Dolly Parton Works 9 to 5 on London Transfer???

Country superstar Dolly Parton is keen to bring her new musical based on her 1980 film Nine to Five to the West End (See The Goss, 11 Sep 2007). Speaking to London’s Heart FM this week, she said of a possible West End transfer for 9 to 5: The Musical: “I’m hoping it does happen because I’ve written all the music, and it will hopefully open on Broadway in the spring of 2009.”

Parton, who has 25 US Number One singles to her name, praised her UK fans for the level of support they continue to show her. “Through the years, my UK fans have kept telling me how much they appreciate me and what I do. I don’t get to come over to the UK often, but I’ve always had wonderful times here. We’ve had great audiences here, so why not?”

9 to 5: The Musical has its world premiere at Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theater in September and is tipped for a Broadway opening in spring 2009. It’s directed by Joe Mantello, whose recent credits include Wicked on both sides of the Atlantic, and has a book by Patricia Resnick, who also wrote the film screenplay. The title song from the film soundtrack was a hit for Parton and was nominated for both an Oscar and a Grammy. The movie also spawned an American TV series.

The only disappointment to Dolly fans will be the news that she won’t star in the stage version herself. The role she originally played on screen, of buxom secretary Doralee Rhodes, will be played in the US production of the musical by Megan Hilty, with Allison Janney (best known in the UK for her screen roles in the likes of The West Wing, Juno and Hairspray) as office manager Violet Newstead (Lily Tomlin in the film).