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'70s magic comes to Chemainus Theatre Festival with 9 to 5 The Musical

The musical follows the adventures of Judy, Violet, and Doralee as they stand up to their sleazy boss and create a thriving workplace, all set to Dolly Parton’s iconic music.

Everyone can relate to the feeling of being the new person in the room – whether that's at a party, the first day of school, or being the new person at a job.

Now picture this; it's the late 1970s. Judy (Sarah Carlé Owen), recently heartbroken from an unfaithful husband, is newly employed at the office and has no idea what's in store for her.

She soon meets Violet (Stephanie Roth), a hard-working single mother who takes her under her wing, and spitfire Doralee (Jennie Neumann) who has more than enough to contend with trying to fend off unwanted advances of the boss, Franklin Hart. Jr (W. Joseph Matheson).

Soon, this trio of hard-working women decide to face off against their slimy boss to show him who is really in charge! In a series of foibles, misunderstandings and mistaken identities, this leads to his kidnapping. And what happens next is the world of 9-5 dreams: under Violet's leadership, the office not only increases productivity but becomes a supportive and happy working environment where the employees can enjoy their lives between 9 and 5.

This is all part of the magical story of Dolly Parton's toe-tapping hit musical 9 to 5 The Musical, running at Chemainus Theatre Festival from June 28 to Aug. 25. 

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The Chemainus Theatre Festival is located at 9737 Chemainus Rd. Courtesy Chemainus Theatre Festival

There will be a few familiar faces on stage. Audiences might recognize Jennie Neumann from last year’s production of Ghost, Stephanie Roth from Mamma Mia! and Sarah Carlé Owen from Grease. Rounding out the cast of 9 to 5 The Musical are Ali Watson, Laura Ross, Antony Knight, Josh Graetz, Pedro M. Siqueira, Georgia Bennett, Cassandra Consiglio, and Vincente Sandoval.

Tickets start at $22 and are available online at chemainustheatre.ca or by calling the box office at 250-246-9820. Lunch, brunch, or dinner can also be arranged in the Playbill Dining Room before the show.
 
"If you love the movie, you’ll love the musical. It’s just as wild, wacky, and heartfelt as the original story and includes many iconic scenes. Plus, more Dolly Parton songs! That woman KNOWS how to write a song," said director Julie Tomaino.



Sam Duerksen

About the Author: Sam Duerksen

Since moving to Victoria from Winnipeg in 2020, I’ve worked in communications for non-profits and arts organizations.
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