Inspired by the 1996 Lee David Zlotoff film of the same name starring Ellen Burstyn and Marcia Gay Harden, SPITFIRE GRILL was the collaboration of two friends who met at a high school music camp in 1980: with book by James Valcq and Fred Alley, music by Valcq, and lyrics by Alley, SPITFIRE GRILL was produced off Broadway in 2001. Just two weeks before its debut, Alley suffered a fatal heart attack – never knowing that the production would win the Richard Rodgers Production Award. At the time, New York Magazine critic John Simon opined, “It is not often that material moves me to tears, but this was one of those occasions. The Spitfire Grill has…heart and soul.” Since 2001, SPITFIRE GRILL has been produced over 700 times worldwide (sometimes in translation) in regional theaters, festivals, and community and school productions. In 2025, Actors Co-op proudly presents THE SPITFIRE GRILL.
Hannah Howzdy, Lori Berg, and Caitlin Gallogly – Photo by John Dlugolecki
The time is the 1990s, and the place is Gilead, Wisconsin, a small town in Middle America. Percy Talbott (Hannah Howzdy) has just been released from prison and paroled to Gilead in the dead of winter. Sheriff Joe Sutter (Gavin Michael Harris) helps her find a place to stay and a job at the Spitfire Grill, owned by crusty widow Hannah Ferguson (Lori Berg). When Hannah breaks her leg, Percy finds herself running the place with Shelby Thorpe (Caitlin Gallogly) as chief cook. As it turns out, Hannah is a woman with a lot of secrets – but, then again, the same could be said for Percy. From a rocky start in the small town – courtesy of town busybody/U.S. Postal clerk Effy Krayneck (Treva Tegtmeier) and disgruntled Caleb Thorpe (Spencer Rowe), Shelby’s husband. What will happen when those secrets begin to surface?
Treva Tegtmeier, Caitlin Gallogly, and Lori Berg – Photo by John Dlugolecki
Skillfully helmed by Bonnie Hellman with musical direction by Stephen Van Dorn, THE SPITFIRE GRILL comes to life on the Actors Co-op stage. The talented and enthusiastic cast do a bang-up job of breathing life into the small town folk of Gilead – and they can sing to boot. In fact, there wasn’t a flat note in the group, who turned the emotionally-charged songs into heartfelt studies about character and life. This is a poignant and thought-provoking look at the meaning of friendship, connection, hope, and beating the odds. It glows with honesty, authenticity, and warmth – and it twinkles with optimism (even if it had to make some drastic changes to the film’s ending to accomplish that). The pace is slow and relaxed, mirroring small town day-to-day life. This is a production made for music lovers (ask Stephen Sondheim, chair of Richard Rodger’s Production Award) and audiences who enjoy studying the ins and outs of personality and group dynamics.
Caitlin Gallogly, Hannah Howzdy, Lori Berg, and Gavin Michael Harris – Photo by John Dlugolecki
THE SPITFIRE GRILL runs through June 8, 2025, with performances at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (with an additional matinee at 3 p.m. on May 17) and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays, with an additional matinee at 2:30 p.m. on May 31). The Actors Co-op performs at the David Schall Theatre located at 1760 N. Gower Street, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood). Tickets are $39 (seniors $35, Students $30, and Union members $25; Student Rush Tickets are available Friday nights). For information and reservations, call 323-462-8460 or go online.
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