The Spitfire Grill

Hannah, the cantankerous owner of the Spitfire Grill, shares a cup of joe with waitresses Percy (left) and Shelby (right).

After five years in prison, Percy Talbott is getting a fresh start in the small town of Gilead, Wis. And life there will never be the same.

Percy arrives in Gilead a stranger, with no friends in town, no job, and no place to stay. The owner of a local diner reluctantly takes her in, but it isn't long before The Spitfire Grill's regular customers become suspicious about the new waitress's mysterious past.

Inspired by a Sundance-favorite movie of the same name, The Spitfire Grill features bluegrass, country, folk and pop-infused music by James Valcq, catchy lyrics by Fred Alley and a heartwarming story that captured many hearts during its 2011 Off-Broadway run. The musical later garnered the Academy of Arts and Letters' Richard Rodgers Production Award.

Writing of the Off-Broadway production, USA Today's Elysa Gardner wrote that The Spitfire Grill features "some of the most engaging and instantly infectious melodies I've heard in a musical in some time ... accessible and poignant." The New York Times' Alvin Klein declared that it was "a soul-satisfying" musical and "a complete work of theatrical resourcefulness. A compelling story that flows with grace."

The Mermaid Players bring this winning musical to the stage Oct. 26-31 (see schedule and additional information at right).