Terrific New Theatre Goes Country With Musical Revue

Birmingham musician and storyteller Norton Dill, of local favorite The Dill Pickers, headlines TNT's next offering, "Pump Boys and Dinettes." The musical is the fifth production of the theatre's 32nd season and runs April 19 through May 4.

Written by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann, the show features the "Pump Boys" from the local gas station on Highway 57 and the Cupp Sisters, who run the Double Cupp Diner next door. Together they fashion an evening of country-western songs. In Terrific New Theatre's production, the cast plays all the instruments on stage, including guitar, piano, bass, mandolin, ukulele, harmonica and, yes, even kitchen utensils.

In addition to Dill, the production stars TNT newcomers Virginia Barr and Kelli Dodd as the Cupp sisters, while Ken Coe, Joshua Green and Benjamin Kitchens are the "Pump Boys." Green and Kitchens are also making their TNT debuts. Patty McDonald presents TNT's production.

"Pump Boys and Dinettes" was written by a performance group of the same name whose members additionally directed and starred in the original 1982 Broadway production, nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical and for multiple Drama Desk Awards that same year.

TNT Artistic Director Tam DeBolt directs, with musical direction by Norton Dill. Set design is by Kevin Thomas and Greg Patterson with lighting design by Scott Littleton. Neal Hunter Hyde is the stage manager.