A comedy about working women in corporate America in the 1970’s highlighting the obstacles working women faced at that time is coming to Maple Ridge.
“9 to 5” tells the story of Violet, Doralee and Judy, whose overbearing and sexist boss, Frank Hart makes things difficult for them at the office at every turn.
In a fit of rage, the women decide to kidnap Hart, hold him hostage, and run the company the way they want to, and improve the lives of their coworkers while they’re at it.
Artistic director and producer Emily Black expects to have the audience in tears from laughter.
“It will have lots of people laughing for sure,” she said.
More than 75 students are involved in all aspects of the production put on by the SD42 Interdisciplinary Arts Academy at Garibaldi Secondary School.
Students from across Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are involved in everything from on stage to designing and painting the set, set construction, and lighting design and sound.
“The biggest learning curve, which has been really funny to watch, is the technology and all the props we’ve had to create,” said Black, noting they have had to find or recreate items like rotary phones and typewriters.
The group managed to source some items from thrift stores and for others they had to reach out to other theatre groups from across the Lower Mainland to see what props they could find.
They also built a 1970’s Xerox machine out of cardboard, which will have a student sitting in it, throwing out paper, to make it seem like the machine is going crazy during the show.
It is a musical based on songs by country music icon Dolly Parton and the students will be singing hits like: “9 to 5”, “Get Out And Stay Out”, “Backwoods Barbie”, and “One Of The Boys”.
Black said it has been tons of fun working on this show, which was cast in March.
This year’s stage manager Kayley Thompson said she loves the song ‘It’s Always a Woman’ in Act 2.
“It’s hilarious,” she said.
Grade 11 student Sloane Jordan, who plays the role of Roz, described the show as “a real rodeo of laughs.”
Every year the Interdisciplinary Arts Academy provides students with hands-on, immersive learning through the production of theatrical performances, including a full-scale Broadway musical.
“This is an amazing program for teens,” noted Black. “IA Academy gives students the opportunity to have real professional experience in theatre and build connections with the community that last a lifetime.”
Black added that “9 to 5” is a musical about the little guy.
“The people who are late getting to work because they are dealing with kids or they are late to pick up the kids from school because they are dealing with things at work.”
The every day people who are constantly trying to be everything and it never seems like they are able to do enough to get recognized for their work, added Black.
Tickets to “9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL” start at $18 and are available online at www.gsstheatre.com.
For more information, call the school at 604-463-6287 or email: emilym_black@sd42.ca.
The show runs from Thursday, Nov. 27, to Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Garibaldi Theatre at: 24789 Dewdney Trunk Rd, Maple Ridge, entrance off 248 Street.