A musical based on the 1980s workplace comedy 9 to 5 will get the stage musical treatment next year, featuring a score by one of its original stars: Dolly Parton.
The Center Theatre Group has announced it will premiere the new production in Los Angeles at its Ahmanson Theatre on Sept. 21, 2008, with previews beginning Sept. 3 and the run wrapping up Oct. 19.
Dolly Parton, right, reunited with 9 to 5 co-stars Jane Fonda, left, and Lily Tomlin in 2006, has created the score for a musical based on the comedy.
(Kevin Winter/Getty)
Parton has written the music and lyrics, with the film's original screenwriter Patricia Resnick penning the musical's book.
"9 to 5 was my first movie and it was an amazing experience bringing Doralee Rhodes to life," the country music icon and prolific songwriter said in a statement.
"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."
The musical, based on the film about a trio of female office workers conspiring against a sexist male supervisor, will be directed by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello, who also helmed the Broadway musical hit Wicked.
Actress Allison Janney, whose credits range from TV dramas like The West Wing to movie musicals like Hairspray, will star in the office manager role Lily Tomlin portrayed in the film.
Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty — two actresses who are also alumni from the musical Wicked — will star in the roles originated by Jane Fonda and Parton, respectively.
Marc Kudisch is slated to star as the trio's sexist boss.
The project had been rumoured since 2005 and CTG artistic director Michael Ritchie said in an interview Thursday that "the score sounds great."
He praised the 61-year-old Parton for her understanding of "the Broadway idiom" and described the music as "this great mix between her own personal style and a sort of classic Broadway show."
He also predicted that the show has the potential to make the jump to Broadway following its Los Angeles run.
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