[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 (more…)
I Just Read About That... 