"I haven't performed continuously, but I've been with it. We didn't have any money; we didn't get paid for the first six months we did the show," Chandler said of the early days. "We laundered our own shirts, made our own props and annoyed all our friends to come see it. It was absolutely on a shoestring."

That little musical has now become a staple of musical theater. "One of the things I'm most happy about is that 'Forever Plaid' has been able to lift theaters out of the red ink and into the black," he said, "The show has helped the theater community in huge ways and that is as exciting as its popularity."

The show features some of America's favorite songs, such as "Three Coins in a Fountain," "Lady of Spain," "Sixteen Tons" "Rags to Riches" and "Shangri-La" among roughly 20 others.

"It's part of why the show has been so popular," Chandler said, "It was a period in American musical history where multiple generations listened to the same popular music. And it was pre-rock, so there is a wholesomeness to it."

"Everyone can see themselves in these guys," he said of the Plaids, who work on remembering lines and choreography, battle nosebleeds and must overcome moments of stage fright.

"They're not the popular guys. And so much of it is autobiographical," Chandler said, admitting to the nosebleeds.

Now married with two kids and living in the San Fernando valley, Chandler has always maintained friendships with his fellow Plaids,

"We spent so much time together and went down so many roads," he said, "We were doing one to two shows a week, when we finally got a contract for eight shows a week, we thought, 'This is it, we've hit our peak.' Every milestone we thought was THE milestone. And now this is the culmination of all these years. It's been an extraordinary experience. It's every actor's dream."

If you go . . .

What: "Forever Plaid: 20th Anniversary Special Event"

When: Thursday, July 9, 6 p.m.

How Much: $18

Web: www.fathomevents.com

Theaters: Cinemark Salt Lake City 16 — Salt Lake City

Cinemark Tinseltown — Layton

Cinemark Newgate — Ogden

Cinemark 16 — Provo

Cinemark 24 — West Jordan

Cinemark Union Heights 16 — Midvale

E-mail: ehansen@desnews.com