Cast revealed for 'Pump Boys and Dinettes' revival

NEW YORK (AP) — The Broadway revival of the honkey-tonk musical revue "Pump Boys and Dinettes" will have a former Idol in the cast.

Producers on Tuesday revealed the stars of the show set in a highway diner in North Carolina and "American Idol" runner-up Bo Bice will be among them.

Since losing the title to Carrie Underwood in 2005, Bice, 37, released the single "Inside Your Heaven," which went to No. 1 in 2005, followed by his debut CD, "The Real Thing." Two other albums followed: "See the Light" in 2007 and "''Bo Bice 3" in 2010.

The rest of the cast includes Alexander Gemignani ("The People in the Picture"), Erik Hayden ("Million Dollar Quartet"), Justin Hosek (a member of the country band The Ranchhands), Jane Pfitsch ("Company") and Leenya Rideout ("War Horse"). All the actors will also play musical instruments onstage.

The play tells the story of two waitresses at the Double Cupp Diner on Highway 57 in North Carolina and the four men who work at a gas station next door. The songs include "Be Good or Be Gone" and "Tips."

The play was written by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann, all of whom also starred in the original 1981 off-Broadway production. It hit Broadway in 1982 and ran for 573 performances.

The revival will begin March 19 at Circle in the Square Theatre. John Doyle will direct.