9 to 5 (musical)
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9 to 5 is a musical based on the 1980 movie Nine to Five. It will feature music and lyrics by seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Dolly Parton and a book by Patricia Resnick. Resnick was also the screenwriter of the original film with Parton's first film role being that of Doralee Rhodes.
The musical is currently scheduled to have its world premiere at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in September 2008. The production will star Allison Janney as Violet Newstead (the Lily Tomlin role), Stephanie J. Block as Judy Bernly (the Jane Fonda role), Megan Hilty as Doralee Rhodes (the Dolly Parton role), and Marc Kudisch as Franklin Hart Jr (the Dabney Coleman role).
Tony Award winner Joe Mantello of Take Me Out, Wicked, Assassins fame, will direct with choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, of London's Desperately Seeking Susan and New York's In the Heights. Scenic design will be by two-time Tony Award winner Scott Pask, lighting design by eight-time Tony Award winners Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer. The costume designer will be announced shortly.
9 to 5 is set to run September 3 - October 19, 2008 with a grand opening set for September 21. The show will be the first production of the theatre's 2008-2009 season. Parton has stated in numerous interviews that plans are for a Spring 2009 Broadway debut.
Parton won an Academy Award nomination for the "9 to 5" single. Her new album, Backwoods Barbie, will be released in February 2008. It has been reported that the title track is a song written for the character of Doralee from Parton's new score for the 9 to 5 musical.
[edit] Development
The most recent draft was tested in a week-long reading process that began on June 20 and culminated with industry presentations on June 28, 2007 in Manhattan. That workshop cast included the previously mentioned cast in their respective roles along with Bebe Neuwirth (Chicago) as Roz and Andy Karl (Legally Blonde) among others.
The first reading of the material occurred on January 19, 2007 (coincidentally Parton's 61st birthday) with a cast including Tracey Ullman, Alice Ripley and Megan Hilty, with Norm Lewis, Marc Kudisch, Amy Hohn and an ensemble.
