Overview
Synopsis
9 to 5 is based on the 1980 movie of the same name, and features music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. It centers on the downtrodden working lives of three women, Violet, Judy, and Doralee. They all work at Consolidated Industries, which is presided over by the sexist, lecherous, and pompous, Franklin Hart. Violet has worked at Consolidated for many years, but has never been given the chance to rise above senior supervisor status, although she is capable of much more. Judy is newly separated and joins the company having never worked before. Doralee is a sexy, happily married country girl, but she is ostracized from the other female workers. After Judy has an awful first day, Hart passes Violet over for another promotion, and Doralee finds out that Hart has been telling everyone they are having an affair, the three women unite in their hatred of Hart. Over a joint, they fantasize about how they would kill him. When Violet almost unwittingly poisons Hart the next day, he blackmails the three women, threatening them with the police. Doralee ties Hart up with the phone wires and, feeling empowered, they decide to imprison him in his own house while his wife is away. In Hart’s absence, Violet, Judy, and Doralee run the office to great effect. They introduce childcare, hour-long lunch breaks, rehab programs, and much more to benefit the staff at Consolidated. While Hart is tied up, the women also use the time to gather evidence that Hart has been embezzling from the company, but Hart breaks free and surprises the women at the office. However, his attempts to reveal the truth about his kidnapping are foiled when the Chairman of the Board arrives to praise the company’s increased productivity. The Chairman sends Hart to head up the Bolivia office and promotes Violet to the first female CEO. With Hart gone, the company reprise 9 to 5, in the happy knowledge that times have changed for the better.
Show Information
- Book
- Patricia Resnick
- Music
- Dolly Parton
- Lyrics
- Dolly Parton
- Conceived By
- Patricia Resnick , Colin Higgins
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2008
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Contemporary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- america, consolidated industries, 1970s
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- *9 to 5 - Ensemble
- *Around Here - Violet, Ensemble
- *Here For You - Hart, Male Ensemble
- Here For You (reprise) - Hart
- I Just Might - Judy, Violet, Doralee
- Backwoods Barbie - Doralee, Female Ensemble
- Heart to Hart - Roz, Female Ensemble
- *Dance of Death - Judy, Hart
- *Cowgirl’s Revenge - Doralee, Hart, Ensemble
- *Potion Notion - Violet, Ensemble
- *Joy to the Girls - Ensemble
- Shine Like the Sun - Violet, Judy, Doralee, Ensemble
Act Two
- *One of the Boys - Violet, Joe, Male Ensemble
- 5 to 9 - Roz
- *Change It - Doralee, Violet, Judy, Margaret, Maria, Kathy, Joe
- Love Can Grow - Joe, Violet
- Get Out and Stay Out - Judy
- Nine to Five (reprise) - Ensemble
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher