Dolly's "9 to 5" Broadway-Bound

Dolly Parton photo courtesy of Sugar Hill Records

July 23, 2007 — Last week's hush-hush staged reading of "9 to 5," a musical based on Dolly Parton's popular 1980 movie about three secretaries who stick it to their boss, generated a lot of good buzz, the New York Post reports.

Theater executives who attended the presentation were impressed with Dolly's upbeat and witty score, which includes the famous title song. The new numbers are "signature Dolly songs that also work as musical theater songs," one insider says, adding, "The show feels like a real Broadway musical, not one of those movies where you just shove the songs into the screenplay."

The book for the play is by Dolly's friend Patricia Resnick, who wrote the movie's screenplay. Insiders also praised the three actresses who played the secretaries: "West Wing" alum Allison Janney, scoring big laughs in the Lily Tomlin role; Megan Hilty, doing a first-rate impersonation of Dolly (who's not in the show); and Stephanie J. Block in the Jane Fonda role.

The Post reports that Dolly was present at the reading, standing at the back of the rehearsal hall, singing along with her songs and charming theater owners, who are eager to book a show that looks like a winner.

Dolly has shown herself to be no diva, by the way. Production sources say that when director Joe Mantello lets her know a number doesn't work, Dolly tosses it out and goes right back to the drawing board. "9 to 5" is expected to open on Broadway in the 2008-2009 season.