JACKSON, Tenn. — March 1, 2006 — 51社区鈥檚 spring production of the musical 鈥淭he Spitfire Grill鈥� will be March 9-14 at the W. D. Powell Theatre on Union鈥檚 campus.
鈥淭he Spitfire Grill鈥� is about a dying town that discovers hope and redemption through the arrival of Percy Talbott, played by Lori Cunningham. Union theater director David Burke will direct the performance.
The script and music for 鈥淭he Spitfire Grill鈥� were written by James Valcq and Fred Alley. All but one of the eight cast members sing, and are accompanied by musicians playing the mandolin, guitar, keyboard, violin and accordion.
Lead actress Cunningham said the music has a country-bluegrass feel to it, and Burke characterized it as 鈥渄iscordant jazz-blues.鈥�
While based on the film, 鈥淭he Spitfire Grill,鈥� directed by David Zlotoff, which won the Audience Award in the 1996 Sundance Film Festival, this production departs from the film by including Valcq鈥檚 music and a different ending. But Burke said the differences do not take away from the play鈥檚 message -- the need for a community to find purpose and meaningful dreams worth pursuing.
The play will begin at 8 p.m. March 9, March 11 and March 13-14, with an 8:30 p.m. show time for March 10, and a 2:30 p.m. show time for March 12.
Tickets are $8 for general admission and $4 for students. For more information or for tickets, call the Union box office at (731) 661-5105 or (731) 661-5287.