When "Wings" opened, it really took off. Yup, it soared. It ... yeah, yeah, enough of the lame flying puns.

Let's just say that it really impressed audiences and critics. The production at the Joseph Papp Public Theater in New York earned a Lucille Lortel Award for outstanding off-Broadway musical. Its version at The Goodman Theatre in Chicago nabbed the Joseph Jefferson Award for best new work/adaptation.

The Spirit of Broadway Theater in Norwich is staging "Wings" starting Wednesday. This musical by Jeffrey Lunden and Arthur Perlman is based on Arthur Kopit's play "Wings."

At the heart of the piece is Emily, a woman with an interpid spirit who used to walk on plane wings. In her later years, she suffers a stroke, leaving her struggling with memory, speech and thoughts. She experiences a slight recovery, then a relapse and faces death, but, as the Spirit of Broadway describes it, “In this musical’s exultant view, however, Emily has merely taken flight once again, the curiosity and bravery that prompted her girlish exploits having seized her anew.”

"Wings" runs through Nov. 25 at Spirit of Broadway, Chestnut St., Norwich. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Wed. and Thurs., 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Tickets are $30, $25 college students, $20 students K-12; (860) 886-2378, spiritofbroadway.org.