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DES MOINES — Tickets are now on sale for “9 to 5: The Musical,” which will kick off the 2010-2011 Willis Broadway Series at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines with eight performances planned for a one-week engagement in October.
“9 to 5: The Musical” marked the Broadway debut of seven-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and musician Dolly Parton as composer and lyricist. The musical was nominated for four 2009 Tony Awards, including Original Score, and received a record breaking 15 Drama Desk nominations, including Outstanding Musical. The new musical comedy, direct from Broadway, is based on the hit movie and features Dolly Parton’s original hit title song along with her new Tony Award and Grammy-nominated score.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better experience on my first Broadway show,” said Dolly Parton. “I’ve had the privilege of working with an amazing group of people who have become like family to me. I can’t wait for this show to hit the road so people across the country can see why I’m so proud of everyone involved.”
“9 to 5: The Musical” is a hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era. The show presents the story of three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company and learn there’s nothing they can’t do — even in a man’s world. Outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic, “9 to 5: The Musical” is about more than teaming up and taking care of business — it’s about getting credit and getting even.
The book is by Patricia Resnick (co-writer of the original screenplay), and the touring production will be directed and choreographed by Tony nominated, Jeff Calhoun.
“I met Dolly Parton as a chorus kid dancing in the film ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ only a few years after ‘9 to 5’ was already a hit movie,” Calhoun said. “It was a thrill to work with her then and an honor and privilege to be entrusted to direct and choreograph this exciting new tour of ‘9 to 5: The Musical.’”
The co–choreographer is Lisa Stevens, scenic design by Ken Foy, costume design by five-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award and Drama Desk Award winner Ken Billington, sound design by Steve Kennedy, orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin, music supervision by Stephen Oremus and casting by Telsey + Company.
Dee Hoty will play the role of Violet. She has earned three Tony nominations for her starring roles in “Footloose,” “The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public” and “The Will Rogers Follies.” Hoty starred on Broadway and in eight major U.S. cities as Donna Sheridan in “Mamma Mia!” Performing on and off-Broadway, she toured the country and has been involved in many pre-Broadway workshops. She has appeared in “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and numerous television and film appearances.
The role of Judy will be played by Mamie Parris, whose Broadway credits include the Tony-Nominated revival of “Ragtime,” “110 In the Shade” and the Tony-winning musical “The Drowsy Chaperone.” She turned the road pink in the first national tour of “Legally Blonde: The Musical,” has sung with the “Radio City Rockettes,” toured with country music icon Kenny Rogers and participated in over a dozen readings with students of the BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.
Joseph Mahowald is the unsuspecting Franklin Hart Jr. Mahowald has appeared on Broadway in title roles in “Jekyll & Hyde,” Javert in “Les Miz” and Chiefton O’Flaherty in “The Pirate Queen.” He has performed off-Broadway and in several national tours, was a soloist with major symphonies around the world and has been on all the NY soaps. Some of his extensive regional credits include being a founding member of the artistic company of Tennessee Repertory and appeared in leading roles in numerous productions.
Comic, actress and cabaret performer Kristine Zbornik has been cast for the role of Roz. Kristine performed on Broadway in “A Catered Affair” and off-Broadway in “Forbidden Broadway,” “Mama Mia!” and “Man of LaMancha.”
“American Idol” finalist Diana DeGarmo has been cast in the role of Doralee Rhodes, made famous by the queen of country music and iconic songwriter, musician, movie star and entrepreneur Dolly Parton. DeGarmo gained overnight fame at age 16 as a runner-up on the third season of television’s No. 1 series “American Idol.” Broadway credits include “Hair,” “Hairspray” and “Brooklyn: The Musical” and starred in the off-Broadway musical “The Toxic Avenger.” DeGarmo was born in Birmingham, AL, raised in Snellville, GA, and currently has a home and resides in Nashville where she continues to co-write and perform in and around the area.
Rounding out the cast is Jane Blass, Patrick Boyd, Paul Castree, Holly Davis, Janet Dickinson Madeleine Doherty, Marjorie Failoni, Gregg Goodbrod, K.J. Hippensteel, Jesse J.P. Johnson, Michelle Marmolejo, April Nixon, Ryah Nixon, Rick Pessagno, Wayne Schroder, Micah Shepard and Travis Waldschmidt.
Showtimes are at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12, 13, 15 and 16, 2 p.m. Oct. 14 and 16 and 1 p.m. Oct. 17. Tickets for "9 to 5: The Musical" range in price from $20 to $66 are available at the Civic Center Ticket Office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge-by-phone at (800) 745-8000 and online at www.civiccenter.org. Groups of 10 or more should call (515) 246-2300.