Pump Boys and Dinettes
Encyclopedia
Pump Boys and Dinettes is a musical written by a performance group of the same name. The performance group, "Pump Boys and Dinettes" consists of John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk
, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann. Not only did the members of this group write the musical, they starred in the Broadway production and directed it as well.
The musical premiered on Broadway
on February 4, 1982 at the Princess Theatre and closed on June 18, 1983, after 573 performances. It had premiered at the Chelsea West Side Arts Theatre in 1981, moving to the Colonnades Theatre (Greenwich Village
) in October 1981.
The show opened in London
's West End
at the Piccadilly Theatre
from September 20, 1984 to June 8, 1985 and transferred to the Albery Theatre from June 11, 1985 to September 2, 1985. The production starred, amongst others, Paul Jones, Clodagh Rodgers, Joe Brown and Kiki Dee
.
The musical tells the story of four men who work at a gas station, and two women waitresses at the "Double Cupp Diner", a dinette, located somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, North Carolina
. The music is mostly from the country rock
/pop music
genres. They perform on guitars, piano, bass and kitchen utensils.
The original cast album was released by CBS Records
in the U.S.
Act 1
Act II
Drama Desk Award
Debra Monk
Debra Monk is an American actress, singer, and writer.Monk was born in Middletown, Ohio. She was voted "best personality" by the graduating class at Wheaton High School in Silver Spring, Maryland. She graduated from Frostburg State University in 1963...
, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann. Not only did the members of this group write the musical, they starred in the Broadway production and directed it as well.
The musical premiered on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
on February 4, 1982 at the Princess Theatre and closed on June 18, 1983, after 573 performances. It had premiered at the Chelsea West Side Arts Theatre in 1981, moving to the Colonnades Theatre (Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
) in October 1981.
The show opened in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
at the Piccadilly Theatre
Piccadilly Theatre
The Piccadilly Theatre is a West End theatre located at 16 Denman Street, behind Piccadilly Circus and adjacent to the Regent Palace Hotel, in the City of Westminster, England.-Early years:Built by Bertie Crewe and Edward A...
from September 20, 1984 to June 8, 1985 and transferred to the Albery Theatre from June 11, 1985 to September 2, 1985. The production starred, amongst others, Paul Jones, Clodagh Rodgers, Joe Brown and Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee
Kiki Dee is an English singer with a career spanning more than 40 years....
.
The musical tells the story of four men who work at a gas station, and two women waitresses at the "Double Cupp Diner", a dinette, located somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The music is mostly from the country rock
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
/pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
genres. They perform on guitars, piano, bass and kitchen utensils.
The original cast album was released by CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
in the U.S.
Songs
Lyrics and music by Jim Wann (unless otherwise noted)Act 1
- Highway 57 — Company
- Taking It Slow (Music and Lyrics By John Foley, Mark Hardwick and John Schimmel)— Pump Boys
- Serve Yourself — L. M.
- Menu Song (Music and Lyrics By Cass Morgan and Debra Monk)— Dinettes
- The Best Man — Prudie Cupp
- Fisherman's Prayer — Pump Boys
- Caution: Men Cooking (Music and Lyrics By Cass Morgan, Debra Monk and John Foley) — Pump Boys
- Mamaw — Jim
- Be Good or Be Gone — Rhetta Cupp
- Drinkin' Shoes(Music and Lyrics By Cass Morgan, Debra Monk and Mark Hardwick) — Company
Act II
- Pump Boys — Pump Boys
- Mona — Jackson
- T.N.D.P.W.A.M. — L. M.
- Tips (Music and Lyrics By Cass Morgan and Debra Monk)— Dinettes
- Sister(Music and Lyrics By Cass Morgan)— Dinettes
- Vacation — Company
- No Holds Barred (Music and Lyrics By Cass Morgan)— Company
- Farmer Tan — L. M. and Dinettes
- Highway 57 (Reprise) — Company
- Closing Time — Company
Awards and nominations
Tony AwardTony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
- Best Musical (nominee)
Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
- Outstanding Musical (nominee)
- Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Mark Hardwick) (nominee)
- Outstanding Lyrics (nominee)
- Outstanding Music (nominee)
External links
- Pump Boys and Dinettes at the Internet Off Broadway DatabaseLortel ArchivesThe Lortel Archives, or the Internet Off-Broadway Database is an online database that catalogues theatre productions shown off-Broadway.The archives are named in honor of actress and theatrical producer Lucille Lortel.-See also:...
- History and background
- synopsis at Guide to Musical Theatre
- Pump Boys and Dinettes revived in New York in 2011 by Numero Uno Productions.