In
The Spitfire Grill, opening Oct. 5 at Farmers Alley Theatre in downtown Kalamazoo, a young woman named Percy is released from prison and takes a job working at a small town eatery. Due to health and financial troubles for Hannah, the restaurant’s owner, Percy is forced to seek creative ways to raise money.
In doing so, Percy comes up with an idea to raffle off the diner through an essay contest. Each entrant is asked to submit $100 and a letter to the grill explaining why they should be named the new owner.
Well, Farmers Ally isn’t having financial troubles, and its ownership team of Rob Weiner, Adam Weiner and Jeremy and Denene Koch are not ailing in any way, but the foursome has nonetheless devised a Spitfire-esque essay contest to drum-up buzz for both the season's opening show and the theater in general.
"We thought we would have life imitate art and have an essay contest for our audience to think about why the arts are important," says Jeremy Koch, artistic director.
Entrants are asked to submit an essay of 250 words or less explaining why and how the arts have affected their lives and enriched their communities.
The winning essay will win its creator a season pass for the remainder of the 2012-2013 season as well as dinner for two at Mangia Mangia.
Essays will be accepted through Oct. 21, the final showing of "Spitfire" and can be submitted via email
here or mailed to 221 Farmers Alley, Kalamazoo, MI 49007.
"From a producer standpoint it also helps create a little bit more of a buzz," Jeremy Koch says. "We’re trying to think outside the box."
The rest of the Farmers Alley season includes
My Way, The Whipping Man, The 39 Steps, Next to Normal and
Life Could Be A Dream--all of which will be performed inside the box, the black box that is.
Writer: Jeremy Martin, Second Wave Media
Source: Jeremy Koch, Farmers Alley Theatre
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