Ahmanson 08-09 Season Launches '9 to 5' & 'Minsky's'

Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group has announced that two world premiere musicals, 9 to 5: The Musical and Minky's will be part of the 2008-2009 Ahmanson season, along with Spring Awakening and Frost/Nixon.  Rounding out the season is the exclusive 30th anniversary celebration of the musical Ain't Misbehavin' and Dame Edna:  My first Last Tour.

9 to 5:  The Musical boasts original music and lyrics by Grammy Award-winning star Dolly Parton, who also starred in the original film version which this new musical is based.  With a book by Patricia Resnick (co-author of the movie), choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, 9 to 5 will be directed by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello, and will play September 3 through October 19, 2008.

The all-star cast includes Allison Janney ("The West Wing") as Violet Newstead, "the super efficient office manager," Stephanie J. Block (Wicked) as the "frazzled divorcee" Judy Bernly, Megan Hilty (Wicked) as "the sexy executive secretary" Doralee Rhodes and Marc Kudisch (Thoroughly Modern Millie) as the "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot boss" Franklin Hart Jr.

"In a series of farcical events, the women inadvertently remove Hart from the workplace and keep him otherwise engaged," state press notes.  "Taking advantage of his absence, they begin to give their workplace a dream makeover and soon rise to the top of the company that once looked at them as second-class citizens."

Spring Awakening will bow at the Ahmanson starting October 29 and will run through December 7, 2008.  The Tony Award-winning Best Musical has a rock score and music by Grammy Award-winner Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics by Steven Sater, choreography by Bill T. Jones  and direction by Michael Mayer.

"Set in a provincial German town in the late 19th century, Spring Awakening follows a handful of adolescents who, in defiance of their parents, their community and the social mores of the time in which they live, begin to seek answers to all the exciting and confusing questions brought on by their emerging hormones," state press notes.   "Infused with the heartbeat of rock n' roll, their story is as urgent as it is timeless."

Minsky's is the second new musical playing the Ahmanson next season, boasting a book by Bob Martin and direction and choreography by Casey Nocholaw, who both crafted the U.S. premiere of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone at the Ahmanson  in 2005.  Composer Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Annie) will join lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Triumph of Love) on the musical, which begins performances January 21 through March 1, 2009.

"The king of burlesque himself, Billy Minsky, reigns over the rollicking backstage world of Minsky's," state press notes.  "He knows well that entertainment is all about legs and laughs and that to keep the customers coming you have to push the limits. But even he's not prepared for the day he falls in love and the cops come banging on his door."  Minsky's is based on the Bud Yorkin-Norman Lear production of "The Night They Raided Minsky's,"

Frost/Nixon will play as a bonus production at the Ahmanson beginning March 11 through the 29th, 2009.  The Tony-nominated play is directed by Michael Grandage and is written by Peter Morgan ("The Last King of Scotland").

Stacy Keach stars as Richard Nixon in this retelling of "the four-part series of conversations between David Frost and Nixon that took place three years after the disgraced Nixon had resigned office, having never accepted any blame in the Watergate scandal," state press notes.

Ain't Misbehavin' will play April 18 through May 31, 2009, marking the 30th anniversary of the Tony Award-winning revue set to the music of Thomas "Fats" Waller, which is conceived and directed by Richard Maltby Jr.

Songs showcased in the production include "The Joint is Jumpin'," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Mean to Me," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," "Two Sleepy People," "T'ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do," "Your Feet's Too Big," "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter," "Black and Blue," and "Ain't Misbehavin'"

Dame Edna:  My First Last Tour finishes off the season as another bonus option, playing for two weeks beginning June 9, 2009.  "In this show," said Dame Edna, "you will see me up close and personal, Possums, perhaps for the last time!  Close enough to see my beauty and personal enough to feel my love, and even, in some cases, my reluctant disapproval."

Tickets for the Ahmanson Theatre's 42nd season are currently available by subscription only.  For information and to charge subscriptions by phone, call the new Exclusive Season Ticket Hotline at (213) 972-4444. To purchase subscriptions on-line, visit CenterTheatreGroup.org.

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