Forever Plaid Q&A with Ethan and Burgundy
What is FOREVER PLAID, and why has it become such a beloved musical?
Ethan: FOREVER PLAID is the story of a quartet who tragically passed away in a car accident while they were on their way to cut their first album. Now, they are back from the beyond to grace our ears with their signature sound, fulfilling their larger-than-life dream. This show is so beloved because it reminds us that by making art, and therefore memories, our lives are never truly over.
Burgundy: FOREVER PLAID is a nostalgic, musical revue that really celebrates the beloved boy groups of the 1950s. It is quirky and fun with recognizable music and great harmonies.
What makes it a good show for first-time theatre-goers?
Ethan: This show is one big celebration of life and the music that shapes it – something that I’m sure all of us can relate to. It is also a hilarious journey down memory lane for our characters and is sure to leave you in stitches with the witty yet physical comedy that this quartet is known for. So, if you’re a fan of 50s/60s music and have an affinity for “dad jokes,” then this show is for you.
Why is this show at QCT in 2026?
Ethan: To add to what Burgundy said, this show really follows in the footsteps of the success of JERSEY BOYS last season. We had such a fantastic audience response and turnout for that production, and FOREVER PLAID gives us a new chance to revisit the iconic music our audiences know and love from the ’50s/’60s.
Burgundy: As we were finalizing our season planning, we had a donor reach out, suggesting the title and who was willing to help support it. As we started to consider how it would fit, it made a lot of sense both logistically and from a programming standpoint. Plus, it allows us to make some pretty major upgrades in the lab space, benefitting the rest of the shows in that space for years to come.
What makes this show different than the rest of the titles in 2026?
Ethan: Size! This show is our smallest musical cast of the season, and because of that, it fits perfectly in our intimate Black Box space. Rarely do we have the chance to experience our singers acoustically, so this production offers us an incredible opportunity to hear these voices blend and harmonize without amplification.
Where is this title being performed? (Literally, where is the Black Box?)
Burgundy: This title will kick off the Black Box series in 2026. Our Black Box, also known as the Rehearsal Hall or the Lab Theatre, may be one of our best kept secrets. In years past, we’ve done one show a year in the space, usually a student title. If you are going into the Barbara Rowell auditorium in the south, star carpet hallway, instead of going through the set of double doors to the left, you will go through the double doors on the right!
What is black box theatre, and how is it different from our mainstage?
Ethan: In one word: Transformative! Seeing performances in a black box theatre usually means you are in for a more intimate and cozier atmosphere. Because this space holds a maximum of 120 seats, you can expect to feel more immersed in the story since you will quite literally be that much closer to the action! This also creates the exciting opportunity of different seating arrangements, so for one show you may be in a typical proscenium formation (like the Rowell auditorium), then the next you may be in the round where the seating is on every side of the playing space or you may find the seating in a thrust arrangement which has the audience on three sides of the playing space. And those are just a few of the ways we can transform this space to suit the needs of each show!
Why did we want to expand into black box programming now?
Ethan: From the moment I arrived last year, I immediately heard rumblings from our adult performers about how they wanted to work on more plays and challenge themselves with both classic and contemporary material. Well, our black box programming is the perfect avenue to do just that! This will give our volunteers and audiences a chance to dig deep into rich stories that truly shine through our more intimate space.
Burgundy: This programming gives so many new opportunities to our actors to be a part of different types of theatre and for our audience to experience it. We are so grateful to have our mainstage space, but theatre experiences can be so much more than what that space can provide. Certain titles and concepts are just better suited in a different space. The Black Box allows us to create space for those in our season.
What can audiences expect when attending a black box show for the first time?
Ethan: Expect to be challenged by the material and steeped in the story in a way that you may not have ever experienced before. Attending a show in a more intimate space gives you an opportunity to feel fully a part of the story – you will see every bead of sweat and tear that rolls down the actors’ cheeks!
Burgundy: It is a much smaller, intimate space. In total, there will only be about 120 people in the audience. The configuration is also a little different, but it allows you to be much closer to the action. Most of the audience will be three rows back, max.
What will this type of programming look like in the future?
Ethan: Look to our Black Box programming for all those juicy titles that are once-in-a-lifetime productions to experience in person. Rarely are we lucky enough to be able to see both the classics and contemporary and the experimental titles and everything in between that this space will hold for us. So, if you’re a true theater or film aficionado, this programming series is your place to be!
Burgundy: In 2026, we are piloting 3 more titles in the space (Steel Magnolias, The Dispute, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), along with three readings in the space. I think this programming will give us a better idea of what works and what doesn’t in our space, along with what our volunteers and audiences are interested in. I hope this year is just the start of a robust lineup of programs in our Black Box.