By Valerie Lawlor. Abbotsford’s Dann Wilhelm stars in Vagabond Players production of Forever Plaid By Stuart Ross A deliciously entertaining musical loaded with classic barbershop-quartet harmonies and great nostalgic pop hits of the fifties! Forever Plaid is the tale of four guys with a shared love of music who hone their talents in the basement of a plumbing supply company until they create a pop group that can compete with their idols.
When a tragic accident stops their career before it can begin, the story of Forever Plaid begins. Abbotsford’s Dann Wilhelm plays Francis, the leader and caretaker of the group. Dann is an award-winning musical theatre actor whose career began 25 years ago when he was still in high school. He has been seen on stage all over the Lower Mainland with such groups as FVGSS, White Rock Players Club, Royal City Musical Theatre, Theatre Under the Stars and the Chilliwack Players Guild. An accomplished actor, singer, dancer, director, stage manager and producer, Dann’s work has been nominated for multiple awards, having won twice for Best Actor in a Musical.
Favourite directing credits include The Mikado, Santa Claus: The Panto, and Frankenstein 1930. Dann’s favourite acting credits are Tony in West Side Story, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Hero in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Frederic in Pirates of Penzance, Giuseppe in The Gondoliers, Nanki-Poo in The Mikado, Elyot in Private Lives, Parris in The Crucible, and Jim in Jim & Shorty.
This is his first show with Vagabond Players and he is delighted to be making his Bernie Legge Theatre debut as one of the four ‘Plaids’. The talented quartet is completed by Christopher Hall as Jinx, the shy tenor, Allen Fraser as Sparky, the comedian who is always looking to crack a joke, and Bradley Dewar as Smudge, the group’s worrier. The combination of all these quirky and disparate personalities makes for an irresistible blend that will warm your hearts and send you out singing.
Come and enjoy this program of beloved songs, lively choreography and delightful patter that will have audiences rolling in the aisles when they’re not humming along to those fabulous tunes. Directed by Wayne Nolan and with musical direction by Julie Atchison, Forever Plaid is a festive-season treat not to be missed.
Performances run November 24-December 18, 2016, Thursday to Saturday at 8:00 pm with Sunday matinees at 2:00 pm and Saturday matinees on November 26 and December 3. The Bernie Legge Theatre, Queen’s Park, New Westminster.
Tickets: $20, Seniors/Youth: $18 with $15 previews on November 24 & 25.
Purchase your tickets at www.vagabondplayers.ca/tickets or call 604-521-0412
From left: Forever Plaid stars Christopher Hall as Jinx, Dann Wilhelm as Frankie, Allen Fraser as Sparky and Brad Dewar as Smudge.
Photograph By Craig Premack, courtesy Vagabond Players