Musical Theatre West Kicks Off The New Year in Style: 9 to 5: The Musical!

Photo Credit: Loch Weesner for MTW’s Spamilton 2022.

Musical Director Wilkie Ferguson III (left) will return to MTW for 9 to 5, The Musical

 Fifteen years after it made its original appearance in the Los Angeles theater scene, 9 to 5, The Musical
is debuting on the Musical Theatre West stage!

Musical Theatre West (MTW), Long Beach’s premier theater company, is excited to bring some of
Dolly Parton’s award-winning music to life for its first show of the 2023 season. Just ahead of
Women’s History Month, this classic hit will uplift spirits and female empowerment as the perfect
production to kick off the new year. Audiences can experience 9 to 5, The Musical on
select nights from February 10 – February 26.  People are invited to celebrate the official
premiere in true “Dollywood” style on Saturday, February 11.

Tickets range from $20 – $125 each and are available by phone at 562-856-1999 or online at musical.org.

“We wanted our first production of the season to be something funny, exciting, and upbeat,” said Paul Garman, Executive Director and Producer of Musical Theatre West. “We knew 9 to 5 was the perfect choice, and Dolly Parton’s masterful songs are sure to bring our audiences to their feet. Our hope is to welcome more of the many different communities in Long Beach and southern California to our theater this year, to enjoy a slice of Broadway in their own backyard.”

Based on the hit 1980 movie of the same name starring Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda,
9 to 5 was adapted into a musical in 2008 in Los Angeles before taking on Broadway.

Set in the male-dominated 1980s workplace, audiences will be rooting for Violet, Doralee, and Judy as
they face off against their sexist, egotistical, oppressive boss.

Witty dialogue, powerful songs, and hilarious scenes make 9 to 5 an instant classic. Music from Grammy
Award winner Dolly Parton shines bright, and will have audiences humming along to fan favorites like
“Get Out And Stay Out” and the titular “9 to 5.” Her incredible songs are joined by screenwriter
Patricia Resnick’s script. The two worked together on the original 1980 film and joined forces
once again for the musical production.

The shows leading ladies will be played by
–Ashley Moniz as Judy Bernly (National Tours of Kinky Boots, Sister Act, 9 to 5),
–Madison Claire Parks as Doralee Rhodes (The Fantasticks and The Baker’s Wife Off-Broadway), and
–Daebreon Poiema as Violet Newstead (3-D Theatricals’ Once On This Island and Tarzan, Moonlight
Amphitheatre’s Sister Act, MTW’s Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella).
–Ed Staudenmayer (Girl from the North Country, Anastasia National Tour) will play the egotistical
president of Consolidated Industries, Franklin Hart, and
–the infatuated Roz Keith will be played by Chelle Denton (Troubadour Theater Company Die Heart,
Ensemble Theater Company Emma: The Musical).
–The rest of Consolidated Industries’ workplace will be staffed by some of Southern California’s most
talented stage favorites.

Celebrating women in the workplace, helming the production is Cynthia Ferrer, who is making her return
to the MTW director’s chair. Ferrer has previously directed 9 to 5for San Diego Musical Theatre,
and directed the star-studded Damn Yankees at MTW last year.
–Musical Direction will be provided by Wilkie Ferguson III, whose music direction credits include
Kinky Boots at the Moonlight Amphitheatre, and Newsies for 5 Star Theatricals, and the
critically-acclaimed MTW production of Spamiliton in March 2022. Choreography will be by
Broadway Arts Community Co-Founder Alexis Carra Girbés, whose Fosse-inspired moves were
recently seen on the MTW stage in Damn Yankees last fall.

Musical Theatre West’s production of 9 to 5 will premiere at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center
on select dates, February 10 – February 26, 2022, with a special ASL Interpreted Performance
on Friday, February 17.
–Tickets start at $20 – $125, and are available for purchase by phone at 562-856-1999 or
online at musical.org. Fees may apply.
More information, a full line-up of performances, and additional details can be found at https://musical.org.

Cast:

• Chelle Denton – Roz Keith

• Ashley Moniz – Judy Bernly

• Madison Claire Parks – Doralee Rhodes

• Daebreon Poiema – Violet Newstead

• Ed Staudenmayer – Franklin Hart

• Josh Alvarez – Ensemble

• Leonel Ayala – Ensemble

• Keith Bearden – Ensemble/Joe

• Michael Bullard – Ensemble

• Michael Cavinder – Ensemble/Tinsworthy

• Brandon Dubuisson – Ensemble/Josh

• Erin Dubreuil – Ensemble

• Kurt Kemper – Ensemble/Dwayne

• Edgar Lopez – Ensemble

• Missy Marion – Ensemble/Missy

• Marissa Ruth Mayer – Ensemble/Dance Captain

• Isabella De Souza Moore – Ensemble/Maria

• Amelia Prochaska – Ensemble

• Alyssa Simmons – Ensemble/Margaret

• Nikki Elena Spies – Ensemble

• Chris Tuck – Ensemble/Dick

Location: 9 to 5 by Musical Theatre West

 Select Dates from February 10 – February 26, 2022,

Carpenter Performing Arts Center

Tickets $20 – $125, Purchase here

Book by Patrica Resnick

Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton

Direction by Cynthia Ferrer

Music Direction by Wilkie Ferguson III

Choreography by Alexis Carra Girbés

Arrangements and Additional Orchestrations by Stephen Oremus & Alex Lacamoire

Running time approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes with intermission

More details can be found at https://musical.org/

# # #

ABOUT MUSICAL THEATRE WEST

The story of Musical Theatre West is the 70-year journey from a group of volunteers performing
in a high school auditorium to one of the largest and most respected theatrical production companies
in Southern California. Utilizing professional talent, and producing regional and even world premiere
musicals while continuing to honor the tradition of classic musical theatre, MTW is the largest arts
producer in the Long Beach area. The company continues to receive critical acclaim and national
recognition – and many performers who cut their teeth on the MTW stage have gone on to successful
careers on Broadway and in television and film. Just as importantly, stage and screen veterans now
come to Musical Theatre West to perform, finding it to be one of the friendliest and most fun venues
to work in.
A key aspect of the company is its dedication to education as well as the Education and Outreach
Programs of Musical Theatre West bring the joy and magic of musical theater to over 17,000 children
each year through special morning performances, traveling shows, and school assemblies, and the |
Summer Youth Conservatory. Musical Theatre West has a mission to enrich the community with
Broadway-quality productions, preserve musical theatre as a uniquely American art form, and
expose people of all backgrounds to the excitement of musical theatre. We hope you’ll join us.

9 to 5, The Musical

Book by Patrica Resnick

Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton

Direction by Cynthia Ferrer

Music Direction by Wilkie Ferguson III

Choreography by Alexis Carra Girbés

Arrangements and Additional Orchestrations by Stephen Oremus & Alex Lacamoire

9 TO 5 SPONSORS

Honorary Producers:
–Breslauer-Soref Foundation/Jim & Liz Breslauer;
–Harold R Brown Foundation

–Associate Producers: Ackerman Family/Evalyn M Bauer Foundation, Mari Hooper, Avalee Wagner

–Youth Performance Sponsors: Jayne Lastusky, Frank & Margie Newell, Joan Wells