'Plaid Tidings' director brings Christmas spirit to Theatre Tallahassee

Theater happened by accident for Billy Lister, director of "Plaid Tidings," opening at Theatre Tallahassee on Dec. 12. "I started doing theater when I was in middle school," Lister said. "I kind of just got pulled into it because I had to do an elective." Lister said he chose theater as it seemed fun, and after one middle school theater production, he was hooked.

Since middle school, Lister has acted in productions and provided stage assistance between Jacksonville, (his hometown) and Tallahassee. "I like to get my hands dirty in theater," Lister said. "I'll do pretty much anything." He has acted, provided stage assistance, built sets, and everything else required to prepare a production for opening night. "Plaid Tidings," however, will be his directorial debut.

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The makings of a director

Lister did not move to Tallahassee from Jacksonville with theater in mind, but the pull of the theater was irresistible. Despite a lengthy middle school and high school career in theater, Lister came to Florida State University to major in business—and ended up not liking it.

"I switched to theater in my freshman year," laughs Lister. "I was majoring in business and went to class one day, and I was like, 'I can't stand to do this for the rest of my life.'" After graduating from FSU, Lister began teaching theater to kids in an after-school program, where he would assemble small-form shows for young actors. Lister said that directing a show was never something he aspired to do, but like getting into the theater itself, directing happened by chance for Lister.

He said that upon seeing an announcement from Theatre Tallahassee, looking for directors and applied on a whim…and then Lister took a trip to Europe. "I was in Europe on a four-week trip and only had Wi-Fi one day a week, and I got an email from Brian [Davis], the executive director of Theatre Tallahassee."

Davis offered Lister the director position for "Plaid Tidings," and Lister said he'd barely read through the script before emailing back an ecstatic 'yes please' to Davis.

"It has been crazy since then, but it has been great since then," said Lister. Making the transition from actor to director has seen him overcome several challenges, from holiday schedule shuffles among his cast to more professional growth for himself in theater. "I am doing stuff that I have never done before, and I mostly taught myself how to do it."

Passing on the love of theater

Growing up in theater, Lister is eager to continue sharing the community of the theater with the younger generations of actors, scriptwriters, stage teams, and directors. Lister has taught at the Young Actors Theater of Tallahassee and continues to teach after-school programs with another local theatre company for kids, Making Light Productions.

"I would love to be a full-time teacher at some point," Lister said. "I feel like I am making a difference and doing something creative when I am teaching theater."

At Making Light Productions, Lister brings theater to kids who might otherwise not have access to theater productions. "Making Light specializes in teaching kids who are neurodivergent, and there are a lot of the kids who are homeschooled," Lister said. "It is a lot of fun to help foster their creativity in theater, especially because theater is something they don't get access to as much. They don't get the outlet that other kids might."

In addition to his teaching, Lister has also judged at district theater competitions — some of the same competitions that he competed in as a high schooler. "I went to district competition all four years of high school," Lister said. "It is really fun because every school with a theater program in Florida goes there. It was a great way to meet other theater kids."

Earlier this year, Lister judged Tallahassee's District 1 in the competition, which included some of the same kids he has taught at Young Actors Theatre and Making Light Productions, and last year, he judged his home district of Jacksonville (District 2).

"It was really awesome, and interesting because my high school theater teacher still teaches there, so I was judging her kids, but I am one of her kids," laughs Lister.

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree with Plaid Tidings

"Plaid Tidings" is not your usual Christmas show.

"A lot of holiday shows are sad," Lister said. "I'm just going to say it. But this one is not." This light-hearted romp through the holidays features a quartet of ghosts (Francis, Jinx, Smidge, and Sparky from the Broadway sensation "Forever Plaid," the prequel to the holiday show). Still, the ghosts are jovial, rocking, and festive.

The show has over 30 favorite holiday songs, a few parody songs, and some entertaining dance numbers. Lister hints that the show will include random audience involvement, allowing theatergoers to get in on the fun by being pulled on stage or having the cast make their way through the seats. "It's really fun and very lighthearted," promises Lister.

Opening night for "Plaid Tidings" at Theatre Tallahassee will be Dec. 12, and the show will continue through Dec. 22, ending right before Christmas — the perfect holiday outing for those looking for music, humor, and plenty of spirit.

"We have put in so much work and so much time into this performance. I can't wait for people to see the show," Lister said.

If you go

What:"Plaid Tidings" at Theatre Tallahassee

When: Dec. 12-22, with evening performances at 7 p.m. and matinee performances at 2 p.m.

Where:Theatre Tallahassee, 1861 Thomasville Road

Tickets:$15-$25, visit theatretallahassee.org ; contact@theatretallahassee.org | 850-224-8474

Ashley Hunter is a feature writer for the Council on Culture & Arts. COCA is the capital area's umbrella agency for arts and culture ( tallahasseearts.org )

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 'Plaid Tidings' director brings Christmas cheer to Theatre Tallahassee