If you listened to last Sunday's Matinee show, you'll have heard me report that 9 to 5: The Musical with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton will open in previews on Broadway in March of 2009 and then officially open on April 23rd. It'll star Megan Hilty as Doralee which was played by Dolly in the 1980 movie, Stephanie J. Block playing Judy, the Jane Fonda role, and Allison Janney in the Lily Tomlin role of Violet. It will be housed in the Marquis Theatre located in the Marriott Marquis Hotel right across from Duffy Square on Broadway. Hilty and Block played Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, in Wicked. Allison Janney played CJ Cregg, the president's press secretary on tv's "The West Wing" and she has been seen in "Juno" as Juno's stepmother and as Prudy Pingleton in the movie "Hairspray". Mark Kudisch will play their lying, egotistical, sexist boss, Franklin Hart Jr., the part so sleazily played by Dabney Coleman in the movie. Kudisch most recently starred on Broadway in Roundabout Theatre's revival of The Apple Tree with his ex-fiance, Kristen Chenoweth. He also played a kinky lawyer in the HBO television series "Sex in the City". 9 to 5: The Musical will be directed by Wicked director, Joe Mantello, and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler who won the Tony this year for Best Choreography for In the Heights. With Dolly's music, the great cast and all the connections to Wicked, how could this miss?
Madame Aries, James and I also discussed another stage musical Dolly is writing based on her life, and some big names are hot to star as Dolly including Reese Witherspoon and Kristen Chenoweth. Dolly has been quoted as citing both as possibilities, however, she is a huge fan of Scarlett Johansson and thinks she would be perfect for the role. If you want my opinion, Chenoweth would be the best for the stage role. She has the right stature, the right vibe and the chops. I could see Johansson or Witherspoon in a movie version, with my preference being Witherspoon. I have to add that I am a fan of all three, in fact they are three of my favorite actresses.
And one more little Dolly tidbit: Dolly has ranked fifth in a nationwide British survey of single lesbians as the hottest female celebrity over 50. Helen Mirren, Susan Sarandon, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn came in ahead of her. Joan Collins came in sixth. I can't believe Madame Aries didn't make the list. On the male side, single gay men chose Piers Brosnan as number one, followed by Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson and Sean Connery. The poll was taken by the LGBT dating site gay-PARSHIP.
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