stage left: 9 to 5 the musical
Encore Musical Theatre
February 27, 2025
TEXT CONTENT FROM GRAPHIC ABOVE
Title of production: 9 to 5 The Musical
Run dates: March 6 to 16, 2025
Performance venue: Hudson Village Theatre
Answers provided by: Karen Pearce, president of Encore Musical Theatre and costumière to the show.
Give us an elevator pitch of your show.
9 to 5 is based on the 1980 hit movie. Set in the late 1970s, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic. Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy – giving their boss the boot! While Hart remains “otherwise engaged” the women give their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that has always kept them down. Hey! a girl can scheme, can’t she!
What is your favourite part of this production?
My favorite part of this production, indeed of any production, is to see it grow from a book to a complete stage production. I love how all the pieces fit together and everyone has a role to play. And I get great pleasure from seeing our cast grow and challenge themselves and become a family.
What has been this production’s greatest challenge?
I think we have two challenges right now. Firstly, as a new entity, to develop a support base we can count on to man all the positions that a musical theatre production requires and secondly is to take a big production and put it on a very small stage without making it look small.
How does this production align with your company’s mission or artistic vision?
We are a brand new theatre company, this is only our second production. We would like to develop into an eclectic theatre company but are establishing our presence with fun, upbeat productions to help chase away the winter blahs. This offering will do that and it has a message to boot…
BONUS: What’s the funniest thing that’s happened during rehearsals/prep?
We are truly a company of typical Canadians. Every time we make a blocking or singing mistake we all start apologizing, SORRY, sorry, Sorry, sorry, sorry!
9 to 5 The Musical
By Encore Musical Theatre
March 6-16, 2025
At Hudson Village Theater