Hilltop Players Season Closes with High-Energy Musical

West Liberty University students are staging “9 – 5: The Musical” this spring as they close another successful theater season.

Directed by Melinda Kreisberg, the musical opens at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 11, in Kelly Theatre. It continues with performances at 7:30 p.m., Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 14.

“This is incredibly collaborative show and involves students and faculty, from dance, theatre and music and the biology programs. We all work together to put on the show and it’s so much fun. It’s really a great West Liberty University production,” said Kreisberg, involved for 10 or so years.

Kreisberg is assisted by Linda Cowan (musical director), Meta Lasch (costume and scenery designer), Jill Warren (choreography), Matthew Harder (sound technology) and Shelby Garrett (acting coach).

With music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, the musical is based on the 1980 hit movie by the same name. Set in the late 1970s, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic.

Pushed to the boiling point, three female co-workers make a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy, giving their boss the boot! While Hart remains “otherwise engaged,” the women give their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that had always kept them down.

This high-energy show has a jubilant score and easily relatable characters, 9 to 5 is the perfect show for audiences who want comedy, nostalgia and social relevance.

Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets. For more information, call the WLU box office 304-336-8277.

Cast List

Violet:  Callie Carroll, Morgantown, W.Va.

Doralee: Glory Dami, Steubenville, Ohio

Judy: Mary Horzempa, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Franklin Hart: Hayden Heiserman, Brooke County

Roz: Amanda Tamplen, Charles Town, W.Va.

Joe: Grant Van Camp, Brooke County

ENSEMBLE MEMBERS

Dwayne: Jalen McCrary (Doralee’s husband)

Josh: J.J. Snider (Violet’s son)

Missy: Odessa Hores (Hart’s wife)

Maria Delgado: Lexi Glover

Dick: Daniel White (Judy’s ex-husband)

Kathy the gossip: Josie Jarrett

Margaret the drunk: Alex Burdick

Bob Enright: Isaac Cardot

Tinsworthy: Ben Moore

Detective: Doug Torres

Doctor: Maria Keane

Candy Striper: Rose Cunningham

New Employee: Kristian Slavik

Dolly/Narrator: Hunter Helms

Corpse: Shannon Shiflett

Others: Carly Balog, Autumn Carver, Zach Ziolkowski