New musical serves up a heartwarming story of second chances
When
Percy Talbot steps off the bus in tiny Gilead, Wisconsin, she’s a young
woman with a single wish. After five years in prison, she’s determined
to leave her troubled youth behind her and make a new home in this faded
small town she knows only from a picture in a travel book. She lands a
job at the local café, settles in and, just by being herself, brings her
neighbors a long-needed lift.
That’s the engaging setting for Sierra Rep’s production of The Spitifre Grill, a new musical that has won raves from coast to coast as a soulful story of second chances. It plays October 4-27 at the East Sonora stage.
SRT Artistic Director Scott Viets is directing the show and is looking forward to bringing it to local audiences.
“This whole piece is so human and has so much love, compassion and
empathy,” Viets said. “It’s about a broken town, broken relationships,
people who are discouraged and withdrawn finding a kind of redemption
and new hope. One person arrives and is able to start a transformation.”
It’s a gradual process, Viets said, and the music – a blend of
bluegrass, folk and Broadway – supports the nature of the story, as
characters grow and begin to heal. Percy at first seems to be the most
broken character – she’s a stranger to town, has a traumatic past and
tough shell. She arrives wanting to change, and has chosen this small
town as what she hopes is a safe refuge. The town’s young sheriff, Joe,
is her parole officer, and convinces his old friend Hannah, the
long-time owner of the Spitfire Grill, to bring Percy on for temporary
help.
Hannah
and her customers are wary for awhile and tell Percy she’s come to a
place most folks can’t wait to escape. Joe wants out, Hannah has had the
grill for sale for years with no buyers and neighbors all around see
nothing but dead ends. But as Percy works hard to settle in, they come
to admire her spirit and determination. Then she suggests that Hannah
hold a drawing for the grill where entrants pay $100 and write an essay
about why they want the little business. A flood of letters come in,
with hundreds of people writing about how much they want to escape to
this idyllic place. Hannah, Joe and their neighbors see what they have
through others’ eyes, and catch that spirit of hope.
Viets
has a nice blend of artists coming together for the show. Percy will be
played by Wisconsin artist Elizabeth McMonagle, who just finished
playing Hodel in the national tour of Fiddler on the Roof and has also appeared in national tours of Legally Blonde and The 24th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. SRT favorite Becky Saunders (Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, Church Basement Ladies)
returns for her third lead role of this season – she plays Hannah, the
tough, independent owner of the Spitfire Grill who first takes a chance
on Percy. SRT newcomer Evan Faram plays the sheriff, Joe. Suzanne
Petrela is Percy’s shy co-worker Shelby, and MJ Jurgensen returns to SRT
as the town busybody and postmaster, Effy. Jurgensen delighted
audiences earlier this season as Vi Petty, the wife of record producer
Norm Petty in SRT’s Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, almost stealing
the show with her impromptu dance moves. Viets said this new role is a
great showcase for her voice and comedic skills.
SRT’s Mark Seiver, just finishing up his performance in the live band for RESPECT,
joins Viets as the musical director. Los Angeles guest artist Jay
Heiserman, the Emmy-winning art director for television’s The Ellen
DeGeneres Show, who designed the retro kitchen set for SRT’s Church Basement Ladies, returns as scenic designer. Costume design is by guest artist Austin Rausch (Don’t Dress for Dinner). Lighting is by guest artist Greg Mitchell, props by SRT’s Mercy Sharpe and stage management by SRT’s Lia Metz.
SRT’s production of The Spitfire Grill is presented with the help of Season Sponsor Clarke Broadcasting (radio stations KVML, 92Q and KKBN and MyMotherLode.com).
The Spitfire Grill opens Friday, October 4 and plays through Sunday, October 27 at SRT’s East Sonora stage. Thursday and Friday performances begin at 7, Saturday evening performances are at 8 and Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees begin at 2. A “talk back” discussion with the director and cast will be held after the evening performance on Thursday, October 17.
Ticket prices range from $24 to $32 depending on the day of the
performance. Tickets are available by calling the Box Office at 209-532-3120 or by visiting www.sierrarep.org.
