PRESENTS
The Spitfire Grill
Present by arrangements with
Concord Theatricals
Directed by
Michael Golliher
The Production Team
Director
Michael Golliher
Music Director & Asst. Director
Scott Salem
Stage Manager
Sarah Frog Owen
Set Design
Matt Hentges
Costumes
Grant Martin
Props
Kim Hentges
Lighting Team
Josh Austin, Esther McCrae & Scott Salem
Backstage Technicians
Audrey Hentges & Minnie Washington
Sound Design & Operations
Matt Hentges & Chris LaCour
Stage Crew & Set Construction
Matt Hentges, Laura LaCour, Vicki Kerns, Michael Golliher, Emerson Rapp & Jeremy Walter
Photographer
Jeremy Walter
The Cast
Percy — Meghan Welfer
Joe — Gabriel Van Dyne-Lee
Hannah— Vicki Kerns
Caleb—Matthew Hendrickson
Effy—Deborah Schuler
Shelby—Danielle Gibbs
Curtis Weber—The Visitor
The Musicians
Scott Salem—Conductor
Deana Wagoner — Keys
Cassie Nguyen — Synth
Ryan Head — Guitar
Julia Davis — Violin
Kier Ojakangas — Cello
Colvin Hooser — Bass
ACT 1
A Ring Around the Moon . . . . . Percy
Something’s Cooking . . . . . Company
at the Spitfire Grill
Out of the Frying Pan . . . . . . . . . Percy
When Hope Goes . . . . . . . . . . . . Shelby
Ice and Snow . . . . . . Caleb, Joe & Effy
Digging Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Caleb
This Wide Woods . . . . . . . Joe & Percy
Forgotten Lullaby . . . . . . . . . . . Hannah
Shoot the Moon – Hannah & Company
There will be one 15 min.
Intermission
ACT 2
Come Alive Again . . . . . . . . .Company
Forest for the Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe
Wild Bird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shelby
Shine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Percy
Way Back Home . . . . . . . . . . . . Hannah
Finale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Company
SPECIAL THANKS
Melissa Ford, Bobbi Shaw, Park Campus Safety, Linda Salem. Mike Beahm, Scott Kruse, Alexa Cioffi-Abt, Pam Schnake, Todd Schnake, Karla Penechar, Laura LaCour, Chris LaCour, Olathe East High School, RJ Parish, David Hentges, Dalton Pittenger, City Theatre of Independence, Olathe Civic Theatre Association, and our generous partner Park University
Meet the Cast
Meghan Welfer
Percy
Meghan is thrilled to be making her debut with the Bell Road Barn Players! She graduated from Millikin University with Theatre and Music degrees and has ping ponged around KC ever since.
Recently she was seen as Vitka in Vilna: A Resistance Story (White Theater/Culture House), Levi in Joseph (White Theatre), Swing in Great Comet (Fishtank), and as Thisby at KCRF (Oddity Collective). In her free time she works with the Behavior Project, she’s an avid crafter, and she’s a much better baker than Percy is.
She’d like to thank her family and those who have supported her with a special thank you to Ben. I couldn’t be here now without your encouragement, my love.
Enjoy the show!
Gabriel Van Dyne-Lee
Joe
This is Gabriel’s first time performing with the Bell Road Barn Players. Recently you might’ve seen him in The Arts Asylum’s productions of Reefer Madness and BatBoy. In his spare time you’ll find him being a dedicated dog dad, book worm, Lego master, husband, and engaging in adult “theater kid” shenanigans.
He hopes you enjoy the show and promises not to pull you over on your ride home, this time…
Danielle Gibbs
Shelby
Danielle is thrilled to revisit The Spitfire Grill nearly 20 years after playing Effy in college. Some recent notable roles here in KC include: Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Judy in 9 to 5 and Louise in Gypsy with CTI, Paulette in Legally Blonde and Jane in Tarzan with Gladstone TITP, Babe in The Pajama Game with Mid-Life Players, and Mrs. Curtin in A Man of No Importance with OCTA.
A big thank you to Michael, Scott, and the rest of the production team for allowing her to take part in one of her favorite shows and to her incredible castmates.
Much love to family and friends who are “with me tonight.” This performance is dedicated to her Stephens College family who first took the journey with her to the Colors of Paradise. Love and miss you all.
Vicki Kerns
Hannah
Vicki is so excited to be a part of this amazing show with such a brilliant cast! It’s been 3 years since her last musical (“The Full Monty”) & it’s been a stretch to dust the cobwebs off of her vocal cords, but hopefully she won’t sound too much like a screech owl! Thanks go to my family & friends for their unwavering love & support! Enjoy this beautiful musical & its compelling story
Matthew Henrickson
Caleb
Matt is thrilled to be making his Bell Road Barn Players debut. Matt has worked on and off stage throughout the Kansas City theatre community. He is currently playing multiple roles in Junie B. Jones over at Union Station with Theatre For Young America. Matt would like to thank his wife and family for all their support allowing him to play on two stages at once!
Deborah Schuler
Effy
Deborah is so excited to be a part of this heartwarming story. Some of her recent roles include various silly people in The Very Special Christmas Special That Saved Christmas (The Special) with the Bell Road Barn Players, Sara Jane Moore in Assassins with the Olathe Civic Theater Association, and Major General Stanley in Choral Spectrum’s concert production of The Pirates of Penzance. Deborah is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles and is most likely to be found paying off her student debt. She would like to thank her children for occasionally doing their chores while she was at rehearsal.
Curtis Weber
The Visitor
After many years of absence, Curtis is very excited to return to the stage as The Visitor in the Bell Road Barn Players’ production of The Spitfire Grill. For years Curtis had been active in stand-up and improvisational comedy before work demands drew him away. After many years as a pediatric RN, he took an early retirement and is free to pursue other interests. Those interests include stone carving, theatre, baking, refinishing and/or restoration of vintage items. Curtis appreciates the opportunity to be part of this production. When this show closes, he will be appearing in the nearest mirror shaving off his beard.
Michael Golliher
Director
Michael Golliher could not be more excited to be making his Bell Road Barn Players directorial debut! He has previously directed “Assassins” at Olathe Civic Theatre Association. Outside of directing, Michael has also performed as a singer, actor and puppeteer with various companies and groups in the greater KC metro area, including Egads Theatre Company, Spinning Tree Theatre, Choral Spectrum, OCTA, Whim Productions, The White Theatre, The Barn Players, and others. He is also the co-host of the podcast “Fantasia Fantasia: A Gay Fantasia on Fantasia Themes.” He hopes you will walk away after this show with a song in your heart and a glimmer of hope in your head.
He would like to thank the entire cast and crew, and orchestra for all their passion and dedication, and he’d also like to thank you for being here.
Scott Salem
Music Director
Scott is honored to be able to bring musical theatre back to the Bell Road Barn Players!
As an up and coming music director, the opportunity to work with such a talented cast, pit, and production team is a dream come true.
He would like to thank his parents and siblings for their undying support, and all of you for attending and supporting live theatre. Enjoy the show!
Ester McRae
Lighting
Esther is an odd duck.
This is mainly because she’s not a duck.
Anyway, Esther has quickly fallen in love with this show and hopes that others see its warmth and hope too.
She’s excited to be helping with lights, and is currently enjoying the view from the booth.
Matt Hentges
Set Design
Matt is so honored to be part of this incredibly talented cast and crew. He would like to thank Michael & Scott for bringing this story to life and for being wonderful human beings.
Special Thanks to his extremely talented wife Kim, and his amazing kids Audrey & Leo.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
OUR THEATRE PARTNERS
Special Thanks to our Season Partners and Sponsors
The Newburger Foundation
and
Park University
Thank you for your support of local community theatre.
To continue your support, so that we can continue to bring you quality productions, please consider making a financial contribution to our organization. Bell Road Barn Players is 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization.