Kicker or Eyebrow
Page Title
Auditions for The Spitfire Grill
Monday, November 24th
7 p.m. in Williams Theatre, Room 113
ABOUT THE PRODUCTION
Music/Book by James Valcq
Lyrics/Book by Fred Alley
Based on the Film by Lee David Zlotoff
Directed by Julie Lyn Barber
Musical Direction by Rolin Mains
PERFORMANCES: April 17, 18, 23, 24, 25 - 8pm and April 19 - 2pm
WILLIAMS THEATRE, PURDUE UNIVERSITY FORT WAYNE
This heartwarming musical follows the mysterious, young Percy Talbott to Gilead, Wisconsin – a town she chose from a picture in a travel book – where she hopes to begin a new life after a recent incarceration. There, she finds a new job and community at the local restaurant, the Spitfire Grill, where she helps the entire town rediscover their sense of human kindness. Brimming with memorable characters and a melodic, folk-inspired score, The Spitfire Grill is a joyous celebration of second chances and families of all kinds- lost, familiar, and found.
Rated PG-13 for some adult themes discussed by characters
Content Considerations: characters discuss abuse, miscarriage, loss of a child, murder, incarceration, war
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
Please prepare 3 things for this audition:
- a memorized 30-45 second monologue of your choice.
- a 45-60 second song cut of your choice. Bring piano/vocal sheet music in a binder. You may choose a song from Spitfire Grill that does not include the cuts listed below.
- at least one of the character song cuts listed in the character breakdown below from The Spitfire Grill. You may prepare as many of these as you like.
Also, please bring your spring semester evening and weekend schedule of commitments.
Rehearsals will generally be Sundays through Thursdays 7-10 beginning February 23, 2026. TECH WEEK actors will need to be available all day Sunday April 12 (10am-10pm), 6-11pm Monday April 13-Thursday April 16. Performance days, actors will need to be available an hour and a half prior to the performance.
If you are not required to do this audition, and are only interested in the role of The Visitor you may opt to show only the monologue.
Time notations after the character song cuts refer to the Youtube link timestamp for that song.
Link to YouTube playlist of cast recording
Click here for access to sheet music for all the character song cuts.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
PERCY TALBOTT, 20s, her face declares the strength of her youth and a sadness beyond her years. Strong folk/country belt to ‘D’ some head voice required. Was incarcerated for murdering her abuser. Suffered a miscarriage.
o Percy song cut, “Ring Around the Moon” mm.49-66 and mm.223-232 (1:43-2:16 and 5:40-5:55)
SHELBY THORPE, early 30s, a shy creature with an almost ethereal manner. Shimmering folk soprano with strong high belt to ‘D’.
o Shelby cut “When Hope Goes” mm.30-50 (1:39-2:22) (The YouTube track is called “05 Hannah Had a Song / 06 When Hope Goes”)
HANNAH FERGUSON, about 70, a tough-skinned and flinty old bird with a short, no-nonsense manner bordering on the bitter, mezzo/alto chest range.
o Hannah cut “Forgotten Lullaby” mm. 18-37 (0:18-0:49)
EFFY KRAYNECK, seems older than she is, postmistress and busybody, solid singer in mezzo/alto chest range, carries close harmony.
o Effy cut “Something’s Cooking” mm. 41-64 (0:34-1:03)
SHERIFF JOE SUTTER, 20s, small-town policeman with an appealing intensity and restless nature. Strong folk tenor to a ‘G’, touching on an ‘A’
o Joe cut “This Wild Woods” mm. 40-61 (0:44-1:11)
CALEB THORPE: 30s, out-of-work foreman of the stone quarry, frustrated working man clinigng to the past. Solid folk/rock voice with an edge, top ‘G’.
o Caleb cut “Digging Stone” mm. 50-68 (1:21-1:53)
THE VISITOR, 40s, a mysterious figure who never speaks, an actor with powerful eyes and a very strong sense of his body, deserted from the war.
o (there is no song cut for this character, please choose one of the others)
Callbacks, if necessary, will be on Tuesday, November 25 at a time mutually convenient for those called back.
These will most likely be readings of scenes and singing harmonies.
Consider your selection of one of the above character cuts as your callback for that character on audition day.
Scripts are available to sign out from the Theatre Department Office, WT 128.