Lexington Park, MD – Opening July 6 and running through July 29, 9 to 5 the Musical will be onstage at the Three Notch Theatre located in Lexington Park. Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8 p.m.; Sunday matinees start at 3 p.m. For tickets and for additional information you may contact the Box Office at (301)737-5447, or www.newtowneplayers.org. Reservations are recommended; for musical productions, such as 9 to 5 the Musical, reservations are highly recommended!
Director Michelle Ebert Friere has assembled a stellar cast of Newtowne Players actors to bring the Dolly Parton 2009 musical version of the Dolly Parton 1980 movie 9 to 5 vividly to life. Ms. Friere chronicles a brief history of the women’s movement in her Director’s Program notes. She hopes that the audience will celebrate “…Violet, Doralee, Judy and their co-workers as they make their world a better place…” during the subsequent 2 -hour show and notes that although it’s been “…almost 40 years since the movie was made…we’re still having the same conversations…” – a statement which applies to anyone who’s “…experienced the drudgery of an American workday”.
Michelle graciously welcomed the audience to Family and Friends/Press Night on July 5 and noted that this final invited dress rehearsal would be part of the excitement of “working out the kinks”. A recording then boasted of the newly- installed (and much-appreciated) central AC in the theatre. The audience was then treated to a special guest appearance by Dolly Parton herself, via video.
Music and lyrics of 9 to 5 the Musical are by Dolly Parton, with a book by Patricia Resnick. When the show opened on Broadway in 2009, it received 15 Drama Desk Award nominations for its story of friendship, revenge, romance and ultimately – success.
Lindsey Norris, NTP veteran of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, is effervescent as Judy, the newbie to what seems now to be an antiquated office workspace environment (typewriters, carbon paper, white-out). She is befriended by self-assured NTP veteran Stacey Park (as Violet), who shows her the “ropes” and explains how to get along with the staff. Judy is introduced to Roz (Megan Rankin Herring, who displays a strong mezzo-soprano singing voice and over-the-top histrionics as she reveals her love for the Boss in Act II’s “Heart to Hart”), and to Doralee (sweet-voiced soprano with a heart of gold, and Dolly Parton look-a-like Emily Quade).
Boss Franklin Hart (NTP veteran Greg Rumpf who shows off his vocal abilities in “Here For You”) is madly in love with Doralee. Adjectives which describe him include: sexist, hypocritical, lying and bigot to name just a few (and these are all understatements). Admirably, no one in the audience laughed at Hart’s crude joke: What do you call a woman who loses 95 percent of her intelligence? Divorced.
Tim Joyce brings out subtle nuances, both spoken and sung, to his role as Violet’s earnest would-be boyfriend, Joe; their Act II ballad “Let Love Grow” is one of Act II’s musical highlights.
The intricate workings of the ensemble are a show regarding quick set and costume changes and whimsical fantasy sequences which feature actors in multiple roles – especially so when the plot takes a turn for the worst as Violet comes to the realization that she may have (accidentally) sweetened Mr. Hart’s coffee with rat poison. The ensemble evidences an overwhelming spirit of camaraderie throughout the evening with confident and strong singing.
The three heroines manage to turn the tables on Mr. Hart just in time for the Act I Finale, “Shine Like the Sun,” which features their strong singing voices.
After Intermission, Stacey Park and her back-up chorus get to “strut their stuff” and take their own turns at “shining” as Violet declares she’s “One of the Boys” (all are elegantly costumed; Joanne Fuesel is Costumer). Lindsey Norris gives a strong performance of “Get Out and Stay Out” which she sings defiantly as a final goodbye to her ex-husband.
Judy, Violet and Doralee concoct an improbable plan for keeping Mr. Hart captive, and conveniently out of the way, while they re-vamp and re-organize the entire company which has long-needed an organizational adjustment. Tommy Ray Chedester makes a cameo appearance as Mr. Tinsworthy, the owner of the company. Will he buy the explanations, excuses, and justifications for the company’s increased production (by 20 percent) during Mr. Hart’s “absence”?
You bet: from 9 to 5! The score’s most-beloved song serves as the Finale.
The cast’s multi-talented versatile actors include: Kevin Bongiovanni, Sophie Campbell, Kenneth Faison, Sarah Giese, Trinity Helm, Emily Johnson, Aubrey Joyce, Chris Joyce, Chad Leo, Amanda LePore, Rebecca Masters, Chris Maulden, Sarah Pollard, Madysen Richardson, and Stephanie Taubert.
Members of the Production Crew are: Music Director and Pianist Diane Trautman, Stage Manager Meg Pugh, Choreographer Richard Lepper, Set Designer Victor “Sol” Hensley, Assistant Costumer Kristina Faison, Lighting Designer Tom McCarthy, Set Painter Ruth Collins, and Sound Designer Pete Butt. NTP Artistic Director is Dawn Weber.
Orchestra members are Zach Brickey (Trumpet), Tommy Ray Chedester (Bass), Ed Delmoro and Thom Esposito (Percussion), Paige Marino and Erin Moss (Woodwinds), Hunter Martin (Trombone), and Joe Scrittore (Guitar).
