By Coral Gables Gazette staff

With a new name on its Mainstage theater and a new thematic arc for the year ahead, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre opens its 2025–2026 “Season of Truth and Illusions” with a show that leans unapologetically toward the truth.

Beginning on Wednesday, October 8 and running through November 2, The Spitfire Grill makes its long-overdue Miami professional premiere in the newly dedicated Dr. Lawrence and Barbara Stein Center for the Performing Arts. Directed by Artistic Director David Arisco, this quietly stirring musical offers something increasingly rare in American theatre: a story of grace without sentimentality, transformation without spectacle, and second chances that feel earned.

At its heart is a small-town diner—and a woman trying to start over.

A story of second acts

Based on the 1996 Sundance-winning film by Lee David Zlotoff, The Spitfire Grill features a folk-rooted score by James Valcq and lyrics by Fred Alley, who co-wrote the book. Though it has long been popular among college and community theaters, this is the first time a major Miami company has staged the show professionally.

It follows Percy Talbott, a young woman recently released from prison, who lands in the rural town of Gilead, Wisconsin, seeking anonymity and stability. She finds both—and much more—at the Spitfire Grill, a rundown local diner run by the guarded Hannah Ferguson.

When Percy proposes a “write a letter, win the grill” essay contest to help Hannah sell the business, the town’s secrets begin to surface. The result is a layered meditation on loss, healing, and the quiet radicalism of community.

“It’s full of heart, humor, and music that will stay with you long after the curtain falls,” Arisco said in a statement. “We are thrilled to present the first professional production of this show in Miami.”

Cast & creative team

Leading the cast is Emily Van Vliet Perea in her Actors’ Playhouse debut as Percy, following standout performances in Frozen, Beautiful, and On Your Feet! at Maltz Jupiter Theatre. She’s joined by South Florida stage mainstays Jim Ballard (Caleb Thorpe), Kimberly Doreen Burns (Shelby Thorpe), Nate Promkul (Sheriff Joe Sutter), Heather Jane Rolff (Effy Krayneck), Laura Turnbull (Hannah Ferguson), and Tom Wahl (The Visitor).

All are familiar names to local theatergoers—and all bring seasoned depth to a story built on emotional authenticity rather than flash.

Behind the scenes, the design team includes Nick Guerrero (Musical Director), Brandon M. Newton (scenic), Eric Nelson (lighting), Ellis Tillman (costumes), Reidar Sorensen (sound), and Carlos Correa (technical direction). Stage management is by Naomi Zapata and Lilly Paez.

The production is made possible through the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the State of Florida, the City of Coral Gables, and private sponsors including BACARDÍ, Delta Air Lines, Lexus of Kendall, NBC 6, and South Florida PBS.

A theater with a story of its own

Actors’ Playhouse enters this new season with a renewed sense of identity. The naming of its main performance space as the Stein Center for the Performing Arts honors longtime patrons and reaffirms the Miracle Mile venue’s role as one of Miami-Dade County’s “12 Major Cultural Institutions.”

Now in its 38th season, the company has built a loyal following for its mix of Broadway-scale musicals, intimate dramas, youth programming, and education outreach. With The Spitfire Grill, it delivers a show that’s modest in size but large in impact.

If you go…

“The Spitfire Grill”
📍 Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre
🗓️ October 8 – November 2
🕗 Wed–Sat 8 p.m. | Sun matinees 3 p.m.
🎭 Preview performances: Oct. 8 & 9
🎟️ $40–$100 | 10% weekday discount for seniors | $15 student rush (15 mins before curtain)
📞 (305) 444-9293 | 🔗 www.ActorsPlayhouse.org

Group sales available for 10+ patrons. Special weekday matinee: Wed, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.

🥂 Thursday Happy Hours from 6:30–7:30 p.m. include BOGO drinks and crepes by Crêpemaker.