9 to 5: The Musical to Launch National Tour in Nashville

In a historic move for the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, 9 to 5: The Musical will open its national tour in Nashville in September, 2010, it was announced Wednesday.

With music and lyrics by Tennessee native Dolly Parton, who starred in the film version of the story, 9 to 5: The Musical will close its run on Broadway on September 6.

"We're thrilled," said Kathleen O'Brien, TPAC's president and chief executive office. "We loved the show in New York and Nashville is the perfect place to rehearse and open 9 to 5 before it tours to major cities nationwide.

"We're especially proud to be selected for this honor because Tennessee's own Dolly Parton wrote the score for the musical comedy and TPAC invested in the Broadway production through our membership in the Independent Presenters Network. So, for numerous reasons, we are highly invested in the success of the show. The launch of the tour will be a fun and historic event for Nashville and TPAC audiences as we celebrate our 30^th anniversary in September 2010."

TPAC opened its doors in 1980, the same year the film version of 9 to 5 was released, O'Brien noted.

Just about a year from now, O'Brien explained, the creative team, cast and crew from the first national tour of 9 to 5: The Musical will come to Nashville for severAl Weeks of rehearsal and tech in TPAC's Andrew Jackson Hall. The 2010-2011 season of HCA/Tri-Star Broadway at TPAC will open on September 21, 2010 with eight performances scheduled in Nashville before the show hits the road to cities across the USA.

Parton is the winner of seven Grammy Awards and was named Entertainer of the Year by the Country Music Association in 1977, among a host of other honors. She won widespread acclaim for her first screen role in 9 to 5, holding her own with her co-stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, in the film about spirited office workers who considered themselves "just a step on the bossman's ladder." The title tune from the film, written by Parton, reached the number one spot on the country, pop and adult contemporary charts. For the stage musical, Parton wrote 16 new shows and was actively involved in the show's development, which marked her Broadway debut as composer/lyricist.

"I couldn't have asked for a better experience on my first Broadway show," Parton said. "I've had the privilege of working with an amazing group of people who have become like family to me. I can't wait for this show to hit the road so people across the country can see why I'm so proud of everyone involved.

"And I'm so pleased that we'll be opening the tour in Nashville. Great things happen in Nashville."

"What a way to observe our 30^th anniversary in 2010," O'Brien said. "We're excited to be 'coming full circle' with so many connections to 9 to 5. We look forward to sharing this special, historic milestone with our audiences as we celebrate 30 years of art, entertainment and education together at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.

For more information about 9 to 5: The Musical on Broadway, visit the website at www.9to5themusical.com. Visit TPAC's website at www.tpac.org.

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