Nine to Five Musical to Clock in on Bway in '08-'09?

According to the New York Post's Michael Riedel, a star-studded and successful industry reading was recently held for Dolly Parton's upcoming Broadway musical Nine to Five, based on the 1980 office comedy. 

Riedel writes that Nine to Five - featuring songs by country legend Parton and a book by the film's screenwriter Patricia Resnick - will likely open on Broadway during the 2008-2009 season, with Bob Greenblatt producing. "Theater executives who attended the presentation were impressed with Dolly Parton's upbeat and witty score, which includes the famous title song," states the article.  "The new numbers are 'signature Dolly songs that also work as musical theater songs,' one insider says, adding: 'The show feels like a real Broadway musical.'" 

Directed by Joe Mantello (Blackbird, Assassins, Take Me Out), the reading featured Allison Janney (Hairspray film, "The West Wing") as Violet, the role played by Lily Tomlin in the film, Megan Hilty (Wicked) in the Dolly Parton role of Doralee and Stephanie J. Block (The Pirate Queen, The Boy from Oz) as Judy, the character played by Jane Fonda.  Marc Kudisch (The Witches of Eastwick, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) played Dabney Coleman's role of Franklin M. Hart, Jr., the chauvinist boss whom the three secretaries outwit.  Parton reportedly attended the reading - "singing along with her songs and charming the pants off theater owners."

As previously announced, Resnick and Parton, rather than updating the musical with cell phones and laptops, are keeping it set in 1980. The musical will also feature more romance than did the movie, and secondary characters have been expanded.

Parton is a multi-Grammy Award winner whose songs include "Here You Come Again" and "I Will Always Love You." As a screen actress, she has appeared in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias and Resnick's Straight Talk; she has also contributed songs to such films as Norma Rae, Rhinestone and Pink Cadillac. "Travelin' Thru," which she wrote for Transamerica, received an Academy Award nomination.

No casting has been announced for the Broadway production.

For more information on Parton, visit www.dollymania.net.

Photo of Megan Hilty by Ben Strothmann