Pump Boys and Dinettes: Bo Bice on B'way?

The New York Times reports that Bo Bice, runner up to Carrie Underwood in the fourth season of "American Idol," is to make his Broadway debut leading a six-member ensemble cast of a upcoming revival of the 1980's musical Pump Boys and Dinettes, opening at the Circle in the square Theatre on 08 Apr 2013, following previews form 19 Mar 2013.

The revival of Pump Boys and Dinettes will be directed by Tony Award-winner John Doyle, using the director's trademark of having the cast double as the musical's orchestra - a technique he used to critical acclaim in his productions of 'Sweeney Todd' and 'Company.'

Bice will lead an ensemble that will also star Alexander Gemignani (Sweeney Todd), Erik Hayden (Million Dollar Quartet), Justin Hosek, Jane Pfitsch (Company) and Leenya Rideout (War Horse), who will double as the show's band, playing guitar, piano, bass, fiddle accordion, harmonica, and various kitchen utensils.

Pump Boys and Dinettes tells the story of four men who work at a gas station, and two women waitresses at the "Double Cupp Diner", a dinette, located somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, North Carolina.

The show, which was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Musical, opened Off-Broadway in 1981 and moved to Broadway at the Princess Theater (now demolished) in Feb 1982, running for 573 performances.

Pump Boys and Dinettes' book, music and lyrics were written by the show's original Broadway company: John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann.