In early March, Poly’s Upper School performed an iconic adaptation of the hit 1980s movie starring Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin with their production of “9 to 5: The Musical.” With a career spanning 60 years and selling over 100 million records, country legend Dolly Parton wrote the music and lyrics for the musical, set to electrify audiences worldwide with her popular sound.
The story followed Violet, Judy, and Doralee—an overworked manager, a scorned wife, and an objectified secretary—who worked under the thumb of the sexist and oppressive boss, Franklin Hart Jr. Tired of his mistreatment, the three women fantasized over seeking revenge against him in a series of musical dream sequences. After a turn of events, they found themselves gaining more control in the office. The show’s collection of upbeat country dance and singing numbers, endearing scenes of kinship among women, and strong messages of women empowerment was brought to life by the cast and crew of people behind the scenes, under the direction of Performing Arts Faculty Mariko Watt and Assistant Director Sadie Schoenberger ‘25.
Watt’s musical selection for the spring 2025 Upper School production depended on how she envisioned students would be able to embody the distinct characters of the show. She knew that “9 to 5” had both a strong ensemble cast and a stand-out group of female leads. Additionally, she loved the script’s display of female empowerment and their strong stance against the status quo; she wanted to encourage people to think about the musical’s central messages, especially due to current events surrounding women’s rights. One message she wanted audience members to take away from “9 to 5” was to believe in themselves and value themselves. “People often underestimate themselves,” Watt said. “This show is about celebrating who you are.”
“For the first time in many, many years,” Watt said, “there was a chorus of people who didn’t act or dance but were there [exclusively] to sing,” which she imagined uplifted the show’s musicality but also required more effort to blend the many roles in the show. Accompanying the inspiring message and catchy songs were the amazing dance numbers choreographed by Performing Arts Faculty Sam Turner with the assistance of Mia Pineda ‘25 and Nicolette Avdeychik ‘27. Due to some students having more experience than others, Turner’s goal was to “ensure every student looks confident and is visually featured.” For his inspiration, Turner drew from many sources such as the 9-5 movie, the Broadway production, and other national touring versions of the musical. He has worked to “keep the movement authentic to [the] era while incorporating deconstructed elements, [adding] a fresh perspective.” Turner explained: “Balancing period-accurate choreography with stylistic nuances allows the show to feel both true to its roots and engaging for today’s audience. Choreography is a key to storytelling because the singing naturally leads into movement and each element must work together to create a seamless theatrical experience.”
Another aspect of creating the world of “9 to 5” was the costume design, thanks to Costume Designer Kim Griffin with help from Juliet Michaelis ‘25. During her process, she had to adjust her plans in light of the bigger cast. Griffin was inspired by the original film and research into the time period’s style. Not only did Griffin want to convey how women dressed in the office and highlight individual personalities, but also the “other sexist and misogynistic ideas” the female characters were fighting against. Before the show, Griffin noted that the audiences could expect the costumes to fit the late 1970s office trends, including Parton’s famously big hair.
One of the female stars, Violet, was played by Ryan Geisler ‘25. Violet is a serious businesswoman and secretary who is deserving of a promotion, but her boss, Mr. Hart (played by Jasper Whitely ‘25), refuses to give her those opportunities. Geisler describes her experience being a lead this year as “an opportunity to challenge [herself] with 200 lines and so many songs and dances to learn.” A challenge for her has been “finding the nuance of the character within the script and having to analyze all the lines to create a full person.” A highlight, Geisler says, has been bonding with the cast and the moments as a community are what makes the musical so special. Drew Waldman ‘25 took on Parton’s role as the vivacious Doralee Rhodes and Izzy Gerling ‘25 rounded out the dynamic trio as Judy Bernley.
Filled with humor and catchy songs, including Parton’s “9 to 5” which earned an Oscar-nod, there is no doubt this show made the audience laugh, cry, and have the music stuck in their head for the rest of the night.
