The office space works as a place for talking-picture comedies such as \u201cThe Front Page\u201d (1931), \u201cThe Apartment\u201d (1960) and \u201cHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying\u201d (1967), to name a few.<\/p>\n
The movie, \u201c9 to 5\u201d (1980), became a hit Broadway musical (2009), continuing a tradition that begat screen-to-stage transplants, circa \u201cSilk Stockings\u201d (1955) based on the film \u201cNinotchka\u201d (1939).<\/p>\n
The musical comedy, \u201c9 to 5,\u201d opens with the big, breezy and bold production number of the title song, a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 and country music singles hit for Dolly Parton, who wrote the music and lyrics and sang the song for the movie that she starred in with Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda.<\/p>\n
The DeSales University Act 1 production of \u201c9 to 5,\u201d through May 3, Main Stage, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, opens with the cast of 26 singing and dancing to Parton\u2019s high-energy \u201c9 to 5.\u201d Parton wrote the music and lyrics for the show\u2019s 18 songs.<\/p>\n
The April 30 performance was seen for this review.<\/p>\n
The DeSales leads Grace Curry (Violet), Joanna Marie (Doralee) and Maya Jean Cappello (Judy) are superb from the get-go in stage presence, acting, singing and dancing.<\/p>\n
Amy Scraggs (Roz) is a another triple-threat standout.<\/p>\n
Ryan Plunkett (Franklin) proves a humorous foil as the Consolidated Industries corporate office boss described in the musical\u2019s book by Patricia Resnick as a \u201csexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot.\u201d<\/p>\n
The show\u2019s propulsive and irresistible score transports actors, storyline and theater-goers thanks to the fantastic 12-piece orchestra, with brass, reeds, guitar, keyboards, bass and percussion that includes Musical Director and Conductor Nathan Diehl, rendered powerfully by Sound Designer Vinny Pruchnik.<\/p>\n
DeSales \u201c9 to 5\u201d director Valerie Joyce keeps the production going and flowing with nary a rest with Choreographer Karen Getz combining coordinated line movement, stage-encompassing ensemble work and a terrific tap-dance sequence by the men.<\/p>\n
Costume Designer Janus Stefanowicz provides detailed attire that enhances character portrayals.<\/p>\n
Lighting Designer Eric T. Haugen selects swaths of changing colors for the minimalist set by Scenic Designer David Gallo, who includes half-a-dozen desks, caster-wheel office chairs (for fun choreography), authentic-looking IBM Selectric typewriters and a Xerox machine the size of a Zamboni.<\/p>\n
Among this reviewer\u2019s favorite numbers in the DeSales\u2019 \u201c9 to 5\u201d production:<\/p>\n
\u201cI Just Might\u201d by Maya Jean Cappello, Joanna Marie and Grace Curry in beautiful harmony.<\/p>\n
\u201cBackwoods Barbie\u201d with a stunning singing and dancing Joanna Marie, who conveys that Dolly Parton twang, sass and wig.<\/p>\n
\u201cHeart to Hart\u201d with Amy Scraggs in spectacular voice, as well as in \u201c5 to 9.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cChange It\u201d is an anthem rouser by Joanna Marie, Grace Curry and Maya Jean Cappello and the ensemble that makes one want to jump up from the theater seat.<\/p>\n
The finale of the title song, \u201c9 to 5,\u201d brings the show to an exuberant, satisfying and upbeat conclusion.<\/p>\n
The DeSales Act 1 student performers, the orchestra and the production staff put a lot of work into \u201c9 to 5\u201d and it works.<\/p>\n
Kudos to the closing show of DeSales\u2019 2025-\u201926 theater season.<\/p>\n
\u201c9 to 5,\u201d 7:30 p.m. April 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, May 1; 2 p.m. April 26, May 3; 9:45 a.m. April 27; 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m. May 2, DeSales Act 1 Theatre, Main Stage, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. 610-282-3192; https:\/\/www.desales.edu<\/p>\n
PHOTO BY KAILEY EDWARDSLeft to right: Joanna Marie (Doralee), Maya Jean (Judy), Grace Curry (Violet), and ensemble, \u201c9 to 5,\u201d DeSales Act 1 Theatre, Main Stage, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The office space works as a place for talking-picture comedies such as \u201cThe Front Page\u201d (1931), \u201cThe Apartment\u201d…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":182115,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,155,154],"class_list":["post-182114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-headlines","tag-bethlehem-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/182114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=182114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/182114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/182115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=182114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=182114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=182114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}