The Jefferson College Theatre Department will hold its summer musical, “Pump Boys and Dinettes,” at Hillsboro High School while work continues on a $6.5 million renovation project underway at the college Fine Arts building on its Hillsboro campus.
Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 13-14, and Friday and Saturday, June 20-21, as well as at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 15, and Sunday, June 22, at the high school, 123 Leon Hall Parkway in Hillsboro.
Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for students and those 60 and older. Tickets may be purchased online at jeffcopace.ludus.com or at the door. Tickets may be purchased at the door for cash only.
Rebecca Ellison, Jefferson College communications and theater professor and the show’s director, said she chose “Pump Boys and Dinettes” not only because the musical impressed her, but also because its small cast and streamlined set design fit the department’s needs for staging a production away from its normal home on campus.
“(The musical) was recommended to me by Amanda Boyer, who’s in the play,” Ellison said. “She knew I needed something with a small cast because we wouldn’t have the theater and didn’t know where we’d be performing until the fall, when the work on our building will be done. We also needed a play with a single set.”
“Pump Boys and Dinettes” fit the bill, said Ellison, who is also a member of the cast.
She describes the musical as “a country music revue” with the story told in vignettes and the songs sung by owners of a gas station on Hwy. 57 and by owners of the Double Cupp Diner next door.
“Each song is a little story about everyday life,” Ellison said. “One is about when a guy stands up a girl on a date and she sings ‘Be Good or Be Gone.’ They’re all original songs. Another one is ‘The Night Dolly Parton was Almost Mine.’”
She said the musical should appeal to a wide audience, although it might be a little sophisticated for youngsters.
“I think people will enjoy it,” she said. “I would say, probably, it’s for high school age and older, because kids aren’t going to understand the music. There’s nothing offensive.”
Boyer calls the show a “toe-tappin’ good time.”
“It’s a feel-good show where the coffee’s hot, the music’s hotter and the gas station gossip never stops,” she said. “Don’t miss it, y’all.”
In addition to Ellison of St. Louis and Boyer of Hillsboro, the cast includes Christopher Owens of Fenton, Jeremy Lovier of Cedar Hill, Liv Hartwell of St. Louis and Jill Holtzmann of Arnold.
“The cast is made up of former Jefferson College students and community members (other than Ellison),” she said. “I enjoy working with these actors so very much. They remind me of the joy of just singing and dancing with your friends and putting on one heck of a show.”
Chris Auchly of Festus is the music director and leads the band, John Gilbert of De Soto is the sound technician and Zoey Laburay of De Soto is the lighting technician. In addition to Auchly on piano, the band consists of Hank Schrader of De Soto and Ryan Russell of Hillsboro on guitar; Joe Pappas of Festus and Ethan Smith of De Soto on bass; and Gavin Luther of De Soto on percussion.
For more information, send emails to rellison@jeffco.edu.
The show is part of the college’s PACE (Performing Arts and Cultural Enrichment) series.
“Pump Boys and Dinettes”
Where: Hillsboro High School, 123 Leon Hall Parkway
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 13-14; 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 20-21; 2 p.m. Sunday, June 15; 2 p.m. Sunday, June 22
Cost: $10 for adults and $5 for students and those 60 and older
Tickets: jeffcopace.ludus.com or at the door (cash only)