Gina Telaroli
August 25, 2008 | 1:58 pm EST
9 to 5 the Musical had its world premiere in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson theater last week. When I bought my tickets, I had no idea that a) the show would open that night b) Dolly Parton would be there and c) that the set would break and Dolly Parton would give an impromptu mini-concert while we waited for everything to get fixed.
It turned out all were true. And it was amazing.
9 to 5 the musical opened in LA and is headed to Broadway in 2009 with a thrilling cast: are Allison Janney (in the role originated by Lily Tomlin), Megan Hilty (Dolly Parton) and Stephanie J. Block (Jane Fonda). All are joys to watch on stage and bring this film to life in a way I never anticipated.
But beneath the impressive (and technically challenging) sets, slick dancing and gorgeous voices the story of these three fearless ladies still resonates 30 years later.
Despite internet buzz, I am happy to report that Dolly Parton is not dead - at least according to her publicist earlier this morning.
I hope this isn’t like Bernie Mac though and that Dolly keeps on chugging for years to come.. For now, let’s send her good thoughts and watch the opening credits to Nine to Five below:
May Day was first celebrated in the U.S. when, in 1886, 300,000 workers walked off their jobs to demand an eight hour workday.You may not know that because while many countries officially recognize the holiday, and almost all countries celebrate it, the U.S. spends May first celebrating Loyalty Day, and National Day of Prayer. Church State non-separation and blind patriotism are a lot more palatable than workers’ rights, humane working conditions, an eight hour work day and other radical notions.
So I say, viewers of the world, UNITE! Celebrate May Day by watching great movies about the workers’ movement. Here are the top 10 May Day movies.
1. Bread and Roses (2000) directed by Ken Loach and starring Pilar Padilla, Adrien Brody, Elpidia Carrillo, Jack McGee, is the story about an undocumented woman from Mexico who becomes involved in a campaign to unionize the janitors in a sleek Los Angeles high-rise.
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Dolly Parton is mentoring the kids on American Idol and will be on the show Wednesday. But Dolly has been working 9 to 5 on another exciting project: 9 to 5 the Broadway musical for which Dolly has written a score. The play, which will be directed by Joe Mantello of Wicked, is based on the hit 1980 film 9 to 5, starring Dolly, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, which featured Dolly’s hit 9 to 5 song. The classic comedy is hilarious! But, at the same time, the film is serious in its portrayal of sexism, double standards, and pay inequity. In fact, there is even an organization called 9to5, which is dedicated to the rights, raises and respect of working women and works to build a movement of low-wage women to achieve economic justice. Luckily the real life Dolly knows how to deal with sexist jokes: “I’m not offended by dumb blonde jokes because I know that I’m not dumb. I also know I’m not blonde.” And with her own Dolly Parton Enterprises, a $100 million media empire, Dolly doesn’t have to worry about putting money in the pocket of any man. The message is in the music, and the movie, so check them out below.
