Clockwise from left, Matt Haluza, David Sandhu, Bob Lewis and Mike Perry sing 'Fisherman's Prayer' during dress rehearsals Wednesday for 'Pump Boys and Dinettes' presented by Pintello Comedy Theater.
David Sandhu, playing the role of Jim, performs during rehearsals Wednesday.
Bob Lewis, playing the role of Jackson, performs with Sandi Lewandowski, left, David Sandhu and Stephanie Pintello during dress rehearsals for 'Pump Boys and Dinettes' presented by Pintello Comedy Theater Wednesday night.
Sandi Lewandowski, as Rhetta Cupp, left, and Pintello perform during rehearsals.
A labor of love unfolds this evening as the Pintello family rolls out its latest comedy, a honky tonk musical set in the deep South.
The Pintello family got their first taste of the theater more than 25 years ago and haven't been able to walk away. After performing in dozens of productions with local community theater groups, the family decided to fly solo and try its hand at comedy. Over the past five years, they have presented 19 comedies and will add a new twist with their 20th: a musical. "Pump Boys and Dinettes" tells the story of the boys from the gas station ad the gals from the diner off dusty Highway 57.
The country-rock music revue will be held at the Gilroy Grange Hall, the home of Pintello Comedy Theater, complete with apple pie and gingham table cloths.
"It really takes a whole family to keep this running," said Whitney Pintello McClelland, director.
McClelland's parents, Rod and Marion Pintello, can usually be found onstage, backstage or making the stage as actors, directors or producers. This year, the couple that began Pintello Comedy Theater stepped down to let their daughter run the show.
"It's all yours babe," the family's patriarch told McClelland when she came up with the idea to put on and direct a musical. He and his wife are mere producers this year, he said.
Rod Pintello's first brush with acting was during a casting call for "Jesus Christ Superstar" at Gavilan College in 1982. He wanted to work on the crew and was confused when he was handed a script.
"No you don't understand," he told the director. "I don't perform."
Despite his protesting, he was cast in the show and fell in love.
Since then, he and his wife have served for 20 years on the South Valley Civic Theater Board of Directors and have added dozens of productions to their resumes.
The family's love for comedy led them to branch out and establish their own brand of theater. Their debut show "Holiday Snap" was accompanied by jittery nerves and pumping adrenaline.
"We were a nervous wreck," Pintello said. He played a drunken lodge manager who couldn't put down the bottle when greeting guests. After chugging glass after glass of cranberry juice and tea on-stage, "I never had to go to the bathroom so bad!" he said.
The surprise ending: "The show was a hit," he said. "More so than we'd ever imagined."
After years of running circles in the theater community, the Pintello family has drawn a loyal following of actors and theater goers. The family doesn't hold auditions for its shows. It holds dinner parties and parts are assigned over glasses of wine, Pintello said. Over the years, 63 actors have contributed to Pintello productions.
"Pump Boys and Dinettes" features timeless tunes and lyrics and originally premiered on Broadway in 1982. Vintage posters and an authentic gumball machine decorate the set and give the filling station and diner a nostalgic twist.
"The show is just dynamite," Pintello said.
While onstage may be where the action is, being behind the scenes holds countless memories for the family.
"I can't tell you how much fun we have back here goofing off," McClelland said as she wandered around backstage. "My brother and I and our parents would always do the shows together. It's rare to find teenagers who wants to hang out with their parents but we loved it."
Hardwood floors and clusters of tables lend a folksy charm to the decor.
"People picture the theater world to be the 'thea-tah world'," McClelland said in a high-faluting accent. "This isn't like that at all. It's not stuffy."
Like cabaret shows, the actors descend from the stage to interact with audience members and may not hesitate to sit on a lap or two, McClelland warned.
The cast list includes a software engineer, a teacher and a sign language interpreter. Everyone has day jobs and does theater because they love it, McClelland said.
"They all have a side to them they don't get to show during their day jobs," she said. "The thing with community theater is that you only do it if you love it."
Sara Suddes Sara Suddes covers education for the Gilroy Dispatch. Reach her at ssuddes@gilroydispatch.com or call (408) 847-7158.
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A family affair
