THEATRE PREVIEW

JANUARY 2025 | Volume 247

 

Production image

Pump Boys and Dinettes
by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann
First Impressions Theatre
Deep Cove Shaw Theatre, North Vancouver
Feb. 20-Mar. 8
$35/$29
www.firstimpressionstheatre.com or 604-929-9456
 BUY TICKETS

On February 4, 1982, the friendliest, happiest show in town opened on Broadway at the Princess Theatre. There had been nothing like it before and audiences and critics fell in love with its down-home, earthy celebration of friendship and the simple things in life. With songs that celebrated the gifts of friendship, vacations, hard work, fishing, and colour TV, Pump Boys and Dinettes garnered three Tony Award nominations and two Drama Desk Award nominations.

Set in a gas station and diner, the "Double Cupp Diner," on Highway 57 somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, NC, the musical stars four gas station attendants (L.M., Jackson, Jim, and Eddie) played by Kate MacColl, Mark Richardson, Matthew Simmons and Sheldon Graham. They are joined by two waitresses, (Prudie and Rhetta Cupp) Jenaya Barker and Tiffany Bishop, who sing and play all manner of instruments including kitchen utensils.

Born in a Steakhouse in central New York, this high-powered production featuring live music, song, mayhem and great vibes will absolutely knock your socks off!

Pump Boys and Dinettes is directed by Claude Giroux, with music direction by Kate MacColl and choreographed by Kailley Roessler. Featuring wacky musical numbers with genres as varied as swing, rockabilly, jazz, and country, Pump Boys and Dinettes is the catchiest musical you'll see all year.

"A singular mixture of country-pop concert and musical theatre, the exuberant Pump Boys and Dinettes opened off-Broadway at the Westside Arts Theatre, on July 10, 1981, before moving on February 4, 1982, to Broadway's Princess Theatre where capacity audiences and a Tony Award® for Best Musical awaited it. With the talented cast performing and playing its own songs, the musical is a delightful celebration of life by the roadside." ... Masterworks Broadway.

Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30, Saturdays at 2:00pm also.

 

get in touch with vancouverplays:

Vancouverplays: Vancouver's arts and culture website providing theatre news, previews and reviews

vancouverplays

Vancouver's arts and culture website providing theatre news, previews and reviews