Downhome Musical PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES Comes to City Theater

Pump Boys And Dinettes a down-home musical full of country fun opens at City Theater in Biddeford March 10th. Welcome to the Double Cupp Diner, way down on Highway 57 between Frog Level and Smyrna, where the pie is fresh, and the waitresses are like the coffee - hot! The boys from the gas station next door play a high-octane blend of country and bluegrass packed with entertaining toe-tappers about life, love, and good times. Come on in and let good American folk music melt your troubles away with a generous serving of great music and foot-stomping fun.

Pump Boys & Dinettes was written by John Foley, Debra Monk, Mark Hardwick, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann as a semi-autobiographical tribute to their experiences as performers working in the food service industry. The group directed and starred in the original Broadway production at the Princess Theatre in 1982, and the show closed after an impressive 573 performances. Pump Boys and Dinettes was nominated for the 1982 Tony Award for Best Musical as well as four Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Music.

The City Theater cast is a talented combination of singers, actors and musicians. The Pump Boys: Kevin Smith (Portland), the music director, will be flexing his singing and acting skills as L.M., the piano playing gas station owner. Joel Crowley (Windham) plays rhythm guitar and L.M.'s partner at the gas station, Jim. Joel has had many standout performances at City Theater including: RENT (Roger), Next To Normal (Gabe), West Side Story (Riff). Jackson, the bass playing third member of the Pump Boys is Jason Phillips (Buxton). You will remember Jason from his performances in HAIR, A Christmas Carol The Musical, Gypsy, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Last Romance and most recently his electrifying performance as the mad doctor in Jekyll and Hyde The Musical. Rounding out the boys who work and play music at the gas station are Joshua Adams (Springbrook, NH) as Eddie on Drums and Brian Callaghan (Portland) as Buck on lead guitar.

The Dinettes: The fun loving Cupp sisters, who run the Double Cupp Diner, are played by Kelsey Franklin (Oxford) as Rhetta and Sara Sturdivant (Haverhill, MA) as Prudie. After a 5-year hiatus Kelsey Franklin has come back to the City Theater Stage. You will remember Kelsey from her memorable performances in HAIR, Swingtime Canteen and The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Sara Sturdivant has a busy life as a musician. Her credits include performances at City Theater: Swingtime Canteen. Port Opera: Don Giovanni and Romeo & Juliet and the alto soloist in Handel's Messiah at Carnegie Hall. She is also the mother to the director's grandson.

Pump Boys & Dinettes will be directed by Linda Sturdivant and Brian McAloon with Mariel Roy as the choreographer. The production team includes Karl Carrigan as the Scenic Designer, Jessica Chaples-Graffam as Scenic Artist, Daniel Broadhead as the Lighting Designer, Barbara Kelly as the Costume Designer, Peter Salsbury as Prop Designer, and Todd Hutchisen as Sound Designer. Greg Brackett will serve as the Stage Manager.

Come sit a spell as the Pump Boys and Dinettes serve up a generous helping of great music and foot-stomping fun. $20, March 10- 26 Fri & Sat at 7:30 Sun at 2:00 (No performance Sun. March 12.) 207-282-0849 or www.citytheater.org for tickets.

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