A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

The Spitfire Grill

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  4w, 3m

Music and Book by James Valcq
Lyrics and Book by Fred Alley
Based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff

Based on the hit 1996 film, The Spitfire Grill is a heartwarming and inspirational musical tale of redemption, perseverance and family. Set in a small Wisconsin town, the show features a gorgeous, soulful score and several strong roles for women.

The Spitfire Grill

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 3m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee! 2013 Jeff Awards, Best Production of a Musical

Details

Summary
Newly revised in 2024! A troubled young parolee yearning for a fresh start follows her dreams to Wisconsin, based on a page from an old travel book, only to find a small town with a gritty heart aching with longing and regret. Unexpectedly discovering the healing power of community while working at the Spitfire Grill, Percy reawakens the entire town’s capacity for rebirth, forgiveness and hope. Set to a melodic folk-inspired score, The Spitfire Grill is a joyous celebration of human kindness.
History
The Spitfire Grill premiered off-Broadway at the Duke Theatre on 42nd Street on 7 September 2001. Presented by Playwrights Horizons and directed by David Saint, the production featured Phyllis Somerville, Garrett Long, Liz Callaway and Steven Pasquale.
Keywords
Performing Groups

PERCY TALBOTT – Early 20s. Pretty, if a bit rough-edged, her face declares the strength of her youth and a sadness beyond her years. Her accent has a southern Appalachian cadence. Strong folk/country belt to D, some head voice required.
HANNAH FERGUSON – About 70. A tough-skinned and flinty old bird with a short, no-nonsense manner bordering on the bitter. Mezzo/alto chest range.
SHELBY THORPE – Mid-30s. A plain, soft-faced creature with a shy, almost ethereal manner. Shimmering folk soprano with strong high belt to D.
CALEB THORPE – Early 40s. Out-of-work foreman of the stone quarry. Frustrated working man clinging to the past. Solid folk/rock voice with an edge (Top G).
SHERIFF JOE SUTTER – Mid-late 20s. A young small-town policeman with an appealing intensity and a restless nature. Strong folk tenor to a G (touches an A).
EFFY KRAYNECK – 50s. Postmistress and busybody, a woman with narrow eyes and a sour tongue. Solid singer in mezzo/alto chest range. Carries close harmony.
THE VISITOR – Mid-40s. A mysterious figure who never speaks. An actor with powerful eyes and a very strong sense of his body.

Note: All characters (besides Percy) speak in “standard Midwestern” speech, without “countrified” intonations.

All characters (besides Percy) speak in “standard Midwestern” speech, without “countrified” intonations.

  • Time Period Contemporary
  • Setting Rural Wisconsin. February.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“Soul-satisfying... The musical is freeing. It is penetrated by honesty and it glows.” – The New York Times

“A soul-satisfying... work of theatrical resourcefulness. A compelling story that flows with grace and carries the rush of anticipation. The story moves, the characters have many dimensions and their transformations are plausible and moving. The musical is freeing. It is penetrated by honesty and it glows.” – The New York Times

“Soulful... The amiable country-flavored tunes and lyrics are rendered with the kind of conviction and expertise that make them transcendent. What in normal times would be a joy is, in these troubled ones, sheer nourishment.” – New York Magazine

“Soaring melodies!... Well before the show reaches its conclusion, many... city slickers in the audience may be ready to enter Percy's raffle.” – The Wall Street Journal

“An abundance of warmth, spirit and goodwill!... Some of the most engaging and instantly infectious melodies I've heard in an original musical in some time.” – USA Today

Music

Music Samples

Act I

“A Ring Around the Moon” – Percy
“Something’s Cooking at the Spitfire Grill” – Company
“Out of the Frying Pan” – Percy
“When Hope Goes” – Shelby
“Ice and Snow” – Caleb, Joe and Effy
“The Colors of Paradise” – Percy and Shelby
“Digging Stone” – Caleb
“This Wide Woods” – Joe and Percy
“Forgotten Lullaby” – Hannah
“Shoot the Moon” – Hannah and Company

Act II

“Come Alive Again” – Hannah and Company
“Forest For the Trees” – Joe
“Wild Bird” – Shelby
“Shine” – Percy
“Way Back Home” – Hannah
“Finale” – Company

The score of The Spitfire Grill was inspired by rural folk music traditions indigenous to Wisconsin and Southern Appalachia. This is a muscular score which, although containing many lyrical passages, is essentially rhythmic and driving. The violin and cello parts are best served by legit players rather than ‘fiddlers’.  

The original orchestration was for the following combination:  
Keyboard-Conductor
Guitar/Mandolin 
Violin 
Cello 
Accordion  

The following optional parts are also available:  
Bass – Upright Acoustic
Synth

If the Bass book is used, the “Bass” will not need to be programmed into the Keyboard-Conductor part. In the event that a suitable Accordion player cannot be found, the Synth book should be used to cover the Accordion part. The Synth book also contains all important Cello and Violin cues, making possible the following smaller combinations:

VERSION ‘A’ – 4 Players:  
Keyboard-Conductor 
Guitar/Mandolin 
Cello 
Synthesizer (playing Accordion and Violin cues)

VERSION ‘B’ – 4 Players:  
Keyboard-Conductor     
Guitar/Mandolin     
Violin     
Synthesizer (playing Accordion and Cello cues)    

VERSION ‘C’ – 3 Players:  
Keyboard-Conductor  
Guitar/Mandolin     
Synthesizer (playing Accordion, Violin, and Cello cues)    

Each of the above options could also be expanded by including an acoustic Bass player.
  • Musical Style Folk
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
8   Keyboard-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)
1   Accordion
1   Guitar/Mandolin
1   Violin
1   Cello
1   Synth (Optional - can be used to replace Accordion and/or Violin and Cello)
1   Bass (Optional) 
8   Keyboard-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)
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Authors

James Valcq

James Valcq

James Valcq is the composer of the off-Broadway musical The Spitfire Grill (Playwrights Horizons, 2001) which has been seen in nearly 900 productions spanning North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, as well as a highly lauded London premiere in 2015. Also off-Broadway, Val ...

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Fred Alley

Fred Alley

Fred Alley (1962-2001) was the co-founder and Artist in Residence at American Folklore Theatre (now Northern Sky Theatre) in Door County, Wisconsin, a populist theatre with a seasonal audience of 50,000 where he collaborated on over 20 original shows. It was at Northern Sky t ...

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Lee David Zlotoff

Lee David Zlotoff
Lee David Zlotoff is a producer, director and screenwriter best known as the creator of the TV series MacGyver, which ran on ABC between 1985 and 1992 and was sold throughout the world. He then produced the television series The Man from Snowy River, loosely based on the Banj ...
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