Posted on Friday, March 11, 2022
In between Frog Level and Smyrna, Georgia, lies a fictional town on Highway 57, where the “Pump Boys” and the “Dinettes” discuss life and love while singing and dancing to the toe-tapping sounds of country, bluegrass and rockabilly music.
“Work won’t kill you, but worry will” is just one of the many lessons that are woven throughout the musical, according to Director/Choreographer Kim Barber Knoll, Professor of Theatre Arts. She and Dr. Toni Anderson, Musical Director and Professor of Music, have been hard at work with the cast and crew for five weeks.
LaGrange College Theatre will present “Pump Boys and Dinettes” at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Price Theater.
This will be the first show in two years without COVID-related regulations, according to Knoll. She described the show as “jubilant.”
“It is the perfect type of show to bring us back together,” Knoll said. “It is upbeat, heart-warming and funny. Everyone is ready to be back in the theater to have fun.”
The audience will get to enjoy a secret food item, a specialty of the Double Cupp Diner, during the intermission. There will also be a raffle.
The show will feature a wide range of instruments that can be found not only in a music studio, but also a diner or auto shop. The “Pump Boys” and the “Dinettes” will be supported by an onstage band featuring electric bass, keyboard, guitar and percussion.
Erielle Robinson, a senior musical theatre major who plays one of the Cupp sisters, said this musical helped her grow as a performer. “It pushed me outside of my comfort zone,” she said. “It brought out a different side of myself I didn’t know I had.” Some of Robinson’s previous shows included “Antigone” and the 2021 Spring Showcase, “Sing!”
Colby Bell, a senior musical theatre major playing the role of Jim, said he had to push himself as both an actor and a musician when preparing for the show. “You are two different people at the show,” he said. “You get this new kind of respect for the orchestra.” Bell has played the guitar for two years. Fellow cast members Ethan McKie and Tyler Evans also play guitar and upright bass in the band.
Jim’s personality differs among his fishing and auto-shop comrades Jackson and L.M., according to Bell. “He is the leader and takes charge a lot of the times,” he said. “He is charismatic.”
This show will be Bell’s 11th performance. He said he likes the versatility of his roles. “You get so many different chances to be so many different people,” he said.
Some of Bell’s previous shows included “Crazy for You,” “These Shining Lives,” “Urinetown,” “Noises Off,” “A Story to Tell,” “Medea,” “Antigone,” “Sing!,” “The Mousetrap,” and “Tales from the Hill.”
Taking a break from rehearsals, Bell and Robinson auditioned with other singers Thursday at the Southeastern Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida.
Tickets can be reserved online by emailing priceboxoffice@paulytheprayingpup.com. The email must include the performance date and the number of people in the party. The tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. Seating is general admission, and the house will open 20 minutes before curtain. The show is free for faculty, staff and students.
Service Saturday has been moved a week later to Saturday, March 19, from 9 to 11 a.m. Participants will work with Chattahoochee Riverkeeper on a stream restoration project at Park Creek on campus. Register here.
The Sports Management Club is hosting a LaGrange College Night with the College Park Skyhawks on Friday, March 18. Order your tickets to enjoy the game with your Panther friends.
A car wash to benefit the Class of 2022 Giveback Campaign is set for March 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at Mike Patton Auto, 1406 Lafayette Parkway. All donations will go toward funding priority needs for students, like financial aid.
Two LaGrange restaurants will host Spirt Nights to benefit LaGrange College students as part of Philanthropy Celebration Week. Drop into Beacon Brewing Co., 700 Lincoln St., on March 22 between 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. and Chicken Salad Chick, 1509 Lafayette Parkway, March 24 between 4 and 8 p.m. Ten percent of all sales during those times will be donated to the LaGrange College Fund.
Build your leadership skills with LC First Gentleman Mark Huffman (spouse of President Susanna Baxter) as he leads a virtual book discussion of Brené Brown’s book “Dare to Lead” on Wednesday, April 6. Become a more courageous leader through her philosophy of “wholehearted” living and leadership. Register to receive details and login information.
Your weekly @lagrange has a new editor. To submit ideas and events, email Lindy Oller at loller@paulytheprayingpup.com .
Check LC Connect for Virtual CE events and instructions.
THROUGH MARCH 21
Panthers Protecting Children
THROUGH MARCH 25
Young Alumni Lecture: Darius Jordan ’17
TUESDAY
Movie: The Registry, Military Service for Japanese-Americans During WWII
11:30 a.m., Corn Auditorium, Lewis Library
THURSDAY
Movie: Silent Sacrifice – Stories of Japanese-American Incarceration (part one)
12:30 p.m., Corn Auditorium, Lewis Library
Baseball
The Panthers (12-1) swept visiting Eastern Mennonite in a three-game series last weekend. Junior Matt Eden batted .636 in the three games. LC rose to No. 15 in the national rankings. 
Softball
The Panthers (2-7) split a doubleheader with Mississippi University for Women last Sunday. LC won the first game 9-8 after trailing 8-2. Sophomore Lindsey Green had four hits, including the game-winner, in the contest. 
Golf
The Panthers were 15th at the Savannah Invitational in their first tournament of the spring. Senior Jay Adams and sophomore Connor Gillespie tied for team honors with tournament totals of 226.
Beach Volleyball
The Panthers lost 5-0 to visiting Florida Southern on Thursday at the Strack Beach Volleyball Courts.
CALENDAR
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday, March 11
Beach Volleyball vs. Lincoln Memorial, 11 a.m., Strack Beach Volleyball Courts
Beach Volleyball vs. Bob Jones, 1 p.m., Strack Beach Volleyball Courts
Saturday , March 12
Beach Volleyball vs. Lincoln Memorial, 11 a.m., Strack Beach Volleyball Courts
Beach Volleyball vs. Bob Jones, 1 p.m., Strack Beach Volleyball Courts
Baseball at N.C. Wesleyan, 2 p.m., Rocky Mount, N.C.
Men’s Lacrosse at Warren Wilson, 3 p.m., Asheville, N.C.
Sunday, March 13
Baseball at N.C. Wesleyan, 11 a.m./ 2 p.m., Rocky Mount, N.C.
Softball at Emory, 12/2 p.m., Atlanta, Ga.
Wednesday, March 16
Men’s Lacrosse vs. Point, 7 p.m., Panther Field
Softball vs. Wesleyan 4/6 p.m., LC Softball Complex
Pre-Professional Advisement at LaGrange College
If your next stop after graduation is professional school, LC advisors can help guide you to success.
LaGrange city council passes first reading to modify inner-city speed zones – LaGrange Daily News, March 10, 2022
Area high schoolers place in literary competition – LaGrange Daily News, March 8, 2022
No. 21 LaGrange College sweeps doubleheader Saturday – LaGrange Daily News, March 7, 2022
Kiwanis Club serves up 25th annual pancake breakfast – LaGrange Daily News, Marc 7, 2022
Azalea Storytelling Festival celebrates quarter-century mark – LaGrange Daily News, March 7, 2022
Southland defensive lineman John Saye signs with LaGrange College – Americus Time-Recorder, March 4, 2022
Category: Arts and Culture, College
Keywords: theatre
