McKinney Repertory Theatre dresses up in sharp suits to sing some smooth tunes in the musical comedy “Forever Plaid”

A bit more than a decade since he first donned a dapper dinner jacket and started singing tunes with The Plaids, actor and director Aaron Adair is returning to the stage for three weekends only to bring that signature 1950s and 60s sound back to the stage at the McKinney Performing Arts Center. From July 26-August 10, the Adair-directed McKinney Repertory Theatre production of “Forever Plaid” promises classic tunes in the style of bands like The Four Freshmen, The Hi-Lo’s and The Four Aces along with plenty of good-hearted laughs.

“Forever Plaid” is a musical-comedy following The Plaids, a quartet of harmonizing friends who dreamed of taking their tunes to the same heights as all those popular bands they idolized. Unfortunately, a deadly bus accident stopped them from ever getting the big break they so desperately wanted. Now, they find themselves with one last chance to chase their dreams from the afterlife when they get the opportunity to come back to perform the show they never had a chance to do.

The production is something of a reunion tour for Adair, who both directs the show and stars as one of the band members, Jinx. Adair, co-star Blake Rice, who plays Sparky, and the show’s pianist Timothy Jenkins all performed “Forever Plaid” together a little over 10 years ago as a benefit show in Sherman. “It got such a great reception that they decided to put it in the following season with ‘Plaid Tidings,’ which is the sequel,” Adair says, calling the McKinney Repertory Theatre production a “homecoming opportunity” to revisit the original show and characters with familiar creative partners. In fact, Adair has worked with each member of the McKinney Repertory Theatre “Forever Plaid” cast and band in some form or another over the years.

That doesn’t mean the show is without its challenges. This is the first time Adair has directed and acted in the same production. He says he’s worked on “building trust early” with the rest of the cast and balancing the responsibilities between acting alongside them and directing them. “The most important part is I want them to look and sound their best, and I want them to get the most laughs possible,” Adair says.

Throughout the rehearsal process, Adair emphasized the need for the cast to “play the show like it’s the most serious thing we’ve ever done” because much of the humor comes from the fact that The Plaids are “trying so hard to be sincere and serious” about their performance. It makes it all the more important that the cast doesn’t “oversell the setup to a line” or step on one another’s moment to get a laugh. “The way we react to each other delivering the lines helps that other person get the laugh,” Adair says, detailing how the cast has worked hard on their nonverbal reactions during rehearsals.

As funny as the show may be, however, Adair says “the music is really what it’s all about.” “Fortunately, all of the guys have legit music chops,” Adair says, adding that he and co-stars Rocky Massey (Smudge) and Jared Duncan (Frankie) each have experience as music directors on other productions.

Since the show doesn’t have an official music director of its own, Adair says the cast often uses their past experiences to check one another’s vocals while rehearsing. “We’re working hard together to make the best sound possible, and I think it’s come along great,” Adair says, emphasizing how much he’s learned working with the cast. “No egos; whenever one of us is off, we acknowledge it. Whenever one of us hits the sweet spot, we celebrate it. We just try to make sure that we’re balancing each other all the time and putting out the best sound we can.”

With that said, Adair recognizes that he and his bandmates have to walk a fine line between musical skill and comedy. When it comes to working on some of the show’s wider-ranging catalog selections in genres like country and R&B, Adair says they give their best efforts without necessarily seeking to perfect the style. “We need to remember that these guys never had their shot, so they’re not going to be polished,” Adair says, pointing to the comedy of the clean-cut Plaids trying to look tough for a number like “Sixteen Tons.”

At the end of the night Adair hopes audiences leave the show “with a big smile on their face and humming some of the tunes.” “Mostly, I hope audiences leave with an appreciation of just how good the music was back in the 50s and 60s,” Adair says, highlighting the harmony groups The Plaids took inspiration from as well as singers like Doris Day and Pat Boone.

He also hopes audiences enjoy the special show format McKinney Repertory Theatre will host for the production. Special tickets include a “dessert theatre experience” that comes with a dessert, a glass of prosecco or sparkling apple juice and coffee or tea. “You’re getting a really polished show, and just a lot of fun,” Adair says.

The McKinney Repertory Theatre production of “Forever Plaid” runs from July 26 – August 10 at the McKinney Performing Arts Center’s Courtroom Theatre. For more information, including how to purchase tickets, visit the McKinney Performing Arts Center ticketing site here.

This interview has been edited for clarity. McKinney Repertory Theatre is an official advertiser with the Collin-Denton Spotlighter. Advertising does not guarantee coverage, nor does it affect the content of any coverage on the Spotlighter.