The Community Players Present Forever Plaid

The Community Players present the “heavenly” musical, Forever Plaid, April 13-22. Singing group “The Plaids,” played by Nick Mercurio, Joe Catanzaro, Dan Thompson and Matt Fagan, recreate the close harmony of their idols: The Four Freshmen, The Hi-Lo’s and The Crew Cuts, and soon start rehearsing their music together. The group’s 1950s songs include “Three Coins in a Fountain,” “Sixteen Tons” and “Catch a Falling Star.”

For East Providence native Fagan, working on the show “has been a wonderful opportunity and the material has been a great challenge.”

Fagan, 21, has been performing for most of his life. “I first began performing when I was in 4th grade,” Fagan said. “I was in Tolman High School’s production of The Wizard of Oz as a munchkin, Emerald City worker and the flying monkey.”

Fagan also appeared in productions of My Fair Lady as Colonel Pickering, Young Frankenstein as The Monster and The Phantom of the Opera as The Phantom. At Rhode Island College he was in Middletown and Leading Ladies.

For Catanzaro, who lives in Johnston, being a part of the show “has been a joyous challenge.”

“I usually audition for shows that I know will help me grow as an artist and musician,” Catanzaro said. “This is my first time working with a quartet. Learning these harmonies and getting them right has been a lot of work, but definitely worth it.”

The 27 year-old played Melchior in Spring Awakening, Angel in RENT and Josh in If/Then. “Nothing on this earth gives me a rush like being on stage,” Catanzaro noted. “It’s also a beautiful thing to take the audience on an emotional ride and take them out of real life for a couple of hours.”

Forever Plaid will be a real treat for audiences, the actors promise. “When audiences come to see Forever Plaid they can expect to be entertained while taking a trip down memory lane,” Fagan added. “Despite the fact that our characters are transported from 1964, the show and its comedic wit are timeless.”

“Expect to have fun and see what theater is all about,” Catanzaro added.

Forever Plaid will be presented April 13-15 and 20-22 at Jenks Auditorium, 350 Division Street, Pawtucket (across from McCoy Stadium).  Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, with Sunday matinees at 2pm. Order e-tickets online and print them at home at thecommunityplayers.net or reserve at 401-726-6860.