9 to 5 • Bringing Sardonic Levity to Female Empowerment

The typewriter may be a museum piece nowadays, but corporate nonsense is eternal. When Dolly Parton first strummed her acrylic fingernails to create the iconic clack-clack beat of the 1980 anthem, she wasn't just writing a catchy radio tune—she was scoring a revolution.

In the span of history from the Mad Men era of the 1960s when women working in the office were often treated like decorative objects to be properly displayed at the front desk along with the obligatory well-stocked office bar, throughout the 1970s when the make-up started to coming off and angry women began taking to the streets marching for equal treatment, the film 9 to 5 served as a masterclass in a highly effective brand of feminism: one wrapped in sequins, fueled by bad coffee, and sharped by the levity of sardonic wit.

Starring Parton along with the iconic talents of Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, decades later, the musical adaptation of 9 to 5 continues to prove that beneath the camp, the rhinestones, and the high-energy choreography lies a biting, unapologetic critique of patriarchal power structures.

9 to 5 works so brilliantly because it refuses to take its villains seriously, choosing instead to weaponize levity. Like the film, this musical version follows three office workers who are done putting up with their egotistical boss. It is bright, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt, with a big theme of sisterhood and a simple idea at the core: work feels different when the people around you have your back.

Now Midland Center for the Arts’ Center Stage Theatre is busily preparing their own musical translation of 9 to 5 to kick-off their 2026-27 season with a series of performances running September 18-19 & 25–26 at 7:30 PM and September 20 & 27 at 2 PM

"Every season begins with the promise of new stories, new artists, and new opportunities to bring our community together. 9 to 5 is the perfect way to kick off that journey,” reflects Megan Krause, Managing Director of Center Stage Theatre at Midland Center for the Arts, “It is full of humor, heart, and empowering moments that are just as relevant today as ever. We are thrilled to welcome audiences back for what promises to be an incredible season”.

Directed by the talented Chad William Baker with choreography by Faith Dore, and music direction by Sherri Angelotti, the musical is based on the classic 1980 film, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, and based on the Book by Patricia Resnick.

With a cast featuring Brooke M Gomez as Violet Newstead, Laurel Hammis Johnson as Doralee Rhodes, Erin Whitfield as Judy Bernly, Kyler Syring as Franklin Hart Jr., Melissa Bornemann as Roe Keith, and Nicholas Breen as Josh Newstead, the ensemble features Spencer Beyerlein, Brady Warsaw, Mathew Howe, Bree Bivins, Olivia Delando, Jared Kaufman, Caroline Temple, Rachel Creed, Mathew Small, Steven Cassady Axtell, Alex Woody, Michael Skutt, Hannah Nicklyn, and Abby Provenzano.

Recently The REVIEW had an opportunity to chat with Baker about what drew him to this ambitious production and what he hopes to assemble on the stage for audiences throughout the region and beyond.

“I remember seeing the movie when I was little and think it's one of those movies. that seemed to get played on the TV all the time when I was growing up,” he reflects. “Obviously, I love Dolly Parton and loved the fact she went on to write not only the hit-song in the film, but all the music for this musical version as well. She writes very well for each of the characters, and each of the four or five main characters all get their own musical moments in the show.”

“Dolly also recorded a few of the songs she wrote for this show for herself on an album, not long after the Broadway production closed,” he continues. “She recorded Backwards Barbie, which was a song she wrote for the character of Doralee that she played in the film.”

When asked about the cast for this upcoming production, given that people expect each of the main characters to fit a certain personality type, how does Chad approach working with each of the main actors without typecasting them?

“The play keeps those characters very similar to how they were in the film, so each of the actors in our production fit their characters really well,” states Chad. “Brooke plays Lily Tomlin’s character and is very assertive and outspoken, Erin portrays Jane Fonda’s character who is a little quieter and shyer, and Laurel is definitely very similar to Doralee – she’s very chatty and talkative. Basically, the casting process was a lot about finding people who naturally filled those roles.”

Is there much difference between this musical stage version and the film in terms of additional scenses or changes in the narrative?

“There are three fantasy sequences in the film that get expanded, and each of the main characters have their own musical number in each of the fantasy sequences,” explains Chad. “There’s also a character in the movie named Roz who follows all the rules she has her own fantasy sequence, so her role is somewhat expanded from what it was in the film version.”

“9 to 5 is a story of empowerment, which I think is the reason it’s been so popular even though the film is almost 50-years old at this point,” concludes Chad. “I think that the musical carries themes about friendship and empowerment that are always important messages – the musical just expands upon all of it a little bit more, plus there’s a lot of dancing. I think this is the biggest show involving dance and choreography that I’ve every directed, because there’s so much dancing to go along with the music that fits with the show.”

Ticket Prices for 9 to 5 are: Adults $34 / $28.  Students $28 / $22

Tickets are available by visiting MidlandCenter.org