Latest news with #SpitfireGrill
Boston Globe
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
In ‘The Spitfire Grill,' character comes first in a story about a troubled young woman
'The songs [by James Valcq, with lyrics by Fred Alley] are really interwoven into the storytelling,' says Robbins, whose production runs at Still, at a recent rehearsal, Robbins gives even a long scene of dialogue a sense of rhythm and movement, as her ensemble marks their entrances, exits, and interactions at the grill's tables and its kitchen. Nearly every member of the seven-member company involved in the scene moves effortlessly from one stage area to the next, while the conversation always feels natural. Advertisement Although Robbins has built her reputation as an award-winning director skilled at flipping our expectations of what to expect from a musical (' While Gilead includes stock characters, including the busybody, the bullying husband, the long-suffering wife, and the heroic sheriff, Robbins says none of them fit into musical theater 'types.' 'These are very real people, with very real flaws,' she says. 'Every one of them has made questionable choices and has something to hide.' Kerry A. Dowling (seen most recently in SpeakEasy's "The Spitfire Grill." Jim Sabitus Robbins says Dowling gives Hannah a level of gravitas. 'This is really a character-driven show,' Robbins says, 'so I needed to cast people who are strong actors first, and then can also sing. They know how to avoid caricature.' The beauty of the story, Robbins says, is that Percy, as an outsider, helps the locals of Gilead realize the value and strength of their little community, while the citizens of Gilead find the courage to open their hearts to the stranger and help her get a second chance. 'When we were selecting plays for the season,' says Umbrella Stage artistic director Brian Boruta, 'we wanted to strike a balance with the mood of the moment. We decided to lean into the noise of the election with 'Network,' and then, with 'Spitfire Grill,' remind audiences of the power of community spirit to bring people together.' Advertisement Award-winning designer Janie Howland has created a set that straddles the musical's interest in placing one foot in care-worn reality and another in possibility. While the Spitfire Grill area is realistic, the walls framing and dividing the area are jagged and incomplete, like puzzle pieces that don't quite fit. 'Everyone needs redemption,' says Robbins. 'What I love about 'The Spitfire Grill' is that – like Janie's set – the puzzle pieces, and these people, may be getting closer to completion, but they aren't there yet. At the end, not everything is tied up neatly, but that's life.' THE SPITFIRE GRILL Presented by Umbrella Stage, at
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shrek, a murder mystery, one very hungry green plant, and a Sussical holiday to make up Flowertown Players 2025 season
SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – Theater lovers, listen up! Flowertown Players has announced their new season of shows. Patricia Cullinane, president of the Flowertown Players board, said they are 'ready to paint the town green' when Shrek the Musical kicks the season off. Other featured shows include Murder on the Orient Express, A Seussified Christmas Carol, and the musical Spitfire Grill, and the season will wrap up with Little Shop of Horrors. Season tickets go on sale April 1st. 'They are a great deal. You're basically getting five shows for the price of four, so who doesn't love a great deal,' said Cullinane. Tickets for individual shows will also be available for purchase. The Flowertown Players was established in 1976 when, according to the theater's website, a group of eight Summerville theater enthusiasts recognized the need for live theater in the town. The theater's current building, constructed in 1935, was a movie house until the mid-1970s when single-screen theaters started to become a thing of the past. The theater lovers approached the building's owners, who agreed the Flowertown Players could use the facility. Four to five shows were produced out of the now-historic building until 1983, when the building needed serious updates to its structure. Productions were relocated to a nearby school and later returned after the former theater was restored. You can find a lineup of the season's shows and purchase your tickets by visiting the theater's website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
