Nine to Five bound for Broadway

Country star Dolly Parton has penned songs for a Broadway musical based on the film Nine to Five.

Parton - who received an Oscar nod for the title song - starred in the 1980 film with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

The musical, about three colleagues who plot to turn the tables on their sexist, lying boss, includes Parton's original score as well as 20 new songs.

The show will open on Broadway on 23 April 2009, following a short run in Los Angeles this September.

The musical will star The West Wing's Allison Janney in the Tomlin role, Stephanie J. Block in Fonda's part and Megan Hilty as Parton's sexy executive secretary. Marc Kudisch plays their bigoted boss.

Prayed

Parton, 62, said working on the musical was "the most fun I've ever had as a songwriter".

She added: "When they asked me if I would write the music, I said I would try.

"I don't know that much about Broadway. It's a little bit out of my league. So I went home and I prayed about it.

"[Then] I got into it and I really acted out all the parts. I was glad I was by myself a lot."

Producer Robert Greenblatt, along with original screenplay writer Patricia Resnick, persuaded Parton to work on the stage adaptation.

"Nine to Five is based on a non-musical film that has an amazing piece of music associated with it. It didn't make a lot of sense to get another composer," he said.

Resnick added: "People sometimes ask me how Nine to Five is still relevant - in spite of the fact that when I first did it, the words 'sexual harassment' were not in the lexicon - that phrase didn't exist.

"I think a lot of things haven't changed as much as one would have hoped.

"This isn't a show just for women or about women. It's about the workplace. It's an anti-authority piece. Anyone who's had... an errant boss can relate."

Parton added: "I don't know how good it is. I just hope that it's good.

"I had a great time doing it. They [the production team] all say it's good. But we won't know until the next morning after we open."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
9 to 5 The Musical
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