THE SPITFIRE GRILL to Open Beck Center's 2015-16 Season

Beck Center for the Arts opens its 2015-2016 theater season with The Spitfire Grill September 18 through October 18, 2015 on the Mackey Main Stage. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are now on sale. Buy early and save with promo code: SHINE to receive $5 off each adult/senior ticket purchased by September 17.

Based on the 1996 film by Lee David Zlotoff, this indie-charmer began as an Off-Broadway hit, and has gone on to thrive worldwide to critical acclaim. After a bleak upbringing and time in prison, Percy Talbott makes the decision to start over in rural Gilead, Wisconsin. Through changed seasons and cleaned slates, Percy manages to form unlikely new friendships within the gossipy town. Filled with spirit and soaring folk melodies by James Valcq and Fred Alley, this musical ultimately proves that it is never too late to follow your dreams. The Spitfire Grill was praised as "a compelling story that flows with grace...a soul-satisfying musical" by The New York Times, and "an abundance of warmth, spirit, and goodwill!" by USA Today.

Beck Center's former artistic director, William Roudebush, returns to direct this tale of new beginnings for the new theater season. "The Spitfire Grill is a unique musical with one of the most beautiful scores I have ever heard. The music soars as each of the seven characters searches for some light through the darkness of their past," remarked Roudebush. "Redemption, discovery, true friendship and romance highlight this soulful and surprising journey to the little town of Gilead."

With musical direction by Larry Goodpaster, The Spitfire Grill features Neely Gevaart as the rough-edged Percy Talbott, and Lenne Snively as the tough-skinned Hannah Ferguson. They are joined by Kate Michalski and Dan Folino as Shelby and Caleb Thorpe, Shane Patrick O'Neill as Sheriff Joe Sutter, Lissy Gulick as Effy Krayneck, and Derrick Winger as the Visitor. Equity actors Snively and Folino appear courtesy of the Actors' Equity Association (AEA), the union of actors and stage managers.

Tickets are $31 for adults, $27 for seniors (65 and older), and $12 for students with a valid I.D. A $3 service fee per ticket will be applied at time of purchase. Preview Night on Thursday, September 17 is $10 with general admission seating. Group discounts are available for parties of four or more. Purchase tickets online at beckcenter.org or call Customer Service at 216.521.2540 x10. Beck Center for the Arts is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just ten minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available.

This production of The Spitfire Grill is presented through special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. It is generously sponsored the residents of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and the Ohio Arts Council.

The Spitfire Grill opens Beck Center's 2015-2016 theater season, which also includes an encore production of last season's sold-out smash holiday musical, Mary Poppins. It also includes the regional premieres of the life-affirming Mothers and Sons, the suspense thriller Shining City, and the cult classic Heathers: The Musical. The locally-produced premieres of the Tony Award-winning musicals In the Heights and Billy Elliot the Musical are also a part of this spectacular line-up. "All of our titles speak deeply to acceptance, both personal and that by others," comments Artistic Director Scott Spence. "The characters within the season's works have exceptional journeys, and they tell their stories with great passion, humor, and music."

Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater productions on two stages, arts education programming for all ages and abilities, including dance, music, theater, visual arts, and creative arts therapies for individuals with special needs, outreach education, and free gallery exhibitions.

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