Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - Veteran stage actor and director Vivienne Elborne has lived in several U.S. cities over the past 20 years, but in May when she left New York and arrived in Platteville, she was reminded of her own native land.

"Parts of it remind me of Wales. I wake up in the morning and hear the birds sing," Elborne said. "I can't remember the last time that happened in the United States. I think I even smelled honeysuckle as I walked down the road."

For the past three weeks Elborne has been in Platteville to supervise rehearsals as guest director of the Heartland Festival production "Pump Boys and Dinettes." The musical is set to premiere at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Center for the Arts June 17.

Elborne draws from her childhood in a rural area as well as her experience traveling the United States in helping make the characters come alive. The musical follows the pursuits of Prudie and Rhetta Cupp, a pair of waitresses who run a roadside restaurant. At the gas station next door, a trio of grease monkeys sells gasoline and spin country-western melodies.

"If you travel along any long stretch of highway in the United States, you will come across one of these gas stations. We move on, and it never occurs to us to think of the people that are there," Elborne said. "This show gives us an opportunity to hear from the people who live and work on Highway 57, to experience their dreams and their relationships and to understand their wonderful homespun philosophy."

A few of the characters remind her of personalities she encountered as a child, and Elborne said audience members will recognize character types from their own lives as well.

"The characters are so real-so sincere. You have to draw in your own life experiences. These are the country people that I grew up with," Elborne said. "Their hopes and dreams, that's really what the story is about."

Elborne made her mark onstage in London, performing at venues like the Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall and Westminster Abbey, in addition to other theaters throughout the United Kingdom. She moved to the United States 20 years ago where she continued her stage career in Texas, playing the titles roles in "Peter Pan," "Cinderella" and "Lettice and Loveage."

Soon thereafter, she began getting more and more involved in the directorial aspects of productions, something she enjoys just as much if not more than acting.

"Being director you get to play all of the roles," she said.

For 12 years Elborne served as artistic director of the San Pedro Playhouse. She has directed concert musicals, revues, holiday shows, operas and choral performances for the San Antonia Symphony, Colorado Springs Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Alabama Symphony, the Lyric Opera of San Antonia, the University of Texas and Texas Public Radio. Among her favorite productions are "Titanic" and "Sweeney Todd."

"I am so excited to have Vivienne in Platteville at the festival. Her

background in performing and directing is nothing short of amazing, and it truly shows in her work with the cast," festival director John Hassig said. "I guarantee that the audience will be blown away by what she and this wonderful cast have created."

With six main characters, there really isn't a lead performer, and the musical encourages audience participation. "Pump Boys and Dinettes" presents an especial challenge for the actors who must play their own instruments in addition to singing. The performers, many of whom will also appear in festival productions of "Annie" and "The Odd Couple," were cast by Hassig and artistic director John McCaslin-Doyle.

"They've come up with a very talented cast. They're multi-talented and multi-faceted people," Elborne said. "The artistic load is heavy, but they've all come prepared. This is a show where there really isn't one star. They all support each other and get their chance to shine."

Elborne has several stage projects being developed in New York, where she will return following the opening weekend of "Pump Boys and Dinettes." The musical is set to debut at the Center for the Arts theater June 17-20. The show will continue with evening performances at 8 p.m. and matinee performances at 2 p.m. on selected dates through July 24. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for UWP students and staff and for those under the age of 18.

For select performances June 19, July 3, July 17 and July 24, the CFA theater will be transformed into a dinner theater featuring catered meals, costumed wait staff and live music. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., preceding the 8 p.m. curtain. Tickets for the dinner theater performances are $22 for adults, $15 for UWP students and staff and for those under the age of 18. Show-only tickets are available for these nights as well.