Pump Boys and Dinettes Opens October 26

Amana - Pump Boys And Dinettes, the high-octane and full service musical, takes the stage at the Iowa Theatre Artists Company in Amana from October 26 through November 16. A cast of eight sings and plays numerous musical instruments in this light-hearted and nostalgic show including guitar, bass, piano, banjo, drums and an array of kitchen utensils and pots and pans.

Celebrating its 30th Anniversary, Pump Boys And Dinettes was written and first performed Off-Broadway in 1982 by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann. ITAC fills the stage with a multi-talented cast of singers and musicians from the local area as well as two performers from the Nashville, Tennessee area. Paul Binkley is Music Director and is also singing and playing the role of Jim in the 2012 production at ITAC. ITAC first performed Pump Boys as its debut production in 2008 at the Colony Village Restaurant in Little Amana before moving to its permanent home in the former Barn Restaurant in Amana in the spring of 2009.

Over the past fifteen years, Binkley has served as music director/sound designer for Tennessee Repertory Theatre, Nashville Shakespeare Festival and Coterie Theatre in Kansas City in addition to performing with numerous bands and performers including Alabama, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Red River Boys and at Opryland U.S.A. Joining Binkley on stage is local favorite Lynne Rothrock (Cedar Rapids) as Rhetta Cupp and ITAC newcomer Erin R. Ramsey (Adams, TN) as Prudie Cupp. These two sassy and spirited sisters run the Double Cupp Cafe¢, which is located right next door to the service station where the Pump Boys often contemplate actually working on a car, but would rather sing about work than actually change a tire. The Pump Boys are: Binkley (Nashville, TN), Ron DeWitte (Cedar Rapids), Gilbert Perez (Kalona), Paul Roberts, (Sharon Center) Alex Shockley (South Amana) and Ian Zahren (South Amana).

The performance schedule is as follows: Friday at 7:30 PM (October 26, November 2, 9 and 16), Saturday at 1:30 PM (October 26), Saturday at 7:30 PM (October 27, November 3, 10), Sunday at 1:30 PM (October 28, November 4, 11) and Thursday at 7:30 PM (November 1, 8, 15). This is the first time that ITAC is offering Thursday evening shows. Tickets are $22.50 for Adults and $10 for Students. The 99-seat house offers reserved seating and group rates. Purchase tickets by calling the ITAC box office: (319) 622-3222. ITAC will also travel to Dysart for two fundraising performances for the Garrison and Dysart Lions Clubs. The performances at the Dysart Union Middle School are Saturday, November 17 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, November 18 at 2:00 PM. Information about ITAC and the performance schedule can be found by visiting its website.

Calendar Listing:

What: Pump Boys And Dinettes
By John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel & Jim Wann

When: October 26 – November 16, 2012 (In Amana)
Performance Days/Times in Amana:
Friday & Saturday: 7:30 pm
Sunday: 1:30 pm
Saturday, October 27: 1:30 PM (in addition to evening performance)
Thursday: (Nov. 1, 8 & 15): 7:30 PM
Where: Iowa Theatre Artists Company
4709 220th Trail , Amana Iowa 52203

When: November 17 - 18, 2012 (In Dysart)
Performance Days/Times in Dysart:
Saturday, November 17: 7:30 PM
Sunday, November 18: 1:30 PM
Where: Dysart Union Middle School
505 West Street, Dysart, IA 52224

Ticket Price: $22.50 Adult; $10 Student (Includes College and Grad School)
Group Rates Available
Call: 319-622-3222
Email: itac@southslope.net
Website: www.iowatheatreartists.org