Fall Fest is rapidly approaching, and that means one thing—the musical! Rehearsals are underway, songs are taking shape, and the stage is coming to life as the theater department prepares for Spitfire Grill to make its premiere. While this fall production may not have gone exactly as planned, the change has brought a new story to the campus stage.
The theater department originally planned to do The PROM! for this year’s Fall Fest, but because there were not enough cast members the production changed. Now the focus has shifted completely to Spitfire Grill, a smaller and more intimate musical centered on second chances, finding community and moving forward. Director of Theater Damon Klassen said, “I believe this performance will fit very well with our Fall Fest audience.”
Spitfire Grill follows Percy Talbott, a young woman searching for a new start after being released from prison. She learns about Gilead, Wisconsin, through a picture in a magazine of the fall colors. After arriving, she begins working at the town’s Spitfire Grill. As Percy settles into her new surroundings, her presence begins to bring change not only to her own life but to the people and community around her.
Klassen is especially excited for this performance. “We have a great mix of veteran talent alongside newcomers who have never stepped on the stage before,” Klassen said. With upperclassmen who are no strangers to the stage leading the way for the freshmen stepping out of their comfort zone, this performance captures the community of Bethel College coming together to tell the story of Spitfire Grill.
One element the audience may notice in this performance is its unique sound. Rather than relying on a large pit orchestra, Spitfire Grill features an accordion, cello, violin, bass and piano. “This orchestra will be playing from the kitchen of the grill,” Klassen said. “This gives the performance a more folk, small-town feeling that the musical is trying to capture.”
With rehearsals in full swing and Fall Fest drawing closer, the cast, crew and musicians are working hard to bring the town of Gilead to life. From a mix of familiar and new faces on stage to an orchestra playing in the kitchen of the grill, Spitfire Grill will bring audiences something a little different this Fall Fest. The curtain has yet to rise, but soon Bethel audiences will get to step into the Spitfire Grill for themselves.
Reach out to Shirley Dietzel in The Thresher Shop for information about tickets!