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The show “Pump Boys and Dinettes� tells the story of two sisters, Rhetta and Prudie Cupp, who work as waitresses at a Double Cupp diner, and four redneck guys who work at a local gas station down the road from the diner. Both the guys and the sisters sing country-rock ballads about their simple lives amid their working days.

Director Janet Palmer has worked with the Beloit Civic Theatre for about eight years and has loved theater her whole life.

“I’ve had a lot of experiences (in the theater) in a very small town in central Illinois,� Palmer said. “I retired three years ago. I taught music in public schools for 30 years. So, since working in public schools, they pull you in to help with choreography or playing the piano or whatever.�

For the last five years of her teaching career, Palmer taught at Cunningham Intermediate School in Beloit.

She picked “Pump Boys and Dinettesâ€� because itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ one of her favorite shows and says the characters and music are fun.

“ItÃÛèÖÊÓƵ not music that people are going to know, although itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ going to feel very familiar,â€� Palmer said. “Because of the themes, itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ a more country-rock feel, which is familiar to them. ItÃÛèÖÊÓƵ a unique concept because the actors are also the musicians.â€�

Because the characters have to do so much—act, sing and play their instruments—Palmer said the actors need to be solid on their instruments. It was important to find the right cast for that, she said.

For the main character, Jim, the owner of a gas station, Palmer found Jeremiah Fox, a local musician. Fox has been doing theater since he was a child. His first role as a young boy was one of the lollipop boys in “The Wizard of Oz.� This is his first production with the Beloit Civic Theatre, but he has enjoyed it so far, especially with the music in this particular production.

“ItÃÛèÖÊÓƵ a very country-rock feel to the music,â€� Fox said. “The pump boys at the gas station and the diner are right across the street from each other. I’ve got a crush on one of the dinettes and things like that. ThereÃÛèÖÊÓƵ some back and forth between us.â€�

The musical is full speed ahead the whole time for Fox, who said he “pretty much runs the showâ€� and acts as the host. Though itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ an undertaking, he loves the camaraderie he has with the cast and believes they work well together.

Lily Delacruz plays one of the waitresses at the diner, Prudie Cupp. She started in theater in middle school and loved doing the Addams Family show in high school. Delacruz has known Palmer for a while now and remembers her directing her older sister when she was in high school. Palmer convinced her to audition for a part in the production.

“I thought, why not?â€� Delacruz said. “My fiancé is in the show, so that was more of an incentive to try out. I was not familiar with the show at all, but itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ a really good show. I’m having fun with it.â€�

SheÃÛèÖÊÓƵ looking forward to the preshow jitters and excitement one gets right before going on stage. She said she and the cast are really looking forward to performing for an audience again.