Selina Gaines of Flushing stars in Olivet's production of "The Spitfire Grill"

2015 Feb 11

Selina Gaines, a resident of Flushing, stars as Shelby Thorpe in Olivet Nazarene University's upcoming production of "The Spitfire Grill." She is a senior majoring in music at Olivet.

Directed by Jerry Cohagan, professor of theatre at Olivet, this musical theatre production weaves student talent with the compelling story of personal redemption and a folk/bluegrass musical score. Dr. Neal Woodruff, music professor, is the music director. Olivet's School of Music provides the orchestral accompaniment.

Show times are Thursday and Friday, February 26 and 27, 7 p.m.; and Saturday, February 28, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. All shows are at Kresge Auditorium in Larsen Fine Arts Center on Olivet's campus. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students and senior adults over age 65. Tickets and information are available at 815-939-5110.

First a film released in 1996, "The Spitfire Grill" was performed off-Broadway in 2001, just after the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. The musical depicts the journey of a young woman just released from prison and ready to restart her life in Gilead, a rural Wisconsin town that represents a redemptive hideaway.