Dolly Parton talks “9 to 5: The Musical,” “Backwoods Barbie Collector’s Edition”
Dolly Parton (Associated Press photo)
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Broadway meets “Backwoods Barbie”
Though she considers herself a “Backwoods Barbie,” Dolly Parton remains a forward-thinking entertainer and businesswoman who’s forging new territory after five decades in show biz.
Whether she’s releasing her own album, writing a children’s book or taking on Broadway, the multi-talented dynamo from Tennessee may be approaching her “Rockin’ Years,” as her 1991 hit goes, but she’s not ready to take a seat out of the spotlight just yet.
Instead, the singer/songwriter/actress, 63, keeps marching into new challenges: Parton will attend Thursday the Broadway opening of “9 to 5: The Musical,” for which she wrote the music and lyrics. The show has been in previews most of April, and after opening her Tennessee theme park Dollywood in late March, she traveled to New York City to follow the progress of her first Broadway project.
“I’ve worked all the way through. I’ve worked with all the casting, worked with Joe Mantello, the director; Patricia Resnick, that wrote the book (and co-wrote the film script); and Bob Greenblatt, the … producer. And so, we’ve all worked together trying to make sure that it was good. We’re very proud of it,” Parton said in a recent phone interview from Nashville, Tenn.
The musical is based on the 1980 hit movie starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Parton as three office workers who get the better of their “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot” boss (Dabney Coleman). The comedy was Parton’s first foray into acting, and she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance and an Oscar for writing and singing the movie’s theme song.
Though the musical hasn’t yet celebrated its officially opening, it already has earned nominations for Parton. On Monday, “9 to 5″ was nominated for a record 15 Drama Desk Awards, including two for Parton, for outstanding music and lyrics. Even before the nominations, Parton said working on new songs for the beloved story was an exciting venture.
“We have a great cast and let’s just hope the economy allows use to open and do good,” said Parton, who also is awaiting the release of her second children’s book, “I Am a Rainbow,” in May.
“9 to 5: The Musical” stars four-time Emmy Award winner Allison Janney as Violet, the part originated by Tomlin; Stephanie J. Block as Judy, who was played by Fonda; and Megan Hilty as Doralee, Parton’s old role. As Doralee, Hilty belts out “Backwoods Barbie,” an autobiographical song Parton said is the only country tune in the show.
“Backwoods Barbie” also is the title track of Parton’s 2008 album, her first mainstream country collection in nearly two decades and first on her own label, Dolly Records. The album reached No. 2 on the country charts and premiered at No. 17 on the Billboard Top 200, her highest debut there of her career.
The album re-entered the charts earlier this month when Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores released an exclusive collector’s edition featuring three previously unreleased songs.
“Cracker Barrel’s very famous in my part of the world. I’ve spent many a time and spent many a buck there eatin’ their great food, which is like the food I grew up lovin’,” she said. “They believed that I represented what they represent, like country and family values and that sort of thing, so they thought it’d be a good idea to kind of work together. And it has so far been good.”
The collector’s edition debuted at No. 9 on Billboard’s country albums chart and at No. 40 on the Top 200. The three exclusive songs are “Berry Pie,” a “joyful little love song about a girl making a pie for a boy trying to win his heart,” the Appalachian-style ballad “Rose of My Heart” and the vacation anthem “Hallelujah Holiday.”
“I was thinking, oh, it’d be perfect because everybody on vacation stops at Cracker Barrel to eat traveling down the road,” she said. “And then we have a collector’s edition photo album of photos from my childhood, all through my career … and little stories, little comments.”
For those who want to rock Dolly-style, Cracker Barrel also created a limited edition version of their famed rocking chairs, in Parton’s signature pink.
-BAM
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment