‘9 to 5’ musical comedy coming to local stage
by Richard Lamb–Advance Editor
A play with a familiar title will be performed this week at the Rogers City Theater. Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” will open Friday, under the direction of Karl W. Heidemann.
“This play is based on the movie from 1980. It is about the empowerment of women in the work force, which was very timely then, because women were just getting into management and taking on more supervisory roles,” Heidemann said.
The movie version starred Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin along with Dabney Coleman as their boss. Donna Klein, Theresa Gibson and Lucy DeDecker are playing those roles in the local production while Mike Marx is their boss, Mr. Hart.
The players of the Rogers City Community Theatre present the musical comedy with productions on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. the schedule repeats the weekend of March 7, 8 and 9.
“It is better than the movie because it is a musical. All the music was written by Dolly Parton. It is really a very upbeat, fun show. People are really going to enjoy themselves at this show. It also has a social commentary on the times and in some ways, we still have some of those issues,” Heidemann said.
Parton wrote the play, based on the movie of the same name, which opened in Los Angeles in September 2008 and on Broadway the following spring.
“She really nailed it with the mu
Other members of the cast include (in alphabetical order) Erica Ataman, James DeDecker, Elaine Heidemann, Riconda Lamb, Bethany Lyons, Alison Marx, Dave Miller, Myron Newhouse, Denise Perrault, Ed Perrault, Val Schalk and Bob Starnes IV.
Other crew members are Karen Maher, assistant director; Bill Halsey, sound; Sally Halsey, lighting and Val Schalk, costumes.
Tickets are available at the door or at the Advance office.