Broadway Preview: 9 To 5
Broadway Preview: 9 To 5As regular readers will recall, I've sounded some squeals of delight at the prospect of Dolly Parton writing a musical for the Great White Way. What a way for her to make a living!
As previously noted, her musical stage adaptation of 9 To 5 is a go for September 2008 mounting Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre. But now it's been announced that the tuner will play Broadway's Marquis Theatre beginning March 24, 2009, with an opening slated for April 23.
The cast, of course, will include Stephanie J. Block as Judy Bernly, Allison Janney as Violet Newstead and Megan Hilty as deluxe Dolly doppelgänger Doralee Rhodes. Marc Kudisch will play that evil boss man.
Helmed by Joe Mantello, the musical's book will be provided by the film version's screenwriter, Patricia Resnick. Choreography comes from recent Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler (In The Heights).
Almost in spite of the fact that it's based on a movie, this, my dear friends, is the new musical of the 2008-09 Theatrical Season I'm most anxiously awaiting. I'm placing this squarely in the top three shows I want to see over the next year.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for 9 To 5 Los Angeles tickets.
Related Stories:
Broadway Preview: Mary Stuart (July 15, 2008)
Broadway Preview: The American Plan (July 14, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Shrek The Musical (July 13, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Waiting For Godot (July 12, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Pal Joey (July 11, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Dividing The Estate (July 10, 2008)
Broadway Preview: 13 (July 9, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Speed-The-Plow (July 8, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Billy Elliot - The Musical (July 7, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Godspell (July 6, 2008)
Broadway Preview: All My Sons (July 5, 2008)
Broadway Preview: A Man For All Seasons (July 3, 2008)
Broadway Preview: To Be Or Not To Be (July 2, 2008)
Broadway Preview: The Seagull (July 1, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Equus (June 30, 2008)
Broadway Preview: A Tale Of Two Cities (June 28, 2008)
Broadway Preview: for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf (June 25, 2008)
Broadway Preview: [title of show] (June 24, 2008)
Broadway: What's Next (June 20, 2008)
Workin' 9 2--8 (November 16, 2007)
2009 To 5? (August 29, 2007)
Labels: 9 To 5, Broadway, Dolly Parton, Film, Joe Mantello, Los Angeles, Marc Kudisch, Megan Hilty, Musical, Nine To Five, Stephanie J. Block, Tryout
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, July 16, 2008
4 Comments:
I can't wait for this. I think it will be a big hit, quite honestly. It has a very broad appeal with Dolly, being based on an 80s film AND being a comedy!
Top three, huh? What're the other 2?
Alicia - I couldn't agree with you more.
And the other two shows are Pal Joey and Dividing The Estate.
Part of the movie's appeal was the great cast, and I don't know enough about these three actresses to really judge how they'll do, whether they can create as memorable characters. I'm cautiously optimistic. After being disappointed by Roger Bart in "Young Frankenstein," I'm a little more leery of these screen to stage musicals. I just found him a bit blah compared with Gene Wilder. I don't expect the 9 to 5 actresses to "be" Jane Fonda, Dolly Parton or Lily Tomlin, but I expect them to be distinct and memorable.
Esther, The three actresses are superb. Stephanie J. Block deserves a great vehicle - her performances in The Boy From Oz and The Pirate Queen completely rose high above the material, and soared every bit as much as she did as the touring production of Wicked's first Elphaba.
Similarly, I've enjoyed Megan Hilty as Glinda, and although I've never heard Allison Janney sing, how can you not love the fact that she's assuming Jane Fonda's role? The creative team also has me excited, particularly Andy Blankenbuehler.
So, in a nutshell, I'm very hopeful.
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