Unforgettable Local Cast Lights Up ‘9 To 5: The Musical’ in Owensboro

On Mother's Day, I tumbled out of bed, stumbled to the kitchen, got some ambition, played some tennis, then went to meet my mom for lunch and take her to see Encore Musicals of Owensboro's production of 9 to 5: The Musical.

If you're unfamiliar with the story, 9 to 5 dates all the way back to 1980. That's when the movie version- starring Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda- was released to theatres.

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In 2009, 9 to 5: The Musical opened on Broadway. Though the musical didn't snag any Tony Awards that year, the cast did get to perform on the annual awards show.

Encore Musicals' spirited cast of eighteen brought the musical to life for a three-day run last weekend in Owensboro and it was superb.

I was a theatre kid. As an adult, I have worked professionally in theatre. I am huge fan of Broadway and routinely whisk off to New York to see shows. I'll admit it. It's my strong affection for theatre that sometimes makes me shy away from seeing shows at the 'community' level.

That said, this 'community' of local players slayed it. I concede that it's weird to write a story about a show that has already closed. You're going to read this review and then won't have a chance to see it. That said, it was so exceptional that I feel compelled to tell you what you missed.

So, here goes!

Local entertainer Tara Estes was literally born to play any character inspired by Dolly Parton. I mean, look at her.

Tara spent years mastering her impersonation of Dolly Parton at Goldie's Best Little Opryhouse and she nails it. Her portrayal of Dolly's 'Doralee' was everything I expected it to be. Tara nailed the look, nailed the speaking voice, and her comic timing was impeccable. Tara, by nature, is a belter when she sings. And, in the Act One finale- "Shine Like the Sun"- she got to really loosen that belt and let 'er rip. Her voice soared. As I shared with Tara post-show, "It would be impossible to cast a better Doralee." I meant it.

Then there's Misty Miller. Cast as Roz Keith, the one office worker who loves the boss instead of loathes him, Misty gave an image-shattering performance. To know Misty is to love her. I have known her for 40 years. She's starred in dozens and dozens of musicals in her lifetime. But, for me, Roz is her defining moment as an actress. With abandon, Misty tore into "Heart to Hart," Roz's steamy love letter to Franklin Hart.

She crawled on his desk, sprawled out (#spreadeagle) on the loveseat in his office, like an administrative assistant in heat. It was hilarious and one of the best moments of the show. If there was a local theatre award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, you'd have to call The Trophy House and tell 'em just to go ahead and engrave Misty's name on it. The woman who's made a community theatre career out of playing good girls like Cinderella found her voice- every ounce of it- playing the bad girl for a change.

Look. In terms of depth, 9 to 5: The Musical is relatively lightweight. There's not a lot of emotional heft here. That said, there's one song in the show that swings for the heartstrings. It's the Judy character's 11th hour showstopper "Get Out and Stay Out." Lauren Calhoun is a vocal technician. This woman's control is infallible. Really. I have heard Lauren sing many times and always take note of just how well she knows her voice and the way it does pretty much anything she wills it to do. But, in this show, with this character and this song, Lauren got to rip the roof off the place. Not only did she do it vocally, she did it emotionally.

Finally, I have to acknowledge the performance that, for me, anchored this entire production. Leah McDivitt woke up Sunday morning without a voice. That doesn't bode well when you have a show to perform Sunday afternoon. Look. There were probably people in the audience who didn't even know what was going on. I heard it almost immediately. I talk for a living. I've been there and done that. I know a struggling, raspy voice when I hear it and Leah's voice was on its last cord.

But, she commanded herself and Violet to plow through it. And she did it like a friggin' champ. Leah's performance was one of the most professional performances I have ever seen in a community theatre. In addition to navigating and overcoming the vocal demands of the show, she managed to serve up an incredibly nuanced and natural performance while doing it.

There's a scene in 9 to 5 that happens to be my favorite. Violet, Doralee, and Judy smoke a joint and then, one by one, share a musical fantasy about knocking off their boss. The musical numbers are okay, but the really hilarious moments are layered in the dialogue that frame those numbers. Tara, Lauren, and Leah were hysterically funny in that scene and it was propelled by the natural ease of Leah. Her laughter was infectious. Her reactions to the mayhem going on around her were easy and natural. Pardon the pun, but her performance was the theatrical equivalent of a contact buzz.

As I shared with Leah after show, "Everything you did in that scene was perfection." I have seen a lot of theatre in my life. I can say, with 100% certainty, that I will never forget Leah's performance in 9 to 5. It's one of the gutsiest performances I have ever witnessed ANYWHERE and it took place on a stage right here in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Kudos to Candy Miller and Susan Dant, who co-directed the show. A special shout out to Tan Mayhall, whose Franklin Hart was a formidable menace to the female characters in the show. And a shout out to the supporting cast.

9 to 5! What a way to make a weekend.