I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: May 3, 2026] 9 to 5

This was our third musical performance at Rider University (exactly one year since the previous one).  Their theater program is fantastic and this entire performance was great.

The singers have great voices.  The actors have excellent timing.

Many of these performers have gone onto Broadway in varying roles.  And it really shows.

We have said of these shows that I’m sure there would be a difference between seeing this show on Broadway as opposed to a college.  Bigger budget, bigger stars, for instance.  But it would be hard to improve on the quality of the performances.

9 to 5 The Musical, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, is based on the seminal 1980 hit movie. Set in the late 1970s. this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic.

Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy – giving their boss the boot! While Hart remains “otherwise engaged,” the women give their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that had always kept them down. Hey, a girl can scheme, can’t she?

The show was really funny.  Based on the movie but with extra songs.  A few parts dragged a bit, but I blame that on the book, not the performers.  In fact, everyone was great.  I felt bad for the boy playing Mr. Hart because he’s really a terrible person.  The biggest surprise for me (but clearly not for those in the know) is that a video clip of Dolly herself opened and closed the show.  It was a fun way to bring us into and out of the make believe world.

I wanted to include the cast here in case we wind up seeing anyone on Broadway some day

FINN ALEXANDER, FRANKLIN HART JR., (he/him) is a sophomore Musical Theatre
major. Select credits include Taub’s Twelfth Night (Sir Toby Belch; Rider University),
Mary Poppins (George Banks; Summer Stock Austin), The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals
(Professor Hidgens; Rider Student Theatre Company), Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon
Zealotes; Summer Stock Austin), and Please, I’m A Star (Teacher; Rider Student Theatre
Company).
JULIA ALMENDRA, ROZ KEITH/MARIA UNDERSTUDY, (They/Them) is a junior
Musical Theatre major. Select credits include: Twelfth Night (Illyrian Officiant; Rider
University), Nell Gwynn (Arlington Understudy & Ensemble Understudy; Rider
University), MOSAIC: A BIPOC Cabaret (Rider Student Theatre Company), The Six
Degrees of Sierra Boggess (Rider Student Theatre Company), CATS (Mr. Mistoffelees
Understudy; Georgetown Palace).
NICHOLAS AMMON, JOE/SWING, (he/him), is a sophomore Musical Theatre Major.
Rider credits: Taub’s Twelfth Night (Second Officer, Sebastian Understudy) and Myths
and Hymns (singer/dancer). Select Credits include: 9 to 5 (Josh Newstead; Fulton
Theatre), Grease (Teen Ensemble; Fulton Theatre), Pulling Heartstrings Cabaret (Featured
Performer; 54 Below), and Oh Em Gee They Sang That On Glee (Director, Featured
Performer; 54 Below). Select Technical Credits include: Rent (Assistant Stage Manager)
and Nice Work If You Can Get It (Stage Manager).
ADAM ANDREWS, ENSEMBLE, is a senior BFA in Musical Theatre Major. Regional
Credits: Cats (Mungojerrie), Footloose (Cowboy Bob/Coach/Teen Ensemble), A Year
With Frog and Toad (Frog). Rider Mainstage Credits: Nice Work If You Can Get It(
Slim/Vice Squad), Into The Woods (Mysterious Man), Rent (Ensemble), Anything Goes
(Sailor Swing), Radium Girls (Actor 8 & 9 Understudy). RSTC Credits: The 25th Annual
Putnam County Spelling Bee (Swing), Carrie (Swing).
JULIANNA BELBOL, MARGARET UNDERSTUDY, (she/her), is a Junior Musical
Theatre Major. Rider Student Theatre Company credits include: Detox: The Art of
Release directed by Theo Yu, Our New World: A Green Cabaret for a Sustainable Future
directed by Juliette Maners and Bailey Poe, The Minor Feelings of a Minor Character
(Person 2) directed by Aileen Pujols, Inside The Spitz Cabaret directed by Sean
McDonald, and PLEASE, I’m a Star! (Swing for Student #1, #5, #9, #12, and #13)
directed by Bianca D’anton. Rider Main Stage technical credits include: Into the Woods
(Stage Manager) and A Doll’s House (Assistant Stage Manager).
JULIETTE BELKE, ENSEMBLE, is a junior Musical Theatre major with a minor in
Theatre Design and Technology. Rider Main Stage Credits include: Into the Woods
(Rapunzel Understudy), Rider Fall Student Dance Concert (Lighting Designer), From Up
Here (Assistant Lighting Designer), and The Fire (Assistant Lighting Designer).
BROOKE BIRBILIS, VIOLET NEWSTEAD/PRODUCTION DOCUMENTARIAN, is a
senior Musical Theatre Major. Rider Mainstage credits include: Nice Work If You Can Get
It (Olive), Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife Understudy), and Anything Goes (Swing). Past
credits include: Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Ariel, Broadway Theatre of Pitman), Little
Women (Jo March, Levoy Theatre), Cats! (Cassandra/Bombalurina Understudy), and
Oklahoma! (Ado Annie, Eagle Theatre). brookebirbilis.com
ARICK BROOKS, ENSEMBLE/DANCE CAPTAIN/JOSH NEWSTEAD UNDERSTUDY,
(he/him) is a sophomore Musical Theatre Major. Rider Main Stage credits include:
Twelfth Night (Swing) Select Credits include: Newsies (Elmer; Music Theatre Wichita),
The Addams Family (Lucas; Clinton Area Showboat Theatre), Issachar (Joseph; Clinton
Area Showboat Theatre).
LUCAS BROWN, DWAYNE/POLICEMAN/ENSEMBLE, (he/him/his) is a Sophomore
Musical Theater major. Rider MainStage credits include: Myths and Hymns (Cover).
Romeo and Juliet (Tybalt). Other credits include: Spring Awakening (Melchior Gabor;
Inside Out Theater Company). The National High School Musical Theater Awards
(Nominee; Jimmy Awards 2023 & 2024).
JOAQUIN COTA LEVIN, ENSEMBLE, is a sophomore musical theatre major. Rider
Mainstage Credits Include: Taub’s Twelfth Night.
SAM CORRY, DICK/DWAYNE UNDERSTUDY, (he/him) is a sophomore Musical
Theatre major making his Rider Main Stage debut. Stage credits include: Seussical
(Wickersham), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Mr. Bratt, Understudy
Bud Frump), Falsettos (Whizzer). Rider Student Theatre Company credits include: 13
the Musical (Evan Understudy).
OWEN CREAMER, DICK/DETECTIVE/FRANKLIN HART JR. UNDERSTUDY,
(He/Him), is a sophomore Musical Theatre major. Rider Student Theatre Company
credits include: Today I will Be Singing Cabret.
LEAH ROSE CROSSAN, DORALEE RHODES, is a junior Musical Theatre major. She
has previously played this role in a production with the West Deptford Center Stage
Players. Her Rider Mainstage and Westminster Opera Theatre credits include: Xavier
Montsalvatge’s El Gato Con Botas (El Gato + Hair/Makeup Designer), Nice Work If You
Can Get It (Duchess Understudy), and Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (Ida).
ALEXA FILLALAN, MARIA/ENSEMBLE, (she/her) is a Junior Musical Theatre major.
Rider Main Stage credits include RENT (Mimi Understudy). Professional credits include
RENT (Ensemble, Joanne Understudy).
KYLAH FRAZIER, KATHY/ENSEMBLE, (She/Her) is a sophomore musical theatre
major. Her Rider main stage credits now include 9 to 5. Rider Student Theatre
Company credits include: Today I will be singing! (Cabaret Soloist). She recently produced
her own cabaret at 54 Below, Pulling heartstrings and performed in another 54 Below
cabaret, Oh Em Gee: They sang this on glee.
KAT GEDMIN, FEMALE SWING/DANCE CAPTAIN/ASSISTANT COSTUME
DESIGNER, is a sophomore musical theatre major. Rider Mainstage credits include:
Romeo & Juliet (Understudy Nurse). Other credits include Fresh Fruit Fellows: The First
(Kat Understudy/Assassin Understudy and Pope Pius Understudy/Shakespeare
Understudy/Sir Francis Drake Understudy) and Interlochen Arts Academy: Cats
(Jennyanydots).
ANGELIS GONZALEZ, MARGARET/ENSEMBLE/VIOLET NEWSTEAD
UNDERSTUDY/DRAMATURG (they/them), is a senior Musical Theatre major. Rider
Mainstage credits include: Nice Work If You Can Get It (Assistant Director) and Rent
(Alexi Darling/Maureen Understudy).
STERLING HART, TINSWORTHY/DOCTOR/ENSEMBLE is a senior musical theater
major. Rider Main Stage credits include: Rent (Mr. Grey/Santa/Cop/Priest), Nice Work If
You Can Get It (Swing). Rider Student Theatre Company Credits include: Coffee Hour
(Taylor) and Roots and Doots (Jason).
JULIAN HEBERT, JOE, (he/him) is a sophomore Musical Theatre major. Rider credits
include: Curtain Up: Anticipation.
EMILY TAYLOR KAUFMAN, ROZ KEITH, (She/her) is a senior Musical Theatre Major.
Select credits include: Into the Woods (Little Red Understudy; Rider University), Legally
Blonde (Ensemble; Broadway Theatre of Pitman), Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of
1812 (Ensemble; Rider University), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
(Swing; RSTC). @emilytaylorkaufman
TREVOR MCCUTCHEN, BOB ENRIGHT/ENSEMBLE (Bob Enright) (He/Him) is a
sophomore Musical Theatre Major making his Rider Mainstage debut. Professional
credits include: A Cinderella Christmas (Dancer; Laguna Playhouse). Rider Student
Theatre Company credits include: 13 The Musical (Choreographer), Please I’m A Star
(Male Swing), and The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals (Paul Understudy, Sam Understudy).
JOEY MEJIA, INTERN/ENSEMBLE, (he/him), is a sophomore Musical Theatre major.
Select credits include: El Gato Con Botas (Understudy Ogre), Bright Star (Theatre West
Nebraska), and Orin Scrivello (Inside Out Theatre Company)
LEAH MILLER, MISSY HART/ENSEMBLE, (She/Her), is a junior Musical Theatre
Major with a minor in Marketing. Rider Main Stage credits include: El Gato Con Botas
(Choreographer/Dancer). Rider Student Theatre Company credits include: Ride The
Cyclone (Dance Captain/Ensemble) and Steel Magnolias (Truvy).
PRESLEY ANN MUIRHEAD, CANDY STRIPER/ENSEMBLE, is a junior musical theatre
major. Rider Main Stage debut! Select professional credits include Cats (Tantomile,
Broadway Theatre of Pitman), Legally Blonde (DA Joyce Riley, Broadway Theatre of
Pitman), Grease (Swing, Summer Stock Austin), and The Wizard of Oz (Tree, Summer
Stock Austin).
CLAIRE-ELIZABETH PATTERSON, NEW EMPLOYEE/ SWING, (she, her) is a current
Junior Musical Theatre major. Professional Theatre Credits include: Les Misérables
(Cosette), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Olive), Bring It On (Skylar), Into the
Woods (Little Red), Shrek the Musical (Gingy),The Sound of Music (Ensemble, Liesl
Understudy), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Ensemble, Mersisters Understudy), and
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (Ensemble, Swing).
ERIC PAYTON, ENSEMBLE, is a sophomore Musical Theatre major at Rider University.
Recent credits include: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barfée), Anastasia
(Vladimir Popov), and Taub’s Twelfth Night (Swing, Antonio Understudy).
@ericcpayton
FIONA SWANN, JUDY BERNLY, (she/her) is a senior Musical Theatre major and
minor in Filmmaking for Actors. She is the Vice President of the Rider Student Theatre
Company (RSTC). Rider Main Stage credits include: Into The Woods (Cinderella’s
Stepmother), Romeo & Juliet (Assistant Director). RSTC credits include: Hamlet
(Director), The Importance of Being Earnest (Miss Prism), Romeo & Juliet (Lady Capulet),
Emotional Women (Jeb/Hutton Understudy), Our New World: A Green Cabaret (Vocalist)
AHNNA TATE, DORALEE RHODES UNDERSTUDY, is a junior Musical Theatre
major. Select theatre credits include: Legally Blonde (Elle Woods), Grease (Sandy
Dumbrowski), The Play That Goes Wrong (Sandra), Into The Woods (Rapunzel), and more.
This production is Ahnna’s Rider Mainstage debut.
RICHARD JAMES VANDENBROUCK, JOSH NEWSTEAD/SWING. Previous credits
include: Off Broadway: Camp, A new musical (male swing and dance captain); Regional:
Nutcracker (Drosselmyer), The Addams Family (Gomez), Kinky Boots (Angel), Puffs (J.Finch
and Zach Smith), Legally Blonde (Carlos and dance captain). Nominations include: 2024
Basie Award winner for best lead actor in a musical (The Addams Family).