PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES Makes a Pit Stop at Skylight Music Theatre, Now thru 3/24

Take a seat and place your order for some of Rhetta Cupp's famous apple pie! Skylight Music Theatre kicks it up a notch with the countrified musical Pump Boys and Dinettes tonight, March 8th - March 24th in the Cabot Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center (158 N. Broadway, Milwaukee WI).

Pump Boys and Dinettes is a self titled musical by the performance group "Pump Boys and Dinettes". The show started as a two man act at the Cattleman Steakhouse in NYC, but expanded to a 4 man, 2 woman cast by the time it became a huge hit. The group members wrote, directed and starred in the original 1982 Broadway production. The show also played for many years in Chicago at the Apollo Theatre.

Pump Boys and Dinettes takes place somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, North Carolina where you'll come to a filling station run by L. M. and Jim. Across the blacktop is the Double Cupp Diner, operated by Rhetta and Prudie Cupp. To look at it, you wouldn't know that this little stop on Highway 57 is where all the action is, but trust us - once the boys get that guitar and bass fiddle revved up, you won't want to be anywhere else.

Unique from any other production ever performed at Skylight, the actors double as the musicians by playing guitars, piano, bass and even kitchen utensils!

Skylight's production coincides with the announcement of a Broadway revival set to open later in 2013.

Pump Boys and Dinettes is conceived and written by John Foley, Mark Harwich, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann.

PRODUCTION TEAM: Stage Director & Choreographer- Bill Theisen; Assistant Director - Kelly Turner; Music Director- Richard Carsey; Set Designer - Brandon Ribordy; Costume Designer - Shima Orans; Lighting Designer - Kurt Schnabel; Sound Designer - Gary Ellis; Stage Manager - Kimberly Ann McCann*; and Assistant Stage Manager - Jennifer Anderson

CAST: Jackson - Andrew Crowe*; Jim - Greg Flattery; Eddie - Tommy Hahn; L.M - Paul Helm; Rhetta Cupp - Molly Rhode*; and Prudie Cupp - Samantha Sostarich. *Member of Actors' Equity Association

Andrew Crowe* (Jackson) - Andrew is thrilled to be one of the Pump Boys again. He has been in two previous productions of Pump Boys & Dinettes but has not had a chance to do the show in recent years. He was last seen in Frank McCourt's The Irish And How They Got That Way in Boston, MA. Favorite credits include Shakespeare In The Park's Twelfth Night (NYC), and the National Tours of Sweeney Todd, Cabaret and Stand By Your Man. Regional productions include the Smoke On The Mountain trilogy, Pump Boys & Dinettes, A Christmas Carol, Ring Of Fire and Guys And Dolls. Andrew lives in his RV, rides a unicycle and flies a powered paraglider. He is also a singer-songwriter. You can check out Andrew's original music at www.AndrewCrowe.net

Greg Flattery (Jim) - Greg Flattery is blessed to be making his Skylight debut as Jim in Pump Boys and Dinettes. Greg has been the music director at Messmer High School the last five years directing both band and choir, as well as their fall play the last three years. He hopes his students understand that he misses the classroom, but is so grateful for the opportunity to practice what he preaches and teaches! Recent Milwaukee credits include Gooper in Uprooted Theater's reading of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Doctor in Flu Season with Youngblood Theater. Love to Liz and Colin.

Tommy Hahn (Eddie) - Since 1995, Tommy has performed in a number of Skylight Productions, most recently as Louis/Billy Webster in Sunday in the Park with George, Ewart Dunlop in The Music Man and Roger in RENT. He has also performed with Skylight's education department in the Standard Songbook and Kidswrites programs. Regionally, he has performed with the Milwaukee Rep, Marriott Theatre at Lincolnshire, Northlight Theatre and Madison Opera. Tommy is also the lead singer and bass player in the Shepherd Express award-winning Milwaukee rock band, Revolush.

Paul Helm (L.M.) - Paul is pumped to be back at Skylight! Past Skylight credits include Here's a Howdy Do: The Mischievous World of Gilbert & Sullivan, Gershwin and Friends, The Music Man, Plaid Tidings, The Pirates of Penzance, The Midnight Angel, Patience, South Pacific, The Mikado and Iolanthe. Paul has also performed, directed and music directed with the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, First Stage Children's Theater, Florentine Opera Company, Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, American Folklore Theatre, Greenbrier VAlley Theatre, Circa '21 Dinner Playhouse, and the UW-Platteville Heartland Festival. Recent credits include Miracle on 34th Street, Gutenberg! The Musical!, Packer Fans from Outer Space, Always...Patsy Cline, Seussical, U: Bug: Me!, Laurel and Hardy, Beauty and the Beast, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Elmer Gantry (2012 Grammy award winner). www.paulhelm.net

Molly Rhode* (Rhetta Cupp) - Molly's most recent work at Skylight was as the director of this season's The Sound of Music. She is glad to be back onstage in the Cabot where past roles include Ulla in The Producers and Sally Bowles in Cabaret. Molly has acted on all of Milwaukee's professional stages and has also appeared at theaters in Madison, Spring Green and Door County. She is very proud to make her entire artistic living here in Wisconsin. Molly is married to actor and SuperDad Chase Stoeger. They recently celebrated their daughter Silvia's first birthday. Best year ever.

Samantha Sostarich (Prudie Cupp) - Samantha is a graduate of U.W. Madison, receiving her BA as a Theatre Acting Specialist. She currently works at Kohl's Wild Theater with the Zoological Society of Milwaukee. Previous roles include Kate Monster/Lucy U.S./Ensemble in Avenue Q, Celeste #2/Elaine in Sunday in the Park, Joan in Dames at Sea, Isabel in Pirates of Penzance, Ulla U.S./Usherette in The Producers, Rhoda in White Christmas with Skylight Music Theatre, Fortuna in Fortuna the Time Bender VS. The School Girls of Doom with Milwaukee Opera Theatre, and Miss Nelson U.S. in Miss Nelson is Missing with First Stage Children's Theater. www.samanthasostarich.com

Pump Boys and Dinettes is supported in part by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Skylight Insights are an engaging opportunity to learn more about the production. They are presented before every Wednesday and Sunday performance in the Salon.

The Cabaret is a free post-show performance that takes place in the Bar following every Friday and Saturday evening performance. The current Cabaret is titled the One Stop Opera Shop and features the Milwaukee Opera Theatre.

Performances of Pump Boys and Dinettes will take place tonight, March 8-24, 2013 in the Cabot Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway in the Historic Third Ward of Milwaukee. Tickets are generally $22.50 - $65.50 (plus tax) and can be purchased in person at the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office or by calling (414) 291-7800 Monday - Sunday from noon - 6:00 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.skylightmusictheatre.org. Group, student, senior and other discounts are available.

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