Robert de Michiell/World of Wonder Storefront GalleryDolly Parton wrote all the songs for the new 9 to 5 musical, but that doesn't mean the show has an all-country playlist.
In fact, the musical's book writer Patricia Resnick (she also wrote the original movie) says "Backwoods Barbie" is the only country number in the entire show.
"The rest of the score is somewhere between pop and Broadway," Resnick said at last night's Outfest and American Cinematheque screening of the 1980 flick at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.
For those not up on 9 to 5, the original comedy starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton as three coworkers who decide to take revenge on their "sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot" boss, Franklin Hart Jr. (Dabney Coleman).
Parton has been working on the Joe Mantello-directed musical for about four years. Previews of its world premiere, starring Allison Janney, Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty and Marc Kudisch, begin tonight at L.A.'s Ahmanson Theatre. Ms. Parton wrote more songs for the show than they than they could ever use. "Dolly said she's going to release a whole CD of the ones that got away," Resnick said.
While Resnick said everyone is focused on getting the stage show up and running (it moves to Broadway in the spring), she added that a movie of the musical adaptation could be a possibility. "I certainly would like it to be more on the Hairspray model than the Producers model," she said with a laugh.
Meanwhile, just around the corner from the screening, a new art show at the World of Wonder Storefront Gallery will be opening on Friday.
Dollypop, cocurated by Steven Corfe and yours truly, features dozens of works inspired by—you guessed it—the country-music legend. World of Wonder has staged similar shows around Britney Spears and Madonna.
Among the visual candy this time round is an original piece by New Yorker illustrator Robert de Michiell (above), Jason Kronenwald's portrait made from chewed gum and a painting by Bubbles the Artist (aka Friends theme-song writer Allee Willis).
Dollypop runs through Oct. 8.