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Archive for the ‘Bart Luedeke Center Theater’ Category

9 to 5 (Bart Luedeke Center Theater: Rider University, May 3, 2026)

Posted in 9 to 5, Bart Luedeke Center Theater, Dolly Parton, Musicals on May 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »

[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…)

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Nice Work If You Can Get It (Bart Luedeke Center Theater: Rider University, May 3, 2025)

Posted in Bart Luedeke Center Theater, Nice Work If You Can Get It on May 3, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: May 3, 2025] Nice Work If You Can Get It

This was our second musical performance at Rider University.  Their theater program is fantastic and this entire performance was great.

The singers have great voices.  The actors have excellent timing.  And the spotlight on a tap performance was really fantastic.

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

We have said of both 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.

Comedy, Farce – A new take on the 1920s musical farce, Nice Work If You Can Get It features the iconic music of George and Ira Gershwin. Billie Bendix, a tough-as-nails bootlegger, and wealthy playboy Jimmy Winter, meet on the weekend of his impending wedding. Jimmy has a habit of marrying chorus girls, but needs to settle down with a respectable woman before his mother will hand over the family business. He has gotten engaged to Eileen Evergreen, the self-proclaimed finest interpreter of modern dance, hoping that this will be a better choice than his usual chorus dancer. Needing somewhere to stash 400 bottles of gin, Billie swipes Jimmy’s wallet and hides her stash in his empty Long Island beach house. However, when the wedding party arrives at the beach house, the bootleggers must juggle the guests and their business.

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

Read Full Post »