Janney, Block, Hilty & Kudisch Set for L.A. Bow of Dolly Parton's B'way-Bound 9 to 5 Musical

Allison Janney, Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty and Marc Kudisch have signed on for the world premiere of 9 to 5, a new musical version of the beloved 1980 feature film. With a score by the movie's original star Dolly Parton, a book by 9 to 5 screenwriter Patricia Resnick and direction by Joe Mantello, the show will begin performances on September 3, 2008, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Opening night has been set for September 21, with the run continuing through October 19.

9 to 5 centers on a trio of female co-workers who must deal with a boss described as a "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot," Franklin Hart Jr. Kudisch, in a role created on film by Dabney Coleman. Janney has been cast as Violet Newstead created on film by Lily Tomlin, the super-efficient office manager who joins frazzled divorcee Judy Bernly Block, in the role created by Jane Fonda and sexy secretary Doralee Rhodes Hilty, in the role created by Parton to turn the tables on Hart. When a series of farcical events removes him from the office, they begin instituting new procedures that quickly and hilariously spin out of control.

"9 to 5 was my first movie, and it was an amazing experience bringing Doralee Rhodes to life," Parton said in a statement. "All these years later, the story of these three inspiring ladies who stand up against their sadistic boss is still close to my heart. It's been a lifelong dream of mine to write a musical, and now I have the chance to not only make Doralee sing, but to bring all of Patricia's wonderful characters to life on stage through music. I think I'm gonna like it around here." Parton's title song from 9 to 5 earned an Academy Award nomination. The title song from her new CD, Backwoods Barbie, set for release in February 2008, was written for the character of Doralee in the forthcoming musical.

Janney, best known for her Emmy-winning run as C.J. Cregg in The West Wing, earned a Tony nomination for her performance in A View from the Bridge and appeared on Broadway in Present Laughter She starred in The Taming of the Shrew in Central Park and appeared off-Broadway in Blue Window, New England, Breaking Up, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, Making Book and Ladies. Janney returned to the stage last summer in Williamstown Theatre Festival's acclaimed production of Lillian Hellman's The Autumn Garden. On film, her credits include Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray and the forthcoming ensemble dramedy Juno.

Block is currently starring as Elphaba in the Broadway company of Wicked. Her Broadway credits include the title role in The Pirate Queen and Liza Minnelli in The Boy From Oz. Regional credits include Funny Girl, Crazy for You, Oliver! and The Dead.

Hilty played Glinda in Wicked on Broadway and is currently starring in the Los Angeles production of the show. Other theater credits include Café, Suds and The Wild Party.

Kudisch is currently starring in Lincoln Center Theater's production of The Glorious Ones and played the Pirate King in New York City Opera's recent production of The Pirates of Penzance. He received Tony nominations for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Thoroughly Modern Millie and appeared on Broadway in The Apple Tree, Assassins, Bells Are Ringing, The Wild Party, The Scarlet Pimpernel, High Society, Beauty and the Beast and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Off-Broadway credits include See What I Wanna See, No Strings and The Thing About Men Recent regional credits include The Witches of Eastwick, The Highest Yellow, Zorba and Summer and Smoke.

9 to 5 will feature choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, scenic design by Scott Pask and lighting design Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, with a costume designer to be announced shortly.

9 to 5 will be presented by Center Theatre Group by special arrangement with Robert Greenblatt under the auspices of a new program initiated by artistic director Michael Ritchie in which CTG presents original musicals and large-scale productions through partnerships with Broadway producers. The program recently saw the Broadway transfers of both The Drowsy Chaperone and Curtains.