Daily Pioneer News

The boys whip up homespun philosophies and rousing country-western tunes when their not peddling gasoline in the Heartland Festival performance of "Pump Boys and Dinettes." The show debuts Thursday, June 17 at the UWP Center for the Arts theater.

PLATTEVILLE - A quartet of homegrown mechanics sling gasoline and craft country-western tunes while a pair of cheery waitresses hand out coffee and smiles. It's all a part of a certain Americana along Highway 57 in "Pump Boys and Dinettes."

A Heartland Festival production of the Tony Award-nominated musical will delight audiences at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Center For the Arts theater over the course of 10 performances in June and July.

Under the tutelage of veteran stage director Vivienne Elborne an ensemble cast will bring alive the likes of pump boys Jackson and Eddie and restaurant proprietress Prudie Cupp.

"The characters are so real-so sincere. Their hopes and dreams, that's really what the story is about," Elborne said.

The cast includes Joseph Klienbriel, Paul Helm, Jill Klienbriel, Marcella Rose Sciotto, Mark Brower, Matt Connely and Adam Pakalske, many of whom will also appear in festival performances of "The Odd Couple" and "Annie." The "Pump Boys and Dinettes" musical presents a unique challenge in that, in addition to singing, the actors must play their own instruments.

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

"Pump Boys and Dinettes" was first performed in 1981, after a pair of New York musicians dressed up as gas station attendants to add some spice to their show. After drawing critical praise, the musical moved to Broadway and was nominated for a Tony Award in 1982. "Pump Boys and Dinettes" enjoyed long runs in Chicago and Branson, Mo., in the 1980s and 90s.

"What makes this show so popular is that deep spontaneity and joy of life that we find in shows about ordinary people doing extraordinary things," Elborne said. "We have all traveled along those endless highways and seen small settlements, gas stations and diners miles from anywhere. 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."

For the Heartland Festival production, Paul Helm assists Elborne as music director, Michael O'Brien serves as scenic designer and Jenn Supple Nadeau crafts the cast's attire as costume designer.

"I really enjoy shows like 'Pump Boys and Dinettes,' where a costume should enhance the character, but not become a character unto itself," Nadeau said. "The challenge of this show, for me, has been finding the balance between these figures of the Americana landscape in their not-so-realistic musical setting and their real life counterparts - waitresses whose aprons aren't always spotless and mechanics who might get a bit greasy from time to time."

"Pump Boys and Dinettes" is set to debut 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 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 for those under the age of 18. Show-only tickets are available for these nights as well.