Tony Tuesday: 9 TO 5 THE MUSICAL

Besties, the first thing you should do on this Tony Tuesday is stumble to the kitchen and pour yourself a cup of ambition - and then once you’ve yawned and stretched and come to life, you’ll be ready to read our article on 9 to 5!

9 to 5 is adapted from the hugely popular 1980 film of the same name. It has a book by Patricia Resnick, based on the film’s screenplay by Resnick and Colin Higgins, and it features music and lyrics by much-loved country singer and star of the original movie, Dolly Parton.

The story follows three working women who fantasise about getting revenge on their sexist, lying and domineering boss. Soon they get a chance to not only turn their fantasies into reality, but to also enact positive changes in the company they work for and in their own lives. 

9 to 5 opened on Broadway in April 2009 after a Los Angeles tryout. Joe Mantello directed, and the original cast included stage and screen star Allison Janney as Violet, and Broadway favourites Stephanie J Block and Megan Hilty as Judy and Doralee. Marc Kudisch played the egotistical boss Franklin, and Kathy Fitzgerald and Andy Karl were also featured. 

The show received 15 Drama Desk Award nominations - the most for any production in a single year - and four Tony nominations, but came away with just one Drama Desk win for Allison Janney as Outstanding Actress in a Musical. The critical response was mixed and the show closed after just five months.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the end of the working day for 9 to 5. The show embarked on a US National tour during 2010-2011, with Jeff Calhoun taking over as director and making numerous cuts and changes.

9 to 5 then came to the UK, with a tour that began at the Manchester Opera House in October 2012. Jeff Calhoun returned as director, and Jackie Clune, Natalie Casey, Amy Lennox, Ben Richards and Bonnie Langford starred.

A few years later, 9 to 5 received its West End debut at the Savoy Theatre. Opening on 17 February 2019, after previews from 29 January, the West End production featured Amber Davies as Judy, Louise Redknapp as Violet, Natalie McQueen as Doralee and Brian Conley as Franklin. Bonnie Langford reprised her role as Roz. The production was a success, extending twice and only closing due to the pandemic.

After Covid restrictions were lifted, the show set out on a second UK tour on 31 August 2021. Louise Redknapp returned to play Violet for the first part of the tour, with Claire Sweeney taking over the role in 2022. We gave the production a 5 star review, which can be found here.

The UK tour ended in March, but the show is currently playing in Australia, and a new US tour based on the West End production is planned for later this year.

If you haven’t yet been lucky enough to see the show, you can check out the songs by listening to the Broadway or West End cast recordings, both available to stream!

FACTS:

Music and Lyrics: Dolly Parton

Book: Patricia Resnick

Theatre: Marquis Theatre

Run: 7 April - 6 September 2009 (148 performances & 24 previews)

TONYS:

NOMINATED: Best Original Score - Dolly Parton, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical - Allison Janney, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical - Marc Kudisch, Best Choreography - Andy Blankenbuehler

Watch Dolly Parton and the original cast of 9 to 5 perform part of the title song during the opening number of the 2009 Tony Awards: