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Dolly Parton Works Overtime for 9 to 5

Mon., Sep. 22, 2008 3:30 PM PDT by Marc Malkin

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Talk about a showstopping performance.

Not long into Saturday's opening night of 9 to 5: The Musical at L.A.'s Ahmanson Theatre, technical issues with the elaborate set literally shut the show down.

Thankfully, Dolly Parton was on hand. "Don't make me have to sing," Parton boomed from her seat. "If I have to this time, I'll make Lily [Tomlin] and Jane [Fonda] do it with me." (Yes, her movie costars were there for opening night!)

An usher handed Parton a microphone and before you knew it, she was leading the audience in a "9 to 5" sing-along. "Thank you for being so kind and understanding," Parton said. "I'm glad I'm such a show-off." (She actually had to do the same almost two weeks ago when the set broke down during previews.)

Tech issues aside, 9 to 5 is a hoot. Parton wrote all the music and lyrics—and it shows. There are soaring ballads, silly comedic romps and of course, an opening number featuring the title song. The show moves to Broadway in the spring. With some nippin' and tuckin' (the first act is too long), it's sure to be another hit for director Joe Mantello.

Parton's the first to admit she never expected to find herself working on Broadway, even after producer Robert Greenblatt and writer Patricia Resnick first presented the idea to her about four years ago. "That's not my world, you know," Parton told me. "I'm a hillbilly from Tennessee…I didn't know what I was doing. I was just acting on faith."

(For more on Parton, check out what I had to say about her in yesterday's Los Angeles Times. Yeah, I'm quoted in it.)