(Augusta, MI)  On May 25, 2004, Brendan Ragotzy will kick off the 59th season, opening with FOREVER PLAID, with a curtain speech. This is not Brendan's first time to address an audience - but it will be his first to open a season of theatre at the Barn without his father, Jack Ragotzy by his side.  Mr. Ragotzy senior died last December in his home in Augusta one day before his 82nd  birthday.  Jack and Brendan shared the duties of Producer at the Barn for the past several years - and Brendan will carry on the legacy his father Jack and mother Betty Ebert Ragotzy began 59 years ago when they founded the Barn Theatre.

Local officials from Augusta, Galesburg and Richland, as well as Michigan State Senator, Lorence Wenke and Michigan State Representative, Tom George will present Brendan with a beautiful plaque.  The plaque, honors his parents, Jack and Betty Ragotzy, founders of the Barn Theatre.  Additionally, Fran Bell, community leader and business owner, as well as, Jerry VanderRoest, former State Representative and Township Supervisor will attend.  VanderRoest said, "We wanted to honor Jack and Betty for giving so much to the community - and wanted to give a little back to them and Brendan and Penelope for carrying on their tradition of professional theatre."

The Galesburg-Augusta Forum will also be honoring Jack and Betty Ragotzy with an Honored Citizen award, next year.

Along with the opening night festivities, another highlight of the evening will be Associate Producer, Dusty Reeds, painting of Jack and Betty Ragotzy.  This loving portrait will be unveiled to opening night's audience for the first time. The portrait of Jack and Betty Ragotzy will be displayed in the lobby for all audience members to enjoy.

Join us this summer for a season-long tribute to Jack Ragotzy, our founder, father and friend…

The Barn Theatre proudly presents the heavenly musical FOREVER PLAID!  One of the most popular and successful musicals in recent history, this deliciously goofy revue centers around four males singers - Francis, Sparky, Jinx and Smudge on their way to pick up their custom-made plaid tuxedos for their first big "gig". The quartet is most unfortunately broadsided by a bus thus ending their lives and careers but they are miraculously revived and allowed to return to earth to perform the concert of their dreams. Singing in the closest harmony, squabbling over missed notes and executing their wonderfully outlandish choreography with overzealous precision, the plaids are a guaranteed smash!  With a score of beloved songs such as "Heart and Soul", "Cry", "Love is a Many Splendored Thing", "Catch a Falling Star", "Lady of Spain" and "Chain Gang", this show keeps the audience rolling in the aisles when they're not humming along to these great nostalgic hits of the 50's.  Hurry out for this fun-filled musical! 

Set designed by Andris Krumkalns, lighting designed by Neal M. Kerr, costume design by Nettie Fischer,  Sound designed by James Stephenson.

The Barn Theatre is located on M-96 West of Augusta.  Performances are Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 PM, Saturday at 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM, and Sunday at 5:00 PM.  Tickets are $25.00, Tuesday through Thursday and $27.50, Friday through Sunday.   Visa and MasterCard are accepted.  For tickets call (269) 731-4121.  The box office is open daily from 10:00 AM-10:00 PM.

Enjoy refreshments in The Rehearsal Shed Lounge with friends before, during intermission and after the show.  There is free cabaret-style show in the Rehearsal Shed Lounge after the main stage performance.

Cast List for Forever Plaid

FRANKIE Scott Burkell
SMUDGE Roy Brown
SPARKY       Christopher Lengerich
JINX Eric Parker
Announcer Adam C. Kern

SCOTT BURKELL
Scott comes back to the Barn for a 22nd summer season after another eventful year in New York spent workshopping and refining his various projects: SIX OF ONE (his musical with a score by Barnie Paul Loesel), and his play OUT OF IT.  His Burkell/Loesel songs are being performed by several prominent Broadway names, like Barnie Marin Mazzie, her husband and Main Stem actor Jason Daniely, Susan Egan, and Rebecca Luker, to name but a few.  He was also on Broadway and in the First National Tour of TITANIC.  In Augusta, his career has been unforgettable.  Some favorites include Molina in KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, George (opposite Marin Mazzie) in SHE LOVES ME, Felix in THE ODD COUPLE, Seymour in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, Claude in HAIR, and perhaps his all-time gem, Riff-Raff in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.  Last season Scott played in ROCKY HORROR again, as well as Reuben in ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, Gus in CATS, Herod in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, Mother Superior in NUNSENSE A-MEN, and an acclaimed turn as the Emcee in CABARET.  Scott dedicates his season to the memories of Jack Ragotzy as well as his own father, "the two Dads" in his life.

ERIC PARKER
Eric couldn't be more pleased to return for a 12th go-'round in Augusta.  Last year he was featured throughout the summer, with Judas (opposite one of his favorite '90s rockers, Gary Cherone) in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR topping his list, followed by his turns in THE FOREIGNER, and ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT as well as his cameo as Bustopher Jones in CATS.  Other favorite Barn credits include major roles in JOSEPH…, six productions of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, CHESS, BIG RIVER, TOMMY, CITY OF ANGELS, SOUTH PACIFIC, KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN, PIPPIN, and Che in EVITA, a role that introduced Eric to Chicago audiences in an award-winning production at Drury Lane Oakbrook.  Eric has continued his career at the Drury Lane, with featured performances in their JOSEPH…, ANYTHING GOES, ANNIE, CAMELOT, and their TYA ALADDIN and CHARLOTTE'S WEB.  Favorites elsewhere include the title roles in AMADEUS, THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and Claude in HAIR (European Tour).  TV: GUIDING LIGHT.  Eric lives in Chicago and is a proud Adrian native.

ROY BROWN
Roy is returning for a fourth summer season at the Barn with his full Equity membership awaiting him in September.  Roy's credits here in Augusta include SOUTH PACIFIC, CAMELOT, CHESS, Renfield in DRACULA, and hilarious turns last summer as Sr. Mary Amnesia in NUNSENSE A-MEN, and the Jimmer in ESCANABA IN DA MOONLIGHT, a role he's become a sort of local celebrity for playing. Originally from Hastings, Roy now calls New York City home.

CHRISTOPHER LENGERICH
Christopher is thrilled to make his Barn debut this summer.  Hailing from Denver, CO, Christopher is slated to be a senior musical theatre major at Catholic University of America (Washington, DC) in the fall.  Favorite credits include Mike in WORKING, Mike in A CHORUS LINE,  and Toby in THE MEDIUM at Catholic U.   Others include Father in RAGTIME at Lincoln Theatre, Bernstein's MASS,  and KENNEDY CENTER HONORS CHITA RIVERA at Kennedy Center.  Christopher has a season of stock at Forestburgh Playhouse to his credit, playing Smokey in DAMN YANKEES and Mercedes in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES.  He dedicates this Barn Theatre season to his father.

FOREVER PLAID MUSICAL NUMBERS
(In alphabetical order)

ANNIVERSARY SONG by Al Jolson and Saul Chaplin.
© MCMXLVI Mood Music Co, Inc. New York, NY.  Copyright renewed.  Worldwide Copyright Administrator: Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc.  Used by permission.

CATCH A FALLING STAR by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss. 
Used by permission of Emily Music Corp.

CHAIN GANG written by Sam Cooke. 
Published by Abkco Music, Inc.  Used by permission.

CRAZY 'BOUT YA BABY By Pat Barret and Rudi Maugeri. 
Used by permission of Wanessa Music Production Co.

CRY  by Churchill Kohlman. 
© MCMU Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc., New York, NY.  Copyright renewed. Used by permission.

DAY-O by Erik Darling, Bob Carey and Alan Arkin. 
Used by permission of Cherry Lane Music Publishing Co, Inc.

DREAM ALONG WITH ME by Carl Sigman. 
Used by permission of  Major Songs Co.

GOTTA BE THIS OR THAT by Sonny Skylar. 
Used by permission of Music Sales Corporation (ASCAP), copyright owner.

HEART AND SOUL by Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Loesser. 
Used by permission of Famous Music Corp.

JAMAICA FAREWELL by Lord Burgess. 
Used by permission of Cherry Lane Music Publishing Co., Inc.

KINGSTON MARKET by Irving Burgie. 
Used by permission of Cherry Lane Music Publishing Co., Inc.

LADY OF SPAIN by Robert Hargreaves, Tolchard Evans, Stanley J. Damerell and Henry Tilsley. Used by permission of Sam Fox Publishing Co, Inc.

LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING by Paul Francis Webster and Sammy Fain.  Used by permission of EMI Miller Catalog Inc.

MAGIC MOMENTS  by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.  Used by permission of Famous Music Corp.

MATILDA by Harry Thomas. Used by permission of MCA Music Publishing a division of MCA Inc.

MOMENTS TO REMEMBER  by Al Stillman and Robert Allen.  Used by permission Larry Spier, Inc.

NO, NOT MUCH by Al Stillman and Robert Allen.  Used by permission of Kitty Anne Music.

PAPA LOVES MAMBO by Al Hoffman, Dick Manning and Bix Reichner.  © MCMLIV Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., Inc. New York, NY. Used by permission.

PERFIDA by Milton Leeds and Alberto Dominguez.  Used by permission of Peer International Corp.

RAGS TO RICHES by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross.  Used by permission of Major Songs Co.

ROUND AND ROUND by Lou Stallman and Joe Shapiro. Used by permission Lou Stallman Music.

SHANGRI-LA by Carl Sigman, Matt Malneck and Robert Maxwell.  Used by permission of EMI Robbins Catalog, Inc.

SH BOOM Pubished by Warner/Unichappell Music, Inc. Used by permission.

SHE LOVES YOU by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.  Used by permission of Gil Music Corp.

SING TO ME, MR. C  by Charles Ray.  Used by permission of Roncorn Music Company.

SIXTEEN TONS by Merle Travis. Used by permission of Unichappel Music Inc.

TEMPTATION by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown.  Used by permission of EMI Robbins Catalog Inc.

THEME FROM THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY by Ennio Morricone.  Used by permission of EMI Unart Catalog Inc.

THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne.  Used by permission of WB Music Corp. and Chappell & Co.

UNDECIDED by Sid Robin and Charles Shavers.  Used by permission of MCA Music Publishing, a division of MCA Inc.

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