Second only to Amy Ryan, Juno’s Allison Janney gave my favorite supporting-actress performance last year (you go, C.J. Cregg, with yer Maybelline eyeshadow and yer flat Minnesota accent!). And second to none — not even to Kenny Rogers’ "The Gambler" — Dolly Parton’s "9 to 5" is my favorite classic country-pop singalong-friendly single from a vocalist crossing over into acting (seriously, that tune is good enough to drive you crazy if you let it.) So naturally, EW’s Hollywood Insider news that Tony nominee Janney plans a return to Broadway in a new musical based on the 1980 comedy 9 to 5 got my attention.
Since Janney will be playing the Lily Tomlin role, let’s think about who should step into the slingback pumps of Jane Fonda and Parton. I could see Ashley Jensen, Ugly Betty’s funny Brit, as jumpy Judy, the mousy divorcee who tells off her ex while holding Dabney Coleman hostage in a bedroom ("If I want to have an affair, or play sex games, or do M&M’s, you can’t stop me!"). And wouldn’t recently-buxom Christina Aguilera — hilarious on SNL, let’s not forget — knocker one out of the park updating Dolly’s role, Doralee? I realize Xtina sharing top billing on Broadway is unlikely, but one can dream.
Here’s a daydreamy 9 to 5 clip of Janney’s predecessor, Tomlin, doing her best Snow White (I bet Amy Adams would’ve loved a visit from just a few of these critters during her starkly-staged Oscars performance of "Happy Working Song," but I digress).
Think it’s all takin’ and no givin’ around here, PopWatchers? Nope! Let us hear your fantasy-casting for Janney’s next costars, and don’t forget the role of the 9 to 5 bossman!
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Idina Menzel in the Parton role
Victor Garber as F. Hart
And I dig just about everthing Audra McDonald does so she takes the Fonda role.
Charles Busch as Doralee (why not?)
Amy Adams in the Fonda role
and Alex Baldwin as the boss
It’s been cast for some time. Here’s another Playbill article from last November:
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/112825.html
i would give ANYTHING to see allison janney and ashley jenson on broadway. that is major talent right there, forget about the dolly parton role.
find auditions here
http://www.auditions.com
find acting here
http://www.my actingagent
find casting here
http://www.castingaudition.com
Well, there’s absolutely no chance I’d be able to see that but since they typically release original cast recordings of musicals I’m still majorly psyched. I love Allison Janney and Lily Tomlin’s role in 9 to 5 sounds absolutely perfect for her. Not to mention actually hearing her sing. Which that one episode in the middle of Sam’s campaign for the house of representitives says she can.
I can’t say I’ve seen 9 to 5 (blasphemy, I know!), but Allison Janney is the most fabulous woman in the world, and I’d pay BIG money to see her read the classified ads onstage. CJ Cregg is an icon.
(Btw, PopWatch, as a devoted Wing Nut, I have to correct you- CJ’s from Dayton, Ohio, not Minnesota! Except for one episode where she and Toby have the Timberwolves exchange, but yeah, I’ll stop now.)
Sarah, I think the blogger was referencing Janney’s accent for the movie, since it was set in Minnesota, not her real accent. I vote for Kristin Chenoweth for Dolly’s role. I think the country, down home aspect is more important than the big boobs. Besides, boobs can be faked but a good Southern accent is hard to find and a bad Southern accent is hard to listen to.
So glad to see the fabulous Allison Janney getting some PopWatch love. I like the ideas of Kristin Chenoworth and Amy Adams rounding out the three women. What about ScarJo as Dolly, I think that would be very interesting. Maybe Frances McDormand as the Fonda character?
Minnesota was about “Juno”, not west wing, wasn’t it? I wish Dolly Parton would do the Broadway 9 to 5!
Like Tina posted, it’s already been casted. I love that it’s Allison Janney with Wicked alums-that’s what makes me really excited!
Let Dolly play Dolly. She owns that roll. I am laughing just thinking about the scene where she lassos (sp?) Mr. Hart in her dream sequence.
First Fame, then Xanadu, now 9 to 5.
Why don’t we look for more Broadway Crossover movies from 1980?
The Empire Strikes Back–the Musical, anyone?
Casted or not,steph I wish Lily Tomlin would come back to broadway. No offense to Miss Janney who is also great.
Casting has actually already be announced (but please don’t stop your fantasy casts being created). Stephanie Block is playing the Jane Fonda role and sadly, I can’t remember who’s playing DoraLee. With the show being written by the woman who wrote the movie screenplay and the music being completely written by Dolly Parton, I’m actually REALLY excited about this!!
Dolly as Doralee! Please!