DOLLY PARTON: “9 TO 5” BROADWAY MUSICAL EARNS FOUR TONY AWARD NOMINATIONS

BROADWAY MUSICAL EARNS FOUR TONY AWARD NOMINATIONS

It’s definitely “Hello, Dolly” time on Broadway.

9 to 5—the smash film DOLLY PARTON starred in—is now a bona fide hit on Broadway, today scoring four Tony Awards, including “Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre.” DOLLY wrote all the words and music specifically for the show–including her current hit single and video “Backwoods Barbie”–marking the first time the iconic music legend has ever written for a musical.  The musical also was nominated for “Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Allison Janney),” “Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Marc Kudisch)” and “Best Choreography (Andy  Blankenbuehler).”

DOLLY says, “It's a long way from Locust Ridge, Tennessee to Broadway!  I'm just so proud to be here and to be nominated for a Tony for writing the score for ‘9 to 5: The Musical.’  It's a wonderful show and I'm proud to be part of it.  Thank God and thank you.”

The musical–which opened on April 30 at the Marquis Theatre–also recently garnered a record-setting 15 Drama Desk Awards (including “Outstanding Musical,” “Outstanding Music” and “Outstanding Lyrics”) as well as three Drama League Award nominations (including “Distinguished Production of a Musical”).

The video for the “Backwoods Barbie” single (which she recently performed on “Late Night With David Letterman”) entered the GAC Top 20 Countdown at #5.  In just a few short weeks, the “Backwoods Barbie” video ascended to #6 on the CMT Video Chart and it also entered the CMT Top 20 Countdown at #17.

The critically acclaimed “9 to 5” musical previewed in Los Angeles late last year and won two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, for Musical Score and Choreography. Check out more critical quotes below, or log on to www.dollypartonmusic.net for all the latest on DOLLY.

“…she [Dolly] has a simple, direct way with lyrics and a beguiling sense of melody whether it's country twang, gospel, rhythm 'n' blues, power ballad or sentimental love song.”

“She has composed a set of songs, accompanied with her own lyrics that complement the original song. The greatest triumph of the night was that the film has been reinvented as a musical so successfully.”

“The country icon…has injected plenty of twang into the score. But there are also ballads that wouldn't be out of place in most contemporary, pop-influenced musicals and nods to Tin Pan Alley and '70s funk.”

“It shouldn't surprise anybody she's [Dolly] taken so well to the stage: She's always been a storyteller first and foremost. Her countrified pop, enhanced by fiddle and pedal-steel guitar, fits perfectly on Broadway. Of all the mainstream artists who've tried their hand at show music in the past few years, she may be the most convincing.”

“As composer-lyricist of the country-flavored pop score, Parton is a significant presence as well, not just in the evergreen title tune but particularly in a handful of new songs. The wry self-validation of ‘Backwoods Barbie,’ the delicate optimism of ‘I Just Might,’ the upbeat resilience of ‘Shine Like the Sun’ and take-charge attitude of ‘Change It’ all reveal the songwriter's authentic personality, and ‘9 to 5’ is at its most winning when these numbers focus attention squarely on the women battling for a fair deal in an unequal-opportunity environment.”

“…the lovable ballad ‘Backwoods Barbie’ [is] Parton’s charming, autobiographical, country ode to how neither a rural origin nor a Double D-Cup prevents a sharp mind…”

“The music and lyrics by Dolly Parton are super…probably the best of any show this year…”