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| COURTESY PHOTO Angela-Madalaine-Johnson and Drew Gasparini snuggle up in the Theatre Now presentation of “The Spitfire Grill.” |
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June 24th, 2009
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Marin theater group puts new musical out to grill
By Jamie Oppenheim
Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 18, 2008 2:03 PM PDT
Novato resident Drew Gasparini, 22, has a busy summer ahead of him — a move to New York City, a CD release and an East Coast tour, and next week he’ll star in TheatreNow’s musical rendition of “The Spitfire Grill” at the Pacheco Playhouse.
In an interview Monday, Gasparini’s voiced croaked and creaked. He just came down with some sort of flu, but said he hopes to be ready for Friday’s opening when he plays Sheriff Joe.
“I play a young sheriff who struggles with being stuck in the same town,” he said. “Then he sees how Percy, (a newcomer to town) appreciates it and he begins to love it too. He’s kind of a hopeless romantic.”
The show will run until Friday, June 20 until July 13.
The mission of the non-profit TheatreNow, based in Marin County, is to produce original and lesser-known musical theater with the plays presented at a variety of theaters. “The Spitfire Grill” is the organization’s first show performed at the playhouse.
“The Spitfire Grill” is a new musical, based on the move of the same name. The play won the Richard Rogers Award for the “best off-Broadway musical.”
The play centers on a woman named Percy, who served prison time for manslaughter and arrives in a town with hopes of beginning a new life. She works as a waitress at the Spitfire Grill, owned by Hannah, whose gruff exterior conceals a kind heart and little tolerance for the grill's customers, who cast their suspicions on Percy's past. When Hannah is bed ridden, Percy pitches in to save the grill and wins the approval of her boss. Percy risks her life to save a local hermit, prompting the townspeople to consider their own conduct more deeply.
The play deals with themes of redemption, hatred, compassion, independence, economic problems of small towns, the plight of Vietnam War veterans and female empowerment.
Angela Madaline-Johnson, 28, of San Rafael, plays the character of Percy. She has performed professionally in many off-Broadway and regional productions with some of her favorite roles including Crystal in “Little Shop of Horrors” and Rebecca in “Rites of Passage.” She has a degree in musical theatre from Catawba College at Salisbury, N.C.
Jamie Kelly of San Rafael stars at the role of Hannah. Her Broadway credits include the singing chorus of the original cast of “Hello Dolly,” as well as “A Joyful Noise” and “1776.” She has also appeared on the “Johnny Carson Show,” “Jackie Gleason Show,” and in several TV commercials.
Gasparini, brings his powerful musical talent to the production. The actor is a graduate of the Musicians Institute of Los Angeles. He has performed in more than 150 shows as a singer in the last three years in Southern California. He was named “best new sound in Hollywood” by Songwriter International in 2006. Some of his favorite roles have included Tommy in the Who’s “Tommy,” Rif in “West Side Story,” and Tobias Ragg in “Sweeney Todd.”
The Spitfire Grill is produced by Gary Gonser and Parker Lee, both of Novato; directed by Carl Jordan of Petaluma; with David Shepard of San Rafael providing musical direction.
According to Gonser, “the play provides a fresh look at rebuilding our lives. It is a perfect metaphor for people trying to recover their lives and communities in our times.”
Performances will be on Thursdays June 26 and July 10 at 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays (between June 20 and July 13) at 8 p.m. except the Fourth of July weekend; with Sunday matinees on June 22 and 29 and July 13th at 3 p.m. All seats are reserved. Admission is $22, with seniors and students $19. Reservations are available at (415) 883-4498 or online at www.pachecoplayhouse.org.
The Pacheco Playhouse is located at 484 Ignacio Blvd. in Ignacio.
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