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About The 9 to 5
The much-loved comedy movie “9 to 5” has been transformed into a new musical that will have its world premiere at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in 2008, it was announced by Michael Ritchie, Artistic Director.
Seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician Dolly Parton has written the music and lyrics for the new musical.
Center Theatre Group will present “9 to 5” in Los Angeles, September 3 through October 19, 2008, as the first production in the Ahmanson’s 2008-2009 season. Opening is set for September 21.
The book for “9 to 5” is by Patricia Resnick, who is the movie’s co-author. Choreography is by Andy Blankenbuehler. Two-time Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello will direct.
Multiple Emmy Award-winner and Tony Award-nominee Allison Janney will star as Violet Newstead, the super efficient office manager who joins her fellow co-workers – the frazzled divorcee Judy Bernly, to be played by Stephanie J. Block, and the sexy executive secretary Doralee Rhodes, played by Megan Hilty, to turn the tables on their boss, the “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot” Franklin Hart Jr., played by two-time Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch.
In a series of farcical events, the women inadvertently remove Hart from the workplace and keep him otherwise engaged. Taking advantage of his absence, they begin instituting a host of new and welcomed office procedures such as flexible hours and day care, but their schemes quickly spin wildly and hilariously out of control.
“9 to 5” features scenic design by two-time Tony Award-winner Scott Pask, lighting design by eight-time Tony Award-winners Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, with a costume designer to be announced shortly.
“‘9 to 5’ was my first movie and it was an amazing experience bringing Doralee Rhodes to life,” said Dolly Parton. “All these years later the story of these three inspiring ladies who stand up against their sadistic boss is still close to my heart. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to write a musical and now I have the chance to not only make Doralee sing, but to bring all of Patricia’s wonderful characters to life on stage through music. I think I’m gonna like it around
here. ”
Parton’s popular single “9 to 5” from the 1980 20th Century Fox motion picture won an Academy Award nomination. Her new album, “Backwoods Barbie,” will be released in February 2008. The title track is a song written for the character of Doralee from Parton’s new score for “9 to 5.”
“9 to 5” is presented by Center Theatre Group by special arrangement with Robert Greenblatt under the auspices of a new program initiated by Michael Ritchie, in which CTG presents original new musicals and large-scale productions through partnerships with Broadway producers. The program recently saw the Broadway transfers of the critically acclaimed presentations of both “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “Curtains.”
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