'9 To 5' Star Megan Hilty Featured in NEXT Mag

The new Broadway musical-comedy, 9 To 5: The Musical starring four-time Emmy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Allison Janney, Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty, and two-time Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch began preview performances on Tuesday, April 7, 2009 and will open Thursday, April 30, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway).

9 To 5: The Musical marks the Broadway debut of seven-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and musician Dolly Parton as composer and lyricist. Megan Hilty, who stars in the production as 'Doralee Rhodes', the role Ms. Parton made famous in the big screen version, is featured in NEXT magazine. Hilty reveals her favorite NYC spot to grab a quick bite!

To read the feature in NEXT click here.

Megan Hilty is best known for her roles on stage - she spent years in the critically acclaimed musical Wicked and is currently starring in 9 to 5 the Musical on Broadway. Her TV credits include The Closer, Desperate Housewives, CSI, Ugly Betty, The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, Eli Stone, and Shark. Hilty has also lent her voice to Disney's The Secret of the Magic Gourd, Phinaes and Ferb, Glenn Martin DDS, American Dad, and Shrek the Third as the singing voice of Snow White.

With direction by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello and choreography by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler 9 To 5: The Musical has a book by Patricia Resnick, based on her original story and screenplay for the smash 1980 film comedy. 9 To 5: The Musical is produced by Robert Greenblatt in association with Richard Levi, John McColgan/Moya Doherty/Edgar Dobie,James L. Nederlander/Terry Allen Kramer, Independent Presenters Network, Jam Theatricals, Bud Martin, Michael Watt, The Weinstein Co/Sonia Friedman/Dede Harris, Center Theatre Group, Norton Herrick/Matthew C Blank/Joan Stein, Toni Dowgiallo, and GFOUR Productions.

Press notes describe the story, "When pushed to their boiling point by their boss, Franklin Hart, Jr. (Marc Kudisch), Violet Newstead (Allison Janney), the super efficient office manager, Judy Bernly (Stephanie J. Block), a frazzled divorcee, and the sexy executive secretary Doralee Rhodes (Megan Hilty) turn the tables on him. The trio hatches a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot, and that plan quickly spins wildly and hilariously out of control. Ms. Parton's original score for9 To 5: The Musical includes over twenty new songs as well as the Grammy Award winning, Academy Award nominated, and #1 Billboard title song. 9 To 5: The Musical had its world premiere engagement in Los Angeles at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre".

The production features scenic design by two-time Tony Award winner Scott Pask, costume design by five-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winners Jules Fisher and Kenneth Posner, sound design by John Shivers, imaging by Peter Nigrini and Peggy Eisenhauer, with music direction by Stephen Oremus.

The 30 member cast of 9 To 5: The Musical features Kathy Fitzgerald, Andy Karl, Ioana Alfonso, Timothy George Anderson, Jennifer Balagna, Justin Bohon, Paul Castree, Daniel Cooney, Jeremy Davis, Gaelen Gilliland, Autumn Guzzardi, Ann Harada, Neil Haskell, Lisa Howard, Van Hughes, Michael X. Martin, Michael Mindlin, Karen Murphy, Mark Myars(Dance captain), Justin Patterson, Jessica Lea Patty, Charlie Pollock, Tory Ross, Wayne Schroder, Maia Nkenge Wilson and Brandi Wooten.

The Preview playing schedule for 9 To 5: The Musical is as follows: Monday thru Friday at 8pm and Saturday at 2pm & 8pm. There will be a matinee performance add on Wednesday, April 29, at 2pm. Beginning May 5 the playing schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7pm; Wednesday thru Saturday at 8pm; Sunday at 3pm; with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com (212-307-4100) or at the Marriott Marquis Theatre Box Office and range from $126.50 to $66.50.

For more information visit www.9to5themusical.com.

Photo Credit: Henry/Dzeiken/Retna Ltd.