Remember when some of us had big hair? And some of us just HAD hair??

So this arrived in the inbox today . . .

It's the original bio pages from our first production of Pump Boys & Dinettes at Civic Theatre in 1989! Look! Some of us had REALLY big hair (Marni, Karen), some of us HAD hair (Kevin), some of us had really dark hair (Joe), and some of us (Reid) look pretty much the same! Haha!

And then there's Steve. Steve was our original LM. Until he had the audacity to leave us and head for the Big Apple for a lame career doing things like conducting Broadway and touring musicals, and ultimately producing and editing for Dan Rather Reports!! (Steve - if you see this and want to send an update - e-mail us at mjl2@att.net.)

Of course, these bio pages also include our dear Bill Hall, who just passed away last year, and Denny Yount who we lost a few years back. We miss them both -- but will always hear their voices in our heads when we rehearse! But anyway, check us out!!! (Just click on the images, and they'll blow up, so even old folks like us can read 'em!)

What do y'all think??

Rhetta

A Brief History . . .

So this was sent to me by my Dinette sister Prudie (Karen). For those who have wondered when and where we've produced this thing in the past, here goes:

Indy’s Own “Pump Boys & Dinettes”
Our History

“All of us have been doing theatre or performing for a very long time,” says cast member Karen Frye Knotts, “but this type of experience has been totally unique. We have become like family and easily fall back into the same crazy routines – onstage and off – every time we get back together. In fact, that’s a large part of the reason we have continued to perform the show again and again over the past eighteen years”

The group first performed together in the Indianapolis premiere of “Pump Boys & Dinettes” at the Indianapolis Civic Theatre in 1989. The production was very well received and the group enjoyed working together so much so that they reunited to mount the production independently at the IRT Cabaret two years later. And so a tradition, or obsession, was born. Although each cast and staff member pursues other professions and performing opportunities, the group has had only one cast member change (for the second performance) and has now performed at nine different venues throughout Indiana and one run in North Carolina.

Civic Theatre, Indianapolis, IN, March 1989
Indiana Repertory Theatre Cabaret, Indianapolis, IN, July 1991
Theatre on the Square, Indianapolis, IN, August 1994
Elks Lodge (BPOE), Frankfort, IN, November 1994
Shawnee Playhouse, Bloomfield, IN, July 2000
Buck Creek Players, Acton, IN, October 2000
Seven Lakes Country Club, West End, NC, July 2003
The Artists’ Studio, Fishers, IN, August 2003
Oaklandon Civic Theatre, Oaklandon, IN, April 2007

Oh - and, of course, Indianapolis Civic Theatre, Indianapolis, IN, August 2009.

Ten productions in 20 years, finishing back where we started. Has a nice symmetry, doesn't it??

Love y'all,

Rhetta

Where's Jackson?

So there's this show called Pump Boys & Dinettes. And we love it. And there's this group of us here in Indianapolis who have done this production a bunch of times, in various locations, since we first performed it at Indianapolis Civic Theatre in 1989. Maybe you've seen us -- maybe you haven't. But it's a great show. And we're really good at it.

Well, anyway, when we last did the show two years ago, we all agreed that we were going back to Civic to try and arrange one final, farewell, reunion, sex, love and rock and roll tour (OK - that last part's an exaggeration), as a 20th anniversary farewell, and then we'd retire.

Well guess what? It's going to happen!!! So save these dates: August 6th, 7th and 8th, 2009, at Indianapolis Civic Theatre, located at Marian College.

So we had our first, official cast meeting tonight, to begin organizing rehearsals, photo shoots, marketing and promotions, etc. And in spite of about 75 e-mails between all of us in the last few weeks, Jackson (aka Kevin Friedly) was a no-show. And while this was somewhat of a disappointment, it also felt a little like going back home. Because if anybody's gonna forget our first meeting, it would be Kevin. We love you, Jackson!!

But have no fear -- we'll wrangle him, and he'll be there in August! He always is.

So anyway, we've started this blog, because no matter how down home we may seem, PB&D09 has embraced the new millenium! So pay attention to this space over the next couple of months, and we'll share funny stories, thoughts, memories, photos, and maybe even a few videos from past productions and rehearsals for our new production!!

So just in case you don't know who we are, here's us:

The Pump Boys:
Jim - Reid Miller
LM - Dave Newman
Jackson - Kevin Friedly
Eddie - Joe Traynor

The Dinettes:
Rhetta Cupp - Marni Lemons
Prudie Cupp - Karen Frye

The Crew:
Props/Stage Manager - Janet "Olga" Sutton
Producer/Sound Design/Tech Director - Michael J. Lasley

And we do this all in memory and honor of our beloved director, Bill Hall, and music director, Denny Yount.

Drop us a line! Send a note! Forward to your friends. But, most of all, come see our show in August!

Love y'all,

Rhetta