Header Image: Casey Donovan, Marina Prior, Erin Clare (c) Peter Brew-Bevan
With the clock ticking towards the postponed Sydney season of 9 to 5 the Musical commencing, it is about time we heard about who will be playing whom in the show. The show’s Australian producers have today confirmed whom will be joining the already announced cast members, Caroline O’Connor and Eddie Perfect on stage in lead roles. The trio announced today includes Marina Prior and, reuniting after last performing together during the (amazing) production of We Will Rock You the Musical, Casey Donovan and Erin Clare.
Marina Prior will play Violet Newstead, a smart, sassy and efficient woman who has worked all her life at Consolidated Industries. She has all it takes to run the company but there is one small issue … her boss! Marina gained prominence as Cosette in the Australian premiere of Les Misérables and Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera, and has grown to become one of Australia’s most accomplished leading ladies, playing lead roles in The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, The Secret Garden and countless other productions.
Casey Donovan will be Judy Bernly, a newly separated, never worked before young woman who finds more than just a job at Consolidated Industries. Casey shot to stardom after winning Australian Idol as a 16 year old in 2004, and has since become an audience favourite in concert and in musical theatre. Most recently she played Matron Mama Morton in the smash hit musical Chicago, and has performed in The Flower Children, The Sapphires, Rent and We Will Rock You.
Erin Clare will play Doralee Rhodes, a ‘don’t mess with me’ well-brought-up, bright and beautiful country gal. She may look like a push over but is anything but! Following her first starring role as Scaramouche in The Gordon Frost Organisation’s national tour of We Will Rock You, she has featured in Heathers the Musical, American Psycho, High Fidelity, American Idiot and Merrily We Roll Along.
9 to 5 the Musical, based on the original film by Dolly Parton, tells the story of Doralee, Violet and Judy, three enterprising workmates pushed to the edge by their mean-spirited boss Franklin Hart Jnr. Resorting to wit, comradery and cunning, they dream up a no holds barred scheme to kidnap and turn the tables on their controlling supervisor in the most hilariously defiant of ways. The only question is, will the feisty trio manage to change the office culture to reach their full potential – or will events unravel when the CEO pays an unexpected visit?
The Australian season will commence at the Sydney Capitol Theatre from 16 February 2022, followed by a Brisbane season at the QPAC Lyric Theatre from 22 May 2022.
