2004! For more info, visit www.stanandkirsten.com.
DAVID
ENGEL (Smudge)
Mr. Engel created the role of Smudge in the original
New York
production of Forever Plaid and
subsequent
London
,
Los Angeles
(LA Drama Critics, Drama-Logue
& Ovation Awards) and San Diego Old Globe Theatre productions.
He has also been an integral part of its holiday sequel Plaid
Tidings from the very beginning. He is a two-time recipient
of the Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award for "Best Actor in a
Musical". On Broadway, David appeared opposite Carol Burnett in
Putting It Together
and played the Bass Wickersham in Seussical:
The Musical. Also on Broadway, he created the role of Hanna
from
Hamburg
in the original production of La Cage Aux
Folles and played an
Aggie in both the stage and the film versions of The
Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. Other
appearances onstage include starring roles in
, Crazy For You, La
Cage, Singin’ In The Rain, Kiss Me Kate, Never Gonna Dance, Children Of
Eden, Dames At Sea; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and
The Full Monty. Mr. Engel can be seen in the new musical
short film, Zombie Prom
sharing an on-screen romance with RuPaul. David wishes to
dedicate his performances of Plaid Tidings
to the music, humor and genius of the late James Raitt, the original musical
director and arranger of Forever Plaid.
Stuart, you know that all the happiness in my life stems from this little show
you created. Now and Forever …
Plaid!
DAVID
S. HUMPHREY
(Frankie) Plaid Tidings McCoy/Rigby.
National Tour: Frankie, Sparky, & Smudge in Forever
Plaid. Regional: Frankie in Forever
Plaid, Billy in Carousel,
Man #1 & #2 understudy in My Way,
Welk Resort Theatre; Rapunzel's Prince in Into
The Woods, Cable in South
Pacific, Jesus in Cotton Patch
Gospel, Lambs Players Theatre; Understudy in Plaid
Tidings, Las Vegas; Jackson in Invention
of Love, Cygnet Theatre; Man #1 in TomFoolery,
NCRT; David in Route 66,
Musical Theatre Artists of San Diego; Frankie in Plaid
Tidings, Vancouver; Man #1 in I
Love You You're Perfect...., Director of Forever
Plaid, Starlight @ Sycuan; Thomas Jefferson in 1776,
Performance Riverside, Lambs Players Theatre, & Starlight CLO; Sparky in Forever
Plaid, CLOSBC; Sparky & Smudge in Forever
Plaid, Theatre in Old Town. Education: David holds a
B.A. in Musical Theatre Performance from the
University
of
Northern Colorado
. David is best known for as the original voice of Shadow in the Sonic
The Hedgehog video games from Sega Gaming Co. David is also currently
singing with the acappella group Vybration. www.Vybration.net.
David would like to thank his family for their unending support and
would like to send a special sweet nothing to his extraordinary son Carter.
LARRY
RABEN (Sparky)
is proud to be back in Plaid.
He is a member of the original
New York
,
San Diego
(Old Globe),
L.A.
(Canon Theatre/Ovation Award, L.A. Drama Critics, and DramaLogue Awards).
London West End (Apollo Theatre) productions of Forever
Plaid. He has also played Sparky in
Plaid Tidings (Pasadena Playhouse, Ovation nomination). He
appeared on Broadway in Mel Brook’s The
Producers where he played Leo Bloom. N.Y., CA and regional
favorites include: I Love You, You’re
Perfect, Now Change (Off-Broadway and L.A. productions), Ross in Bright
Ideas (Laguna Playhouse), Dolan/Ensign Pulver in Mister
Roberts (Old Globe Theatre), Jerry/Daphne in Sugar
(Gateway Playhouse), Josh in Big,
The Musical (Golden Apple), Hysterium in A
Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (SBCLO), The Critic in
The Thing About Men (B Street Theatre/American Stage Company),
Bryce in The Big Bang (Norris
Center), Francis in Bells Are Ringing (Reprise!),
Cornelius Hackl in Hello, Dolly! (Pittsburgh
CLO), Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin,
Finch in How To Succeed In Business
Without Really Trying, Whizzer in Falsettos
(Pasadena Playhouse/MTG), and two appearances at Carnegie Hall – Noel
Coward Tribute and A
Celebration Of MGM Musicals. Films include:
Lost And Found, Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead and
Night Of The Running Man. TV appearances include: “Genetically
Challenged” (WB pilot), “Party Of Five,” “Cab To Canada,”
“Caroline In The City,” “The Tonight Show,” “General Hospital” and
“Sunset Beach.” A proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and
the Musical Theatre Guild, Larry also directed the 2004 McCoy/Rigby production
of Forever Plaid.
WHEN:
November 17 – December 3, 2006
WHERE:
Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, downtown
San Diego
PERFORMANCE
Monday,
November 20 at 7:30PM
TIMES:
Tuesday, November 21 & 28 at 7:30PM
Wednesday,
November 22 & 29 at 7PM
Thursday,
November 30 at 7:30PM
Friday,
November 17 & 24, December 1 at 8PM
Opening night Saturday,
November 18 at 8PM
Saturday, November 25, December 2 at 2PM* & 8PM
*Special ADA/ASL performance on Saturday, December 2 at 2PM
Sunday,
November 19 & 26, December 3 at 1PM & 6PM
TICKETS:
$19.75 -- $65.75 Tickets On
Sale
Now
TICKET
PURCHASE:
Ticketmaster
(619) 220-TIXS
Group Discounts (619) 564-3001
THEATRE
ADDRESS:
121 Broadway, between 1st and 2nd Avenues, downtown
San Diego
PARKING:
Paid parking available in the nearby Horton Plaza Parking structure
WEBSITE:
www.broadwaysd.com