The Plaids get another shot at stardom on Cutting Hall stage

It's not "Jersey Boys," but it's similar and you don't have to drive downtown to see it.

A simple jaunt to Cutting Hall in Palatine will enable folks to take in a story about another harmonizing group, The Plaids, presented by Music on Stage is a musical titled, "Forever Plaid," which opens Saturday and plays for three weekends.

"On their way to their first, big gig at the Fusel Lounge, the characters are hit by a children's school bus and are killed so they never get to do the show," said producer Kathy Pazdioch. "According to the story, when things happen with the alignment of the planets, ozone layer and astro technical stuff, they are able to come back to earth to do one concert."

The production features songs such as, "Rags to Riches" and "Sixteen Tons." However, it is the characters that really bring the story home.

"Jinx is the shy character," said Pazdioch. "Sparky is the jokester. He has a great sense of humor and is happy-go-lucky. Smudge is the most doubtful. He's also shy and a little dyslexic. Frankie is the leader. He's the big brother."

Frankie is played by Schaumburg's 41-year-old Tony Calzaretta, whose first appearance with Music on Stage was at the age of 18.

"The character of Frankie brings stability to the production," said Calzaretta. "He is the group leader trying to keep everyone on track."

Calzaretta, who has performed in "Forever Plaid" in the past, was inspired to do the show again in part through his father.

"My father sang in a group called 'The Highlights,'" Calzaretta said. "I learned a lot of the songs in this show growing up listening to him."

In fact, during a past presentation, audience members seeing the name Tony Calzaretta on the program thought the senior, not junior, was performing. After the show, they gathered around his father, almost more than around him.

The program's set is simply microphones and stools. Yet the characters have props on hand, which lead them to one of the production's highlights - a re-enactment of the Ed Sullivan Show.

"They do their version of the show in three minutes and 11 seconds and it is extremely funny," Pazdioch said. "They do sock puppets, dogs jumping through hoops and seal tricks, which are done by one of the guys balancing a beach ball on his nose."

Kris Reiner, marketing chair for Music on Stage, explained that this production was chosen for specific reasons.

"We've done it before and it's always successful," said Reiner. "Quite a few people know the story. It's a show for older people and children alike; it's not offensive."

If you go

What: Music on Stage "Forever Plaid"

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26; 8 p.m. Nov. 1, and Nov. 7-8 and 3 p.m. Nov. 2, 9

Where: Cutting Hall, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine

Admission: $17-$22

Call: (847) 202-5222 or visit www.musiconstage.org