Country Flavored Musical The Spitfire Grill Opens Next on the Mainstage

Asheville Community Theatre is pleased to announce the upcoming production of The Spitfire Grill, by James Valcq and Fred Alley, opening on the Mainstage on May 4, 2007. This wholesome musical with songs described by the New York Times as “shiny with tunefulness, hope and all-American inflections of country and folk” runs for three weekends through May 20, 2007. Performances are held on Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm. Asheville Community Theatre is located at 35 E. Walnut St. in downtown Asheville . On Opening Night, a pre-show complementary champagne reception will be held.

The Spitfire Grill is an upbeat musical, with an enjoyable folksy score that perfectly complements its story of hope and redemption. Percy Talbott has just served a 5-year prison term and arrives in Gilead, the town that became the focus of her prison dreams after she saw an idyllic picture in a travel magazine. The town turns out to be an economically depressed dead-end but Percy's arrival leads to major changes in the lives and attitudes of everyone she becomes involved with: Hannah, the crusty old owner of The Spitfire Grill who grudgingly employs Percy; Hannah's nephew Caleb and his meek wife Shelby; Effy, the post mistress and town rumor monger; Joe the sheriff and Percy's parole officer; and a mysterious visitor to Hannah's backyard. In a story filled with the possibilities of second chances, Percy herself is not immune to change.

The Spitfire Grill is a stage musical filled with the sounds of guitars, fiddles, mandolins and all the other instruments closely associated with American folk music. The Asheville Community Theatre production will feature a live band onstage, which includes Bruce Lang on guitar and mandolin, Gary Mitchell on piano, Lew Gelfond on the fiddle, Eric Scheider on the cello and Brad Curtioff on accordian.

Jennifer Worthen stars as Percy, the woman recently released from prison on parole. She was last seen onstage at ACT in Falsettos. Gwynne Beneke makes her ACT debut as Hannah, the owner of the Spitfire Grill. They are joined onstage by Cory Boughton (The Raindrop Waltz), Bradshaw Call (Radio Gals), Cody Magouirk (Montford Park Player's Hamlet ), Autumn Shearin, and Beverly Todd (Bachelor Pad).

The Spitfire Grill is directed by Bill Gregg, artistic director of Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre. Past ACT credits include One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Radio Gals and Always…Patsy Cline. Musical direction is by Bruce Lang. The set is designed by Richard Seagle with lighting design by Rob Bowen and costume design by Ida.

Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors (over 60), and $10 for students. The Box Office is currently open for reservations. Box Office hours are noon – 6:00 pm Monday – Friday, and noon – curtain on performance days. For more information, please call 828-254-1320.

At A Glance

What:    The Spitfire Grill , a musical with Music & Book by James Valcq, Lyrics & Book by Fred Alley, based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff

Who:   Directed by Bill Gregg, Musical Direction by Bruce Lang

Where:   Asheville Community Theatre, 35 E. Walnut Street, Asheville, NC

When:    May 4-20, 2007, with performances Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 pm.

Tickets:   $22 for adults, $20 for seniors (60+), $10 for students

Special discounts for groups of 10 or more

On sale now

Asheville Community Theatre Box Office

35 E. Walnut Street

828.254.1320