CEDAR FALLS - Five years ago, the Cedar Falls Community Theatre presented "Forever Plaid" on their Summer Sampler program.

Theatergoers loved it, and it became one of the most popular CFCT shows ever.

Now CFCT is presenting audiences with "Plaid Tidings," a holiday show wrapped up in shiny paper with a bow, just in time for Christmas.

The show opens Friday at the Oster Regent Theatre, First and Main streets. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Dec. 12 and 13 and 2 p.m. next Sunday and Dec. 14.

"We love the concept of the show and the characters," said Director Liane Nichols. "It's the same premise as 'Forever Plaid,' with the four guys coming back to do a Christmas show."

Doo-wop meets yuletide cheer in the new production,

Both shows were written by Stuart Ross. In "Forever Plaid," a close-harmony quartet in the tradition of the Four Freshmen and the Four Aces, dream of recording an album. Unfortunately, they're killed in a collision on their way to see the Beatles' debut on the "Ed Sullivan Show." The Plaids return from the afterlife for the concert they never gave in life.

In "Plaid Tidings," the quartet have returned to Earth for a Christmas special.

"They aren't quite sure, at first, why they've been sent back to earth. They sing some songs and the spirit of Christmas overtakes them and they see their mission is to create the warmth, comfort and fussiness of Christmas through their music," Nichols explains.

In the second act, the Christmas special takes center stage with songs like "The Christmas Song" and "I'll Be Home For Christmas," as well as a calypso tune adapted for the holidays.

Fans of the original "Forever Plaid" will be thrilled to know the three minute and 11-second version of the "Ed Sullivan Show" will be reprised, but with a Christmas twist.

Nichols describes the cast as a "strong singing ensemble," including William Dawson, who appeared in CFCT's "Forever Plaid." Other Plaids are played by Brent Hansen, Mike Wissink and Tony Tomlyanovich.

The production presented a few challenges, she said, including a "show within a show," a video clip from a Perry Como Christmas special and a stage filled with holiday decorations.

Contact Melody Parker

at (319) 291-1429 or

melody.parker@wcfcourier.com.