Header Image: West End Cast of 9 to 5 The Musical © Pamela Raith Photography.
Following the show’s Australian premiere season at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney early in 2022, Dolly Parton and producers John Frost for Crossroads Live, Suzanne Jones and Ambassador Theatre Group Productions has confirmed 9 to 5 the Musical will be making its second stop in Brisbane. 9 to 5 the Musical will open in the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s (QPAC) Lyric Theatre from 22 May 2022 for what is described as a “limited season”.
Tickets for the season are due to commence on 26 November 2021, with pre-sales set to run from tomorrow. Tickets will be available from $69.00, and can be purchased via QPAC’s Booking channels or by calling their QTIX Box Office on 136 246.
Adapting the popular feature film to the stage, 9 to 5 the Musical 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?
This musical adaptation features a score crafted by the amazing Dolly Parton, with a book by the movie’s original screenwriter Patricia Resnick. The producers hope that 9 to 5 the Musical features “knock-out songs and high-flying ambitions”, and describe the experience as being “pure gold carat fun!”.
With 9 to 5 the Musical originally slated to have its Australian premiere just before the COVID-19 pandemic, casting is still being confirmed once again. However, we do have a few casting confirmations as of writing. These include:
Caroline O’Connor will play busy-body Roz Keith, the administration assistant who is fiercely – and unrequitedly – in love with her boss Franklin Hart Jnr. Most recently seen in Melbourne Theatre Company’s Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Caroline has played lead roles on Broadway, in the West End, France and across Australia, including Chicago, Anything Goes, West Side Story, On The Town, Man of La Mancha, Bombshells, A Christmas Story and Anastasia to name just a few. Caroline also created the role of tango dancing Nini Legs in the Air in Baz Luhrmann’s Academy Award winning film Moulin Rouge.
Eddie Perfect will play the controlling boss Franklin Hart Jnr. One of Australia’s most respected and prolific writers and performers, Eddie is perhaps best known as all-round nice guy Mick Holland on Channel 10’s hit series Offspring, and has been seen in Kath and Kim, Spicks And Specks and numerous comedy shows including ABC TV’s Stand Up, The Melbourne Comedy Festival Gala and Good News Week. On stage Eddie performed in Keating! The Musical, Misanthropology, The Threepenny Opera and Shane Warne The Musical, which he wrote himself. In 2019, Eddie wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway premiere of Beetlejuice, for which he was nominated for Best Original Score at the 2019 Tony Awards.
