-Courtesy of Jenkintown Music Theatre
Feature photo- Nina Harper as Judy, Lisa Starke as Violet and Noelle Noelle Joy Fiorentino
Jenkintown Music Theatre (JMT) dances into its 75th year with 9 to 5 the Musical, directed by Jennifer Berger. Opening on April 14, the show is based on the beloved screenplay starring the powerhouse trio of Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.
Berger notes the continued topicality of the musical, “43 years after the film 9 to 5 was released, gender inequality is still a hot button issue. While strides have been made, there’s still a pay gap and women around the world continue to fight for equality. 9 to 5 brilliantly shines a light on these issues in a comedic way. Audiences are sure to be entertained by this story of empowerment and the strength of female relationships.”
Based on the hit 1980 film, 9 to 5 The Musical, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by the film’s original screenwriter, Patricia Resnick, tells the hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era. Set in the 1970s, this high-energy show is thought-provoking, fun, and even a little romantic. Audiences will have nostalgic fun returning to the scheming secretarial pool, complete with its Oscar, Tony, and Grammy Award-nominated score by the Queen of Country Music Dolly Parton.
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 fantasies to get rid of their boss. The women give their workplace a dream makeover, giving their boss the boot and taking control of the company that had always kept them down. Perfect for anyone that’s ever had a bad boss, which is almost all of us.
Three strong women in their own right lead this dynamic and talented cast, each of them bringing their own take on iconic characters from the movie. JMT first timer Noelle Joy Fiorentino takes on the role made famous by Dolly Parton. Noelle was most recently seen playing Petra in A Little Night Music and Daniela in In the Heights. She is joined by JMT veteran Lisa Starke who starred as Feste in JMT’s Twelfth Night and Roxie in 2018’s Chicago, among other roles. JMT is thrilled to welcome back Nina Harper, who made her JMT debut in 2019 as Donna in Mammia Mia!. The chemistry among this powerhouse trio is showstopping and the combination of talent is something that audiences will not want to miss.
Tickets and times:
Tickets are $20, and group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.
9 to 5 the Musical will be performed in the Kuykendall Auditorium at Jenkintown High School, 325 Highland Ave, Jenkintown, PA 19046.
Special Event: Our performance on Saturday April 15 will be a chance for the audience to get “All Dolly’d Up”! Audience members can celebrate Dolly in whatever way works for them – don a sparkly Dolly Parton look-alike costume, bust out a vintage 70’s look to fit the era of the show, or just wear whatever makes them feel fabulous!
About Jenkintown Music Theatre (JMT):
Started in 1945 by a group of dedicated parents and teachers in Jenkintown, JMT incorporated as a non-profit in 2013 and has become one of the premiere community theatre groups in the Philadelphia area. The organization supports the Jenkintown School District through awards for students involved in the arts. JMT also supports other community outreach programs, such as the Jenkintown Food Cupboard.
Diversity Statement:
Jenkintown Music Theatre is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion at all levels of our community. We celebrate our community’s diversity of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. We believe individuality is what makes a community great and our mission is to empower people to share their unique abilities in celebration of the positive influence of theater and the arts.
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