During her theatrical career, sophomore Hannah Fernandes has gotten her fair share of lead roles, such as Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz.”

But Fernandes does not place prancing down the yellow brick road in the same category as playing an ex-convict named Percy, who decides to start anew in a rural town in Wisconsin.

Fernandez will be playing Percy when the Wichita State School of Performing Arts puts on its musical production of “The Spitfire Grill” starting Thursday.

“This is such a meaty role to play,” Fernandes said. “To have it be my first real lead, it’s amazing.”

The musical (an adaptation of the 1996 film of the same name) can be seen at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Wilner Auditorium, with one last show at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The film, a non-musical drama, was adapted to stage in 2001 with musical numbers. Fernandes said this is an effective way to communicate emotion to the audience.

“Music in musicals is kind of the expression of characters beyond what they can say with just words,” Fernandes said. “There’s just an added emotion that comes from having the music behind it.”

Director Wayne Bryan was initially drawn to “The Spitfire Grill” because of its smaller cast and more down-to-earth plot than other productions. According to Bryan, the story goes to some fairly unhappy, but realistic, places.

“As [Percy’s] past is revealed, it deals with some very mature, contemporary issues,” Bryan said. “So it really deals with social situations that we encounter in real life.”

Bryan said the orchestra contains a violin, a cello, two guitars and an accordion to attain a folksy, bluegrass feel. The idea, he said, is to use the score to tell a more personal, introspective story than in bigger musicals.

“This isn’t that kind of musical at all,” Bryan said. “This is a more reflective, dark, almost melancholy piece, but it has a quality of redemption to it that keeps it from being a downer.”

Senior Emily Monrad, who plays a 70-year-old widow in “Spitfire Grill,” feels the realism of the story will make the show more accessible and appealing to those who normally have little interest in musical theatre.

“It has a purpose and a point to make that is relatable to anyone who comes to the show,” Monrad said. “It’s deep. It’s not surface-level material whatsoever.”

Monrad said she is excited to share the story with the audience because it has had an impact on her as a human being. For Monrad, “The Spitfire Grill” should not turn anyone away because of its occasional melancholia, as it also has a positive message of redemption.

“It’s funny and heartwarming and there are some weighty parts of it, but it’s not like you’re going to be depressed when you leave,” Monrad said. “You’re going to be really happy when you leave the theatre.”