FORT MYERS — Beginning with a video of the late Dolly Parton introducing the newest musical at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre on Friday, Oct. 9, it was obvious that this production of “9 to 5” would be special.

And it was.

The Friday night audience saw many wearing cowboy boots and other items Parton might have worn. Coming so soon after the Aug. 25 passing of “The Queen of Country,” the theater is likely to have a sold-out run as fans honor the late singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman who created Dollywood and more.

“9 to 5” the musical was written by Parton and Patricia Resnick, who both have garnered numerous awards in the entertainment field. Parton won two Grammy Awards (Best Country Song and Best Country Vocal Performance) for the song “9 to 5.”

Further, the 1980 film had multiple Oscar nominations.

True to the movie, the musical is set in a corporate office in the late ‘70s. The boss, Franklin Hart Jr. (Jacob Medich) would prove to be no match for the three women working for him: Violet Newstead (Sarah Hayes), Doralee Rhodes (Emily Bacino Althaus in the Dolly Parton role) and Nia Alsop as Judy Bernly.

Tackling a role as big as that of the iconic Parton is not easy but Althaus did it well. Medich had played Tevye in the Palm’s production of “Fiddler on the Roof” and Old Deuteronomy in “Cats.”

The two acts filled with musical numbers choreographed by Amy Marie McCleary and Jeleesa Monet made for a show as good as all the food on the Broadway Palm’s buffet tables.

Following the overture was “9 to 5,” the big production number that gets the show off to a powerful start with the three girls, their boss and an ensemble of singers and dancers.

That song is reprieved again in the second act as well as in the show’s gala finale.

With 14 featured characters and an ensemble of 13 additional singers and dancers plus choreography by Amy Marie McLeary and Jeleesa Monet, that Broadway show was brought to the Broadway Palm with verve, vitality and vigor.

Back in the 1970s, female office workers too often were just that, with few women rising to leadership roles. With a boss like Franklin Hart Jr., it was no surprise to see that it was payback time and this boss was about to get all that he deserved and maybe even a bit extra.

Scenes of Manhattan on the video wall let us know we are in the Big Apple as does the set by Robert Kovach. Hart finds himself hanging on to his job and then some as the three women prove to be more than a match for his ego.

Medich more than earned his keep in the role of this not-so-nice keeper of the office.

Conductor and pianist Lucas Colton led an orchestra of 13 musicians.

“9 to 5” is the Broadway Palm’s 253rd production in its 33rd season. It plays through Nov. 14 in the main theater.

Playing Oct. 16 to Nov. 14 in the Off Broadway Palm in the same building will be “The Shark is Broken.” That also is a dinner theater but dinner is eaten in a separate dining room before the show.

“9 to 5” is well worth the trek to Fort Myers from Venice.

For tickets to any of the Broadway Palm shows, call the box office at 239-278-4422 or visit: BroadwayPalm.com