The Spitfire Grill

by James Valcq & Fred Alley
Directed by Paul-Douglas Michnewicz

March 2005

A feisty parolee follows her dreams, based on a page from an old travel book, to a small town in Wisconsin and finds a place for herself working at Hannah’s Spitfire Grill. It is for sale but there are no takers for the only eatery in the depressed town, so newcomer Percy suggests to Hannah that she raffle it off. Entry fees are one hundred dollars and the best essay on why you want the grill wins. Soon, mail is arriving by the wheelbarrow full and things are definitely cookin’ at the Spitfire Grill.

Cast

Joe Jim Breen
Percy Toni Rae Brotons
Effie Rebecca Herron
Caleb Rob McQuay
Shelby Joanne Schmoll
Eli Tony Simone
Hannah Judy Simmones
Effie (u/s) Melissa Schwartz

Production Team

Director Paul-Douglas Michnewicz
Musical Director Jeffery Watson
Choreographer Virginia Freeman
Stage Manager Adele Robey
Technical Director Roy Gross
Producer Jeremy Skidmore
Scenic Designer Thomas F. Donahue
Lighting Designer Klyph Stanford
Costume Designer Kate Turner-Walker
Sound Designer Bryan Miller
Properties Designer Suzen Mason
Master Electrician Sarah Larue
Sound Board Operator Shaw Helm
Scenic Painters Jason Edwards & Jessica Sherlock
Carpenter Carleen Troy

Press

What They Say

“Judy Simmons does fierce work as Hannah, though her intense, clenched-jaw performance at times threatens to overwhelm the character. Joanne Schmoll makes the best of Shelby’s wide-eyed reticence, and the fact that paraplegic actor Rob McQuay plays Shelby’s domineering yet insecure husband from a wheelchair seems to feed into that character’s set of conflicts.”