The Theatre Arts Department at Utah State University has scheduled a panel discussion on gender politics and women in the workplace prior to its debut performance of ‘9 to 5: the Musical’ on April 15.
LOGAN – The Theatre Arts Department at Utah State University will present a panel discussion on gender-politics and women and the workplace on the opening night of its production of 9 to 5: the Musical.
The panel discussion will take place at 6:45 p.m. on Friday, April 15 in room FAV 262 of the Chase Fine Arts Center. The production of 9 to 5: the Musical will follow at 7:30 p.m. in the Morgan Theatre.
The musical comedy is based on the 1980 feature film of the same name. After starring in the movie along with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, music icon Dolly Parton composed the score and lyrics for the stage version of the corporate revolt comedy that debuted on Broadway in 2008.
The plot of the 9 to 5: the Musical is a feminist’s dream.
Pushed to the boiling point, three female co-workers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, they 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 let them down.
The USU production will be guest directed by Valerie Rachelle.
Rachelle is a professional director who heads the Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland, OR. She is well known locally for her summertime work with the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre. Her other professional credits include stints with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Syracuse Opera and the Utah Shakespeare Festival.
Rachelle will be part of the panel discussion on April 15. She will be joined in the pre-show discussion by Dr. Alison Cook, a professor of business specializing in women and the workplace, and Dr. Christy Glass, a gender studies scholar.
They will answer questions about gender-politics and the value of women in the workplace.
This panel is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities & Utah Humanities as part of the American Recovery Plan (ARP) Act.
Evening performances of 9 to 5: the Musical are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. April 15 and 16 as well as April 20 to 23 in the Morgan Theatre in the Chase Fine Arts Building on the USU campus.
A 2 p.m. matinee performance is also slated for Saturday, April 16.