About the Album: The 1980 hit comedy 9 to 5 from 20th Century Fox was Jane Fonda's first outing as both star and producer. Fonda saw herself as Judy Bernly, a meek housewife thrown into the secretarial pool of a massive urban firm. Lily Tomlin was the star s first choice for Violet Newstead, a secretary passed over one too many times by the sexist boss she trained (Dabney Coleman as Mr. Hart). And after hearing a Dolly Parton song on the radio, Fonda hired the vivacious country singer for her first acting role as the sassy secretary Dora Lee Rhodes. All three have been pushed passed their limits by their oppressive boss and first take their frustrations out through fantasy murders...but then find themselves in over their heads as one fantasy accidentally starts to play out. Hart ends up bound and gagged, with his secretaries becoming kidnappers to liberate their office. Few composers were better at playing this kind of cunning mischief than Charles Fox (all you need to hear is his score to Foul Play from two years earlier as proof). But first, the song: Dolly Parton also debuted as a film songwriter, with a soon-to-be classic tune that she d compose on the set. While I was watching the action, I used my acrylic nails for the rhythm to make the sound of a typewriter, Parton recalls. The song became a hit. Fox incorporated the upbeat, bluesy-pop feel of Parton s title song into his score, most notably in the triumphant newfound freedom of The Office Montage. And 9 to 5 s caper music is as suspenseful as it fun. In such cues as Violet Steals the Body and Violet Poisoned the Body, Fox engages in a playfully syncopated chase for horns, strings and a harpsichord as Violet tries to hide the seeming corpse of Mr. Hart. The strings of Ajax Warehouse swirl with dramatic import, while The Intruder stalks with menacing strings, pianos and flutes until the danger is revealed to be an ex husband. Fox s biggest challenge on 9 to 5 was scoring the secretaries murderously madcap fantasies. Judy s Fantasy is a wild percussive chase as she blasts the office apart while hunting down Hart. Dora Lee s Fantasy is a country hoedown for harmonica, guitar and a rollicking orchestra as she lassos Hart and roasts him on a spit. Fox later reprises this hogtying music when Dora Lee hoists her boss to the ceiling in Hart Tries To Escape, even turning his theme into a Fandango for Pillow Fight. But the most hilarious musical revenge accompanies Violet s Fantasy, as the Snow White secretary and her furry animated friends exact decidedly un-Disney-like revenge on Hart. After swinging from jolly brass to fife and drum, the speedy orchestra practically says, That s all folks as Hart is thrown out the window. Charles Fox is a composer greatly underrepresented on compact disc and it is with great pleasure that Intrada gives this score its premiere CD release, featuring the same contents as the original FOX LP, remastered for optimal sound. This release is limited to 3000 copies.
Label: Intrada
Valev Laube Debuts 'Liminal' Streaming Now
by A.A. Cristi
- January 02, 2025
Valev Laube, the celebrated Estonian-American musician, composer, and multimedia producer, has finally released his highly anticipated debut album, Liminal. Now available across all major streaming platforms.
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by Josh Sharpe
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HADESTOWN: LIVE FROM LONDON Limited-Edition Vinyl Out Now
by Chloe Rabinowitz
- December 20, 2024
Hadestown: Live from London – the original London cast album for Tony and Grammy Award-winning “Best Musical” Hadestown – has been released as a limited-edition deluxe gatefold “pop-up” vinyl. Learn more!
Exclusive: Listen to an Excerpt from Cher: The Memoir: Part One
by Team BWW
- December 17, 2024
Lending her voice to the audiobook is none other than Stephanie J. Block, who won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Cher in The Cher Show. BroadwayWorld is very excited to bring you an exclusive excerpt from the book- Chapter 2, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. Listen here!
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by Blair Ingenthron
- December 08, 2024
Spirit of Wagner Award recipient Georgia Shreve has unveiled her holiday album, Spirit of Christmas. Featuring original compositions, timeless classics, and an all-star cast of performers, this collection promises to become an enduring part of the holiday music tradition.
CHRIS, MRS. Musical Studio Album Now Available to Stream
by Josh Sharpe
- December 06, 2024
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WICKED Novel Tops New York Times Bestseller List Amid Movie Mania
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- December 05, 2024
The Wicked movie is not the only Ozian content that consumers are enjoying. As the popularity of the film surges to an all-time high, readers are also flocking to Gregory Maguire's original 1995 novel for which the musical and film are based.
19 Theater Books for Your Winter 2025 Reading List
by Nicole Rosky
- January 11, 2025
From theatre biographies to theatre fiction; theatre books for kids to theater history; check out our collection of 19 new Broadway books for every theatre lover's winter reading list.
STRAIGHT FORWARD Off-Broadway Musical to Release EP
by Chloe Rabinowitz
- November 26, 2024
Straight Forward, a new Off-Broadway musical by Billy Aberle and Chris Sabol, will release an EP. Straight Forward will have its premiere this Spring in New York City. Learn more about the show and the album!
STRAIGHT FORWARD Musical Receives EP Ahead of Off-Broadway Run
by Josh Sharpe
- November 26, 2024
Straight Forward, a new Off-Broadway musical by Billy Aberle and Chris Sabol, has released an EP of 5 songs on November 26. Straight Forward will have its premiere this Spring in New York City. Listen to the new EP here.
Patrick Finegan Releases New Novel TOYS IN BABYLON
by Blair Ingenthron
- November 24, 2024
Patrick Finegan has announced the release of his new novel, Toys in Babylon: A Language App Parody and Whodunnit, a satire and murder mystery. Learn more about the novel here.
WICKED Blu-ray Pre-Orders Now Available Including Limited Edition Giftset
by Josh Sharpe
- November 22, 2024
Newly released listings are previewing the home video release for the Wicked movie, which will arrive in stores in either February or March of 2025. The standard 4K Ultra HD release will include the theatrical version of the film, along with a sing-along edition.
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