Hoty and Parris to Join DeGarmo in 9 to 5 National Tour

Dee Hoty, Diana DeGarmo and Mamie Parris are set to star in the national tour production of 9 to 5. Featuring a score by Dolly Parton, who also starred in the classic ‘80s film of the same name, the musical will hit the road beginning September 21 at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville.

9 to 5 follows the storyline of the film, which was adapted for the stage by original screenwriter Patricia Resnick. When pushed to the boiling point by their boss, Franklin Hart Jr. (Joseph Mahowald), super-efficient office manager Violet Newstead (Hoty), frazzled divorcee Judy Bernly (Parris) and sexy executive secretary Doralee Rhodes (DeGarmo) hatch a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot, which quickly spins out of control. The touring production will feature direction and choreography by Jeff Calhoun.

Hoty was last seen on Broadway as Mrs. McAfee in Bye Bye Birdie. Her previous Broadway credits include Footloose, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and The Will Rogers Follies. DeGarmo, who announced her casting via her Twitter account earlier this week, is best known for placing as the runner-up on the third season of American Idol. She starred as Sheila in the final cast of the Broadway revival of Hair and has also been seen as Penny in the Broadway production of Hairspray, Sarah in the off-Broadway musical The Toxic Avenger and the title character on the national tour of Brooklyn the Musical. Parris has been seen on Broadway in 110 in the Shade, Ragtime and The Drowsy Chaperone. Mahowald’s Broadway credits include the title role in Jekyll & Hyde, Javert in Les Miserables Cheifton O’Flaherty in The Pirate Queen.

Also featured in the cast will be Jane Blass, Patrick Boyd, Paul Castree, Holly Davis, Janet Dickinson Madeleine Doherty, Marjorie Failoni, Gregg Goodbrod, K.J. Hippensteel, Jesse J.P. Johnson, Michelle Marmolejo, April Nixon, Ryah Nixon, Rick Pessagno, Wayne Schroder, Micah Shepard, Travis Waldschmidt and Kristine Zbornik. 9 to 5 opened on Broadway in April of 2009, directed by Joe Mantello and starring Allison Janney as Violet, Megan Hilty as Doralee, Stephanie J. Block as Judy and Marc Kudisch as Franklin Hart, Jr. It played its final performance at the Marquis Theatre on September 6, 2009.