Cast Announced for Theatre at the Center's PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES

Five Chicago actor-musicians make their Theatre at the Center debut in the musical Pump Boys and Dinettes. Christine Mild as Rhetta Cupp, Shaun Whitley as Jim, Matt Holzfeind as Jackson, Matt Edmonds as L.M. and Cody Siragusa as Eddie are joined by Veronica Garza, who returns to the TATC stage to play Rhetta's sister Prudie Cupp. The director is Brian Russell and William Underwood is Music Director.

Pump Boys and Dinettes opens at Theatre at the Center on September 15 and continues through October 16. Press Opening is Sunday, September 18 at 7:00 p.m.

Set on Highway 57, somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, in the folksy, fun style of Grand Old Opry memories, this countrified musical is a tribute to life along the open road. The story celebrates life's simple pleasures and the value of friendship between four gas station attendants and two waitresses at the Double Cupp Diner. Together, they perform a menu of country and western songs that have received rave reviews beginning with its Broadway debut in 1982 and continuing for many years in Chicago.

Director Brian Russell's credits include Ring of Fire, a successful musical review that opened at TATC in 2014 and moved to Chicago's Mercury Theater in 2015 where it enjoyed a six-month run. Ring of Fire recently completed performances with members of the original cast at the Wyoming Theater Festival. William Underwood is TATC's resident music director. John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann wrote the Book, Lyrics and Music for Pump Boys and Dinettes and starred in the original 1982 hit musical on Broadway.

Christine Mild (Fiddler on the Roof at Paramount and Always: Patsy Cline at Peninsula Players) makes her TATC debut as Rhetta Cupp and Veronica Garza (Ring of Fire at TATC & Mercury and Sideshow at Porchlight Music Theatre) returns to TATC as Prudie Cupp. Shaun Whitley (Million Dollar Quartet at Apollo Theater) plays Jim, Matt Holzfeind (Oklahoma at Paramount and Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson at Bailiwick Chicago) plays Jackson, Matt Edmonds (Rent at Theo Ubique and All-American at Redtwist Theatre) plays L.M. and Cody Siragusa (Buddy:The Buddy Holly Story at Drury Lane) plays Eddie.

The Pump Boys and Dinettes production team includes set design by Angie Miller, costume design by Brenda Winstead, lighting design by Shelley Strasser-Holland, props design by Brittney O'Keefe and sound design by Barry Funderburg. The production manager is Ann Davis with Dennis Galbreath as assistant technical director. Matt McMullen is the stage manager. Richard Friedman is general manager and Linda Fortunato is Theatre at the Center's artistic director.

Founded in 1991, the 410-seat Theatre at the Center is a year round professional theatre at its home: The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. Theatre at the Center is the only professional theater company in Northwest Indiana, offering downtown caliber performances in an accessible venue with plenty of free parking. Theatre at the Center is located off I 80/94, just 35 minutes from downtown Chicago.

Performances are 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; 2:30 p.m. Sundays and select Thursday and Sunday evenings. Individual ticket prices range from $40 - $44. To purchase individual tickets, call the Box Office at 219-836-3255 or Tickets.com at 800-511-1552. Group discounts are available for groups of 11 or more and gift certificates are also available. For more information on Theatre at the Center, visit www.TheatreAtTheCenter.com.

Pictured: Actor Shaun Whitley as "Jim" and actor Christine Mild as "Rhetta Cupp" from Pump Boys and Dinettes at Theatre at the Center in Munster. The popular musical runs September 15 through October 16. © Theatre at the Center, Photo by Michael Brosilow.

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