Greenbrier Valley Theatre (GVT), the State Professional Theatre of West Virginia, presents “Pump Boys and Dinettes.” This light-hearted musical runs Sept. 1-3, Sept. 7-10 and Sept. 14-17 at 7:30 p.m. with a Pay-What-You-Can Preview performance Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee performance Sept. 10 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $30 for general admission, $27 for seniors (60+) and $20 for children/students. For tickets or more information, call GVT’s Box Office at 304-645-3838 or visit www.gvtheatre.org.
Pull off the road on Highway 57, order up some spoonbread, some butter beans and corn and top it off with a piece of homemade pie at the Double Cupp Diner. You’ll find some amiable company with the Dinettes and the gas station attendants from across the road as they fill their days with music and humor. This jubilant country western musical is just good ol’ down home fun!
Returning to GVT’s stage is local musician Randy Goodson. He was previously seen as a band member for the 2014 production of “Stand by Your Man: The Tammy Wynette Story,” the 2015 production of “Beehive!” and GVT’s recent production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
“What I like most about working with GVT is getting to work with such great musicians, singers, dancers etc. It’s always an honor to get to be a part of a performance at such a great level of talent,” Goodson said.
The well-known local musician has been playing in and around Greenbrier County for many years. He currently plays in a band with his two brothers, The Goodson Boys, and they’ve been a group for two years. Recently they’ve been seen at the Ronceverte River Festival, The Alderson Strawberry Festival and Mitchems Music Barn, as well as local venues such as The Irish Pub and The Asylum.
While country, gospel and bluegrass are Goodson’s favorite styles to perform, they are hardly the only ones he enjoys. As a musician he has great respect for many different kinds of music and enjoys listening to many different varieties.
Performing in “Pump Boys and Dinettes” will be a new experience for the veteran musician. One aspect that makes the show so entertaining for both the audience and the actors is that the cast is also the band. This will be the first time Goodson is center stage with the rest of the actors.
While the guitarist is nervous about his role, he is excited to return to GVT for his fourth production. Making things a little easier for him is GVT’s music director, and star of the show, Kermit Medsker, who will be there to help him find his groove.
“[Kermit] has a way of expressing what it is he’s looking for. So far it has worked great, it just takes a lot of practice between rehearsals,” Goodson said.
Having seen the show 20 years ago in Branson, MO, Goodson was already familiar with it. Though it has been a while, what he remembers most is what a great time he had. With its country-inspired music and laid-back atmosphere, the production is guaranteed to entertain.
