At age 3, Minneapolis native Steven Flaa performed for the first time, singing “The Perfect Nanny” from Mary Poppins as his sister played piano at her recital.
Over time, his love for singing grew into a love for musical theater. He made his professional debut at age 19 as Rolf in a Twin Cities mainstage production of The Sound of Music.
“It’s the immediacy of having the audience there,” says Flaa, who will direct Forever Plaid at the Mandell Theater at Orlando Shakes. It’s a production of The Winter Park Playhouse, which is temporarily displaced while its home venue undergoes renovation. The show will run from September 12 to October 9.
Adds Flaa: “You get an instant reaction to what you’re doing and an instant connection. As much as I love movies and watching television, I was never interested in pursuing that area of acting.”
For years, the performer—who calls both Minneapolis and Orlando home—has performed 14 times in Forever Plaid, the story of a 1950s guy group that returns from the afterlife for a last shot at fame. And he has directed the show 19 times.
Flaa learned “all the ins and outs of the show” under creator Stuart Ross and eventually sung all four lead parts. In 1998, his familiarity with the show led to directing it for the first time at a Jacksonville theater. From there, “it just kind of snowballed,” says Flaa, who sticks strictly to directing these days.
“I feel very personally connected to Forever Plaid,” he adds. “First of all, it has kept me working forever.” Twice, it has brought him to The Winter Park Playhouse. He directed the show for the all-musical theater first in 2013 and two years later directed the Christmas version, Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings, there.
As Flaa passes the torch to a new cast of performers, “I feel like I’m carrying on this tradition of what Plaid is supposed to be,” he says. “There’s more to it than just four guys singing together. It’s about friendship. It’s about dreams that are attained and not attained. It’s about fitting in. It’s about disappointments in life. And it’s done in a fun, entertaining way.”
Orlando Shakes is located at 812 East Rollins Streets, Orlando. For more information, visit winterparkplayhouse.org or call 407.645.0145.
