University Letter

UND's faculty and staff newsletter

‘Pump Boys and Dinettes,’ a UND Theatre Arts production, plays Feb. 27-March 7 at Empire

The University of North Dakota Department of Theatre Arts will present Pump Boys and Dinettes Feb. 27-29 and March 5-6 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 7, at 2 p.m. at the Empire Arts Center, downtown Grand Forks.

“It is more of a jukebox musical,” said UND associate professor and director Emily Cherry. “It is set in 1950s Americana. It’s really fun. It’s more of a concert or compilation of several songs. And each song tells its own story.”

The narrative revolves around three employees at a gas station, Jim, L.M. and Jackson, and the two sisters, Rhetta and Prudie, running the Double Cupp diner across the street.

Along with the actors, some of whom will play their own musical instruments during the play, a band will be on stage, too, to “take part in the action,” said Cherry. In the meantime, five members of the audience will be invited on stage to follow the unfolding story up close.

“There’s some audience interaction and there’s audience seating on stage as well,” said Cherry. “So we hope that it’s just a fun, interactive night of singing and dancing for the community.”

As a central location in town, the Empire should augment the communal feel of the performance, which is put together as a special engagement between UND Theatre and the city’s cultural and theatrical hub.

Cherry hopes that the new arrangement introduces more people to UND thespian pursuits. The setup also offers the student actors, who have been rehearsing at Burtness Theatre on campus, a real-world experience.

“It is not uncommon for professional theatres to rehearse in one area and then to move into the theatre that they’re going to perform in,” she said. “Another added bonus of being in the Empire is giving our students that experience.”

We are pleased to bring this show to downtown Grand Forks with a special engagement at the Empire Arts Center.

The play is by by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel, and Jim Wann.

Tickets are $25 for general admission and $13 for students and military with ID. Military students are free with ID.

Tickets are available at the box office online at burtness.und.edu, or or Burtness Theatre lobby, 3-6 p.m. daily and 3-7:30 p.m. day of show. Call (701) 777-2587.

We would also like to remind you of our new online box office to make your ticket buying easier. Please visit
burtness.und.edu to conveniently purchase your tickets for this show or any of our shows this season. You can also
purchase a season series and enjoy all of our shows at a discounted rate. You can also purchase tickets in person at the box office in the Burtness Lobby or call (701) 777-2587.

Production Information

  • Director: Emily Cherry
  • Asst. Director: Gina Uhlir
  • Music Director: Titus Kautz
  • Choreographer: Chelsea Chimilar
  • Scenic and Lighting Design: Brad Reissig
  • Costume Design: Camilla Morrison
  • Sound Design: Tyler Smith
  • Technical Director: Ree Seminole

Cast

  • Jim: Kyle Maon
  • L.M.: Tanner Sabol
  • Jackson: Drew Lawrence
  • Prudie Cupp: Katie Germain
  • Rhetta Cupp: Veronica Folkedahl
  • Eddie: Titus Kautz

Production Staff

  • Stage Manager: Autumn Horton
  • Asst. Stage Mgrs: Larissa Lumsden, Dylan Merritt
  • Properties: Alexandra Rice
  • Costume Shop Mgr: Amy Sanner
  • Costume Shop Assts: Shelby Hazel, Daniel Jung, Caorly Kelly, Destiny Koskela
  • Wardrobe Supervisor: Daniel Jung
  • Draper: Shelby Hazel
  • Scenic Painter: Kristina Swendseid
  • Scene Shop Assts: Christian Chederquist, Autumn Horton
  • Follow Spot/Stagehands:  Lauren Bushman, Alex Krause, Ingrid Melberg
  • Master Electrician: Autumn Horton
  • Light Board Operator: Todd Belton
  • Sound Board Operator: Tyler Smith, Otto Lieder
  • House Mgr: Randi O’Hotto
  • Box Office Mgr: Gretchen Osweiller
  • Box Office Staff: Alex Bodin, HollyAnn Danielson, Rema Thomas
  • Office Asst.: Chris Schilling
  • Publicity Design: Brad Reissig