Photo courtesy of Elliana Gorecki.
Michael Staczar directed a closely bonded group of talented musical theatre students through a spring, mainstage production.
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By Jacob Tomaneng
TAMPA, Fla. — On March 26, 2026, the University of Tampa theatre department debuted its mainstage spring musical, The Spitfire Grill, in the historic David Falk Theatre.
Directed by Michael Staczar, the theatre and dance department chair, with the help of assistant director Andrew Miller, the production had four total showtimes between March 26 and 29.
Based on the 1996 film The Spitfire Grill, the musical interpretation was written by James Valcq and Fred Alley. The show has been produced over 700 times in regional theaters, along with smaller community and school productions.
The story follows Percy Talbott, a young woman recently released from prison. Percy decides to start a new life in a rural town in Wisconsin, working at a diner. Throughout the plot, the audience sees the effect that Percy has on the small town and its residents.
Sophomore musical theater major Oliver Paul played Caleb Thorpe, a resident of the small town.
“[Caleb] was essentially the villain of the show,” said Paul. “I usually play comedic [roles], and my past roles here at the University of Tampa have all been comedic…this was kind of a challenge to take on.”
The Spitfire Grill’s themes of community healing, hope, and forgiveness are covered through the unpredictable storyline and folk-inspired songs.
“Everything was so authentic and raw,” said Paul. “This isn’t a big, flashy musical. It’s…a play with song in it.”
UTampa spring musicals tend to have fewer cast members than the fall semester productions. The fall 2025 mainstage show, The Prom, had a cast of 13 actors, not including an 11-person ensemble and seven understudies. The Spitfire Grill featured seven cast members, making for a close-knit group working on the production.
The cast featured Miranda Ferreira as Percy, Eros Sanchez as Joe Sutter, Lily Downs as Hannah, Sydney Beck as Shelby, Alina Nicole Shats as Effie, Oliver Paul as Caleb, and Nicholas Mohamad as The Visitor.
Downs, a sophomore musical theater major, had been in three prior theater performances in her time at UTampa. She said the intimacy that came with working in a smaller ensemble was special, and that there were not many mistakes.
“All the lights went on during the actual performance during a duet…but other than that, everything went smoothly, and everyone did amazing,” said sophomore spotlight operator Grayson Holbrook.
Staczar, who has been with UTampa since August 1992, received praise for his direction of the show.
“[Staczar’s] brain is very complex, and he knew exactly what he wanted with the show,” said Paul. “He handled The Spitfire Grill with such grace and beauty.”
Paul also said that Staczar had the entire cast reread the script to better understand the show after the cast had already been taken off the book.
Admission to productions put on by the department of theatre is free, with the next performance taking place from April 16–19, 2026. The upcoming show, The Blue Planet, will be open to the public in the David Falk Theatre and directed by assistant professor of theatre and dance, Nicole Crowther.