Shaye Phillips, Features Editor–
A chorus of bright voices carries through the large rehearsal space in the Michael D. Eisner Center as students rush to get to their places in time for their next cue. Soon enough, these student actors will be performing the same moves in front of a live audience. For now, they are working around the clock in a smaller, illuminated practice room on a show that they know will be spectacular.
This month, Denison University’s Music Theatre will present “9 to 5 The Musical.” The show is based on the hit 1980s film starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin. The musical is about three women named Violet Newstead, Doralee Rhodes, and Judy Bernly who work for a company that is led by a sexist, egotistical man named Franklin Hart, Jr. Fed up with how they are mistreated, the women take matters into their own hands, leading to a series of wonderfully thrilling events.
“It’s hilarious, moving, and has over 15 songs written by Dolly Parton herself, so there’s something for everyone,” Brad Frenette, the director for Denison’s version of the musical and one of the assistant professors for the Music Theatre Program.
Frenette has been at Denison for two years, and in that time the musical theater department has performed a wide array of musicals, including an experimental one, a golden-age classic, and a Sondheim period piece.
“Part of my thought was, ‘What haven’t we done and what experience would ensure that our students are being pushed with a wide range of experiences?’” Frenette said. “Dolly Parton seemed to check a lot of those boxes. And it’s also a piece that I knew we would have a lot of fun working on. It’s hilarious and the music is out of this world.”
However much fun the music is, though, Frenette still described it as “deceptively challenging,” as there are several pieces with a lot of movement.
“It’s much bigger than anything we’ve attempted at Denison in my time here,” Frenette said. “There are lots of folks in the cast who are being pushed outside of their comfort zones, whether it’s with the dancing we’re asking them to do, the incredibly specific and stylistic singing, or the challenging characterizations. Seeing those lightbulb moments when we finish running a big scene or an entire act that they’re capable of more than they thought is super rewarding.”
Cast members said rehearsals have been challenging but enjoyable.
Emmet Anderson ‘25 is playing the role of Joe, a junior accountant who is in love with Violet. Anderson is a journalism major and this is his second musical to perform in, previously playing Henrik from Denison’s fall musical, “A Little Night Music.”
“One of the best parts of Denison’s musicals is that you don’t have to be a music or theater major to participate, but that can also be a challenge to balance rehearsals with all the other commitments on campus,” Anderson said. “Rehearsals have been really fun, though. It’s a very funny and energetic show, which makes it fun to practice.”
“I feel like the musical theater schedule is always shocking to people just because it is more time intensive than your average class or extracurricular,” Katie Kress ‘25, who is playing the role of Violet, said.
Kress is a bit of an expert when it comes to rehearsals, having been in several musical productions at Denison during her four years.
“I’ve been doing theater for a while so it’s very normal for me to have my regular life in classes and then also have a show. I’d say it’s difficult around Tech, where we have really long rehearsals in order to prepare for the show, but I absolutely love it. It’s all about balancing your time,” Kress said.
Celia Car ‘28 is performing as the understudy for the roles of Doralee and Judy. She shares that the rehearsals for the show have taught her a lot as a performer and she is grateful for her cast members who have made her feel welcome.
“My favorite part of being in 9 to 5 has been getting to know all of the amazing people in the music theatre department,” Car said. “Balancing the show with my academics and other activities is tough sometimes, but overall, it is so doable, and the time I spend rehearsing is always so much fun.”
Being an understudy is not an easy job , Car said, adding it is difficult to always have to focus on the tiniest details. Because she has to perform all of her roles without having practiced many times with the cast, most of her rehearsals are spent taking notes.
“It’s definitely not a glamorous job,” Car said. “But, if one of the principal actresses is absent, I step in to keep the rehearsal moving for everyone else. We don’t have time to cancel a rehearsal because one of the main characters couldn’t make it.”
Even the days that Car doesn’t need to step in are fun. While some see the understudy as a thankless job, as they usually don’t get to perform as much, Car appreciates how supportive the cast and crew have been for her.
“I think being an understudy is a really fun and unique way to be involved in a musical,” she said.
All in all, both Frenette and the cast members are confident in the musical chosen and excited to debut it on the big stage. For the future audience, they show their delight at what will be shown on the night of the musical’s opening.
“Buckle up and get ready. It’s a lot of weird and a lot of fun,” said Megan Barker ‘25, playing the role of Judy.
“This show is rife with brilliant feminist commentary contained within a fun, entertaining plot,” Lev Hund ‘27 said. Hund is playing the role of Franklin.
“This show is a blast,” Lucy Hollingsworth-Hays ‘28, performing as an understudy for Violet Newstead and Roz Keith. “You’ll laugh, you’ll dance, you’ll root for characters, you’ll despise characters, and you’ll develop a Dolly Parton country accent by the end of it. It is a deeply real and relevant story told in such a fun way.”
Performances are 7 p.m. April 10, April 11 and April 12 and 2 p.m. on April 13.
“Expect to laugh, expect to be singing the songs all the way home, and expect to be blown away by our students,” Frenette said.