The Spitfire Grill
by Austin Playhouse
Jan. 26 - Feb. 18
Fridays-Sundays
A heartwarming and inspirational musical tale of redemption. Ex-convict Percy Talbott moves to Gilead, Wiconsin, a tiny town that has seen better days. What she finds will help both town and outsider find their way to renewal.
Review by Cliff Cunningham, Sun News Austin, February 13, 2024
Based on the 1996 film of the same name, this American musical ran Off-Broadway with Playwrights Horizons in 2001 receiving nominations for Best Musical Off-Broadway by both the Outer Critics Circle Awards and Drama League Awards. Depicting the journey of a young woman starting life anew in rural Wisconsin, The Spitfire Grill serves as the backdrop for the townspeople’stenuous reawakening alongside her.
Casting for The Spitfire Grill includes Ella Mia Carter as Percy Talbott, Bernadette Nason as Hannah Ferguson, Sarah Fleming Walker as Shelby Thorpe, Matt Connely as Caleb Thorpe, John Michael Hoke as Sheriff Joe Sutter, Wendy Zavaleta as Effy Krayneck, and James Davery as The Visitor.
“The Spitfire Grill is a musical that speaks directly to our mission, to celebrate the human experience. It’s filled with fantastic characters and beautiful music. The score feels so authentic to the world of the play and to the broader American experience,” explains Producing Artistic Director Lara Toner Haddock. “When we meet the people of Gilead, Wisconsin, they're living with very real traumas: economic, social, and emotional. That reality grounds their stories and makes it incredibly moving when they find their way to hope, when they make their world better by finding strength in each other. They earn every moment of their heartwarming ending and the audience is really going to be invested in that journey.”
Directed by Lara Toner Haddock, the production team also includes music direction by Lyn Koenning, sound design by Robert S. Fisher, costume design by Kerry Bechtel, lighting design by Mark Novick, with stage management by Grace Ramsden.
The performances will take place at Austin Playhouse’s new interim performance space located in the heart of West Campus at 405 West 22nd. Free street parking is available with paid parking conveniently located one block away at the UT Co-Op Parking Garage at 2214 San Antonio.
THE SPITFIRE GRILL | January 26–February 18, 2024
The Spitfire Grill
music and book by James Valcq
lyrics and book by Fred Alley
directed by Lara Toner Haddock
The Spitfire Grill
by James Valcq, Fred Alley, Lee David Alotoff
Austin Playhouse
January 26 - February 18, 2024
January 26 – February 18, 2024
Thurs – Sat at 8:00 p.m. | Sun Jan 28 & Feb 18 at 2:00 p.m. | Sun Feb 4 & Feb 11 at 5:00 p.m.
Austin Playhouse (new West Campus location) | 405 West 22nd | Austin TX 78705
austinplayhouse.com/spitfiregrill
Tickets are $38-44; with Pick-Your-Price Thursdays and Half-Price Student Tickets are available at austinplayhouse.com; group discounts are available for parties of 10+. Group inquiries can be made at boxoffice@playhouse.com
Age Recommendation: 13+ for mild adult language and themes. Children under 5 are not permitted.
