Pump Boys and Dinettes
1991 · Sophie Leshin Theater
Pump Boys and Dinettes is a high-spirited country-and-western musical revue set along Highway 57 somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna. The "Pump Boys" tend a roadside filling station while the "Dinettes," sisters Prudy and Rhetta Cup, run the Double Cupp diner next door. There is no plot to speak of — the cast simply plays, sings, and swaps stories straight to the audience, backing themselves on guitars, bass, piano, and an array of kitchen-counter percussion. The show was created by Jim Wann, John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, and John Schimmel.
In the Jacksonville Theatre Guild's 1991 staging at the Sophie Leshin Theater, Ken Bradbury was part of the on-stage band, appearing as L.M. on piano and accordion. The production was directed by Sylvia Burke. Ken counted Pump Boys and Dinettes among his three favorite Jacksonville Theatre Guild shows, alongside playing Ben Franklin in 1776 and Paul in Singing at Seven.
Cast
- Jackson (lead guitar) — Chuck West
- L.M. (piano/accordion) — Ken Bradbury
- Prudy Cup (percussion) — Teresa McCartney
- Rhetta Cup (percussion) — Linda Schneider
- Eddie (bass) — George Westenberger
- Jim (trap set) — Kenton D. Manning
Production Notes
This show began a life-long friendship between Ken and cast member Linda Schneider, who played one of the Dinettes. Schneider had never met Ken before being cast, knowing him only by reputation as a writer of monologues and dialogues for school dramatic contests; she recalled feeling "I'm not worthy," but said he immediately put her at ease. In one number the Dinettes — Teresa McCartney and Schneider — left the stage and worked the audience to get them clapping along. Schneider counted it her most mortifying moment in theater: while cajoling a front-row man who wasn't clapping, he raised his arm to reveal he had no hand.
Production Staff
- Director — Sylvia Burke
- Set Design — Cynthia Fawkes
- Set Construction — Mike Fawkes, Margaret Upton, Jim Burke, David McFadden, Michael Savage, Helen Ronat, Elaine Smith & Gene Fawkes
- Production Coordinator — Judith Beiderbecke
- Stage Manager — Helen Ronat
- Lighting Design — Julie Eisenhauer
- Lighting Technicians — Greg Floyd, Kirby Hobbs & Steve Eisenhauer
- Sound Design — Mary Ring
- Props — Charlotte Cave & Jan Fellhauer
- Programs & Lobby Board — Sean-Edward Hall
- Publicity — Don Atkins
- Marquee — Sylvia Burke
- Tickets — Judy Driver & Sandy Bergschneider
- House — Liz Aldridge
- Promotional Photography — Merle Fox
See the full production record at JTG Memories.