9 to 5: The Musical is a musical based on the 1980 film of the same name, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. It features a book by Patricia Resnick, based on the screenplay by Resnick and Colin Higgins. The musical premiered in Los Angeles in September 2008, and opened on Broadway in April 2009. It received 15 Drama Desk Award nominations, the most received by a production in a single year, as well as four Tony Awards nominations. The Broadway production however was short-lived, closing in September 2009. A national tour of the US was launched in 2010, followed by a UK premiere in 2012. It opened in the West End in February 2019 and then launched a UK Tour in 2021.
Production history
Development
A reading of the musical was held on January 19, 2007, with a cast including Tracey Ullman, Allison Janney, Megan Hilty, Stephanie J. Block, Norm Lewis, and Marc Kudisch. A revised draft was tested in a week-long workshop beginning on June 20, 2007, with an industry presentation in New York on June 28, 2007. Additional performers included Bebe Neuwirth and Andy Karl.Jones, Kenneth."A Cup of Ambition: '9 to 5' Musical Takes Next Step in NYC Reading with Neuwirth, Janney, Block" Playbill.com, June 20, 2007
Los Angeles tryout (2008) The musical had a world premiere out-of-town engagement at the Center Theatre Group's Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles beginning previews September 9, 2008. The official opening night took place on September 20, on a run through October 19.Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth."A Cup of Ambition: '9 to 5': The Musical Comes to Life Sept. 9 in Los Angeles" Playbill.com, September 9, 2008 It won two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, for Musical Score (Parton) and for Choreography (Andy Blankenbuehler).Jones, Kenneth. "Parton Gets L.A. Critics Award for '9 to 5'; Friedman, Glover, Louis & Keely Also Win" Playbill.com, March 17, 2009
Following the Los Angeles run, a lawsuit was filed by the estate of Colin Higgins, the film's co-screenwriter and director, against Higgins' former attorney, now representing Resnick, for the musical's failure "to secure Mr. Higgins's stage rights for the musical project," among other issues.Itzkoff, Dave. "'9 to 5' Musical Spawns Lawsuit" The New York Times, January 21, 2009
Broadway (2009) Previews began on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre on April 7, 2009, with an official opening on April 30.Jones, Kenneth. "Hello, Dolly! '9 to 5' Books Broadway's Marquis; Full Casting Announced" Playbill.com, July 15, 2008 Joe Mantello directed, with a cast that featured Allison Janney, Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty, Andy Karl, and Marc Kudisch. A pro-shot was recorded on April 11, 2009. The production closed on September 6, 2009, after 24 previews and 148 regular performances.
US tour (2010–11) The first national tour of the United States began at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville on September 21, 2010. Jeff Calhoun took over as director and choreographer, in the production that featured Dee Hoty, Mamie Parris, Diana DeGarmo and Joseph Mahowald in the lead roles. In preparing the musical for the tour, Calhoun stated that in "believing that a short show is a happy show, we [have] jettisoned a second act song for the character of Mr. Hart, repositioned Roz's song in Act One and tried to make invisible cuts to the book."Jones, Kenneth."Dee Hoty, Mamie Parris and Diana DeGarmo Star in '9 to 5' Tour; Script Revisions Made" Playbill.com, September 21, 2010
The 10-month tour concluded on July 31, 2011, at the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas.
UK tour (2012–2013) The revised 9 to 5 began its first national tour of the United Kingdom at the Manchester Opera House from October 12, 2012.Ambassador Theatre Group Official Website - Dolly Parton's '9 to 5' Tour Page atgtickets.comSTAGE TUBE: Dolly Parton Talks New Musical, '9 to 5' UK Tour and More Broadwayworld.com, March 26, 2012 Headlining the cast were Jackie Clune, Natalie Casey, Amy Lennox, Ben Richards and Bonnie Langford, who was succeeded in the role of Roz by Anita Louise Combe in 2013. Jeff Calhoun returned as director. The tour finished on August 24, 2013, at another run at the Manchester Opera House.
West End (2019–2020)
9 to 5 began previews at the Savoy Theatre in the West End on 29 January 2019, with an official opening night on 17 February. The original announced cast included Amber Davies as Judy Bernly, Louise Redknapp as Violet Newstead, Natalie McQueen as Doralee Rhodes, Brian Conley as Franklin Hart Jr. and Bonnie Langford as Roz Keith.
Shortly before previews began, Redknapp sustained a wrist injury and subsequently was delayed in joining the production. Caroline Sheen instead played Violet during Redknapp's recovery. Redknapp joined the production as Violet on 25 March 2019.
In May 2019, it was announced that the production's limited engagement would become an open-ended run, initially extending bookings until April 2020. McQueen continued as Doralee, while Chelsea Halfpenny succeeded Davies as Judy.
Sheen returned to the production as Violet on 4 July 2019, following Redknapp's departure from the company.
In October 2019, the production was extended again, with performances scheduled to continue until May 2020. On 28 October 2019, Dolly Parton announced that David Hasselhoff would succeed Conley as Franklin Hart Jr., appearing from 2 December 2019 until 8 February 2020.
The production played its final performance on 14 March 2020, closing earlier than scheduled as a result of the shutdown of West End theatres during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
Australia (2022) 9 to 5 was announced to have its Australian premier at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney with previews beginning 19 April 2020. However, due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the production was postponed. The Australian premiere was on 24 February 2022 at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. The production is directed by Jeff Calhoun who also directed and co-choreographed the 2010 re-imagination of the show as well as the 2019 West End production. The cast was originally announced to be Marina Prior as Violet, Caroline O'Connor as Roz, Erin Clare as Doralee, Samantha Dodemaide as Judy, and Eddie Perfect as Franklin Casey Donovan joined as Judy when the show was relaunched in 2021. Following the Sydney season, the show is expected to travel to Brisbane (at the Lyric Theatre, QPAC), Melbourne (at the State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne), and Adelaide (at the Festival Theatre).
UK Tour (2021/2022) After the lifting of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 9 to 5 began the second national tour of the United Kingdom from the Mayflower Theatre Southampton on August 31, 2021. Louise Redknapp reprised her role as Violet for the 2021 leg of the tour, with Claire Sweeney set to take over the role in the 2022 leg. The tour concluded at the Palace Theatre Manchester on March 5, 2022.
US Tour (2022) In March 2022, it was announced that a new US tour, based on the West End and Australian productions, would launch in the fall of that year. Jeff Calhoun would serve as director of the production, with choreography by Lisa Stevens, design by Tom Rogers, lighting design by Howard Hudson, video design by Nina Dunn, and musical supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Mark Crossland.
UK Tour (2026) Landmark Theatres revived the show for a fourth UK tour in 2026, opening at the producer's venue in Peterborough on a 10 venue tour of the UK.
Regional productions The regional theatre premiere was held at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia from February 23 to May 12, 2012.Shows bartertheatre.com Subsequent regional productions took place at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre (March 15-April 28, 2012),Season dutchapple.com Pointe Performing Arts Center in Orlando, Florida (March 30-April 15, 2012), The Music Theatre in Wichita, Kansas (June 22-July 1, 2012),Music Theatre of Wichita mtwichita.org Auburn, New York's Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (June 27-July 18, 2012),Merry-Go-Round Playhouse announces 2012 show lineup auburnpub.com The Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts in Patchogue, NY (July 18-August 4, 2012), Rhode Island's Theatre By The Sea (July 18-August 11, 2012), the Ogunquit Playhouse (September),"Rhode Island's Theatre By the Sea Will Stage How to Succeed..., '9 to 5', 'Sound of Music' in 2012" Playbill.com and Albuquerque's Little Theatre (October 19-November 11, 2012). 3-D Theatricals in Southern California will open a production on February 8, 2013, at Louis E. Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton and March 1, 2013, at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. From June 21–30, 2013, The Wagon Wheel Theatre from June 19–29 wagonwheeltheatre.org, The Grand Opera House in Dubuque will host a production. From July 19 - August 3, 2013, it was presented by Minnetonka Theatre, Minnetonka, MN. On September 2, 2014, 9 to 5 opened at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia. The show closed on October 19, 2014, and featured Dee Hoty as Violet.
Broadway Junior adaptation On October 15, 2025, licensing company Music Theatre International released rights for 9 to 5 JR., a 60-minute adaptation of the musical constructed for younger performers. The show was abridged under the supervision of Timothy Allen McDonald.
Plot
Act I As the clocks ring and the workers wake up, Violet, Doralee, and Judy prepare for work ("9 to 5"). The workers begin another mundane and hellish day at work under Franklin Hart, Jr., President of Consolidated Industries. Judy and Violet meet for the first time and Judy reveals she does not have any work experience, but Violet states she will be proud to train her and gives her a few tips and pointers for surviving office life ("Around Here"). Franklin Hart, Jr., is a domineering and equally lecherous man, who lusts after his secretary, Doralee, and has no shame in making those feelings known, which discomfits Doralee ("Here for You"). Judy is having major issues on her first day (such as being unable to work a Xerox machine) and feels there is something more inhibiting her. All three women, in separate settings, share mutual feelings, but all feel they can overcome it and make it all work out in the end ("I Just Might"). A new day rises upon the begrudged workers of Consolidated and life resumes as normal. Around the lunch hour, Doralee and Judy speak for the first time as Doralee asks Judy to go to lunch with her, but Judy subtly refuses and Doralee doesn't know why. She then reflects on her whole life, about just being a pretty face and nothing much more ("Backwoods Barbie"). Violet is passed over for yet another promotion, which angers her since it is somebody that she personally trained. After a heated confrontation in Hart's office, Doralee finds out about Hart's rumor about their supposed 'affair', which infuriates her to the point of threatening him. All three of the women, who are now seemingly united in their contempt for Hart, go back to Violet's house and light up a joint. Suddenly, each woman lapses into a murderous fantasy involving Mr. Hart; Judy as an unforgiving femme fatale ("The Dance O' Death"), Doralee as a crack rodeo star ("Cowgirl's Revenge"), and Violet as a deranged Snow White ("Potion Notion"). All of these sadistic fantasies soon culminate into a celebration of Hart's death, which is quickly nixed after Hart is discovered alive ("Joy to the Girls").