Art Station's "Pin-up Girls"

By Doc Lawrence

Stone Mountain’s Art Station is one of Georgia’s cultural treasures combining an art gallery, a cabaret and a theatrical company producing for over 35 years challenging plays and entertaining musicals. “The Pin-Up Girls,” created by Jeffrey Lodin and James Hindman features an array of popular music classics inspired by actual letters from American soldiers from World War I onward.

While singing at their local VFW club, Leanne (JoAnna Johnson) and her friends Megan (Meredith Bennett), Joel (Layne MacPherson) and Dana (Katie Patterson), discover a collection of letters going back a hundred years. Inspired by what they read - stories that are funny, loving, and sentimental, the ladies-and Joel-sing some of our most beloved songs and skillfully perform a fast-paced story that honors the men and women who served in these conflicts. 

The stars sing a cavalcade of hits inspired by actual letters from combat soldiers on the front lines and in hospitals. Good-humored, romantic, and poignant, it’s a show that remembers the men and women-all strangers- who fought for our country in far away places.

Clever cameo appearances by “Bob Hope” dropping several very bad jokes have the audience laughing not only at Hope but at ourselves for likely finding these vignette’s funny when they were actually performed before troops far from home at Christmas.

During the show, memories of Garrison Keillor’s masterpiece, “A Prairie Home Companion,” surfaced. Keillor’s team understood what Americana means and honored it with live music performed on stage before a live audience mixing in humor, bad jokes, sound effects and lots of nostalgia. Often poignant and always unafraid of being corny, each show comfortably fit with listeners on public radio.

Likewise, “Pin-Up Girls” is comforting and poignant. 

Patrick Hutchinson’s background music is flawless and zestful.

It runs through August 14 and you don’t want to miss it. Think about bringing along a friend or family member a little younger. American music changed the world for the better, adding the magic combination of rhythm, harmony and words. 

You can even dance to it.

Tickets: ArtStation.org  (770) 469-1105