Clay County Times

Florida School of the Arts presents “9 to 5 The Musical,” with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick. Inspired by the iconic 80's film, this production takes Violet, Judy and Doralee on a multi-layered musical and dance adventure in teaming up against their sexist, egotistical boss, Mr. Hart.

The show runs February 23 – 26. Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $10. The performance contains mild language and adult content.

FloArts acting instructor and play director Patricia Crotty, who retires this spring after 35 years of mentoring a generation of acting students, said the performance follows the movie closely and is timely in both subject matter and size. “It’s a big show - the entire school is involved in some way… It’s nice to have everyone back in person, in the same place, working together,” she said, referring to how productions once seemed fractured in “zoomland” during COVID-19. “We’re back to the sense of community that comes from working together - the hallmark of what FloArts is about.”

“And, it’s fun. We need that right now,” Crotty continued. “I also think the topic is timely. There are still issues in the workplace that the public is still grappling with. We haven’t moved significantly forward, but it’s presented in a fun, easy-to-take format. The show brings strong messages about society, but candy-coats it in a way that makes it fun to watch and think about.”

Reflecting upon her career, Crotty said she has the best job in the world. “Every day is a privilege walking into a community of artists who are also committed to their students and their work, all working in a collaborative way to create art and to mentor young artists,” she said.

Upon her arrival in 1987, Crotty first saw FloArts as a stepping stone toward a university teaching position, but it was the close-knit community of teaching artists that made her stay. “I like the environment where you can get to know your students and spend a lot of time mentoring their unique talent because you are able to work so closely with them,” Crotty said. “You can’t teach the way I teach with 200 students.”

Over the last three decades, Crotty said it has been fulfilling to help students find what is unique and authentic about their talent, learn how to own it and put it out in the world. “I’m also way more interested in the quality of the human being they become than just the quality of an artist they can be,” Crotty said. “If you’re not a quality human being, then you’re not going to be a high-quality artist who contributes to the world in a meaningful way.”

Tiffany Jordan, FloArts alumna and now professor of costume design and technology, said the opportunity to design costumes for her favorite show is a dream come true. “Everything I ever needed to know, I learned from Dolly Parton,” Jordan said. “Dolly Parton has always been such a positive role model in my life. I love her so much because there is nothing she can’t do; and she will do it with big blonde hair while wearing her tallest high heels.”

Jordan said the show has many significant meanings for her personally. “The first time I ever presented costume renderings in college was at FloArts in Patricia Crotty’s theatre history class,” Jordan said. “And now many years later, I am her costume designer for my dream show. I feel very lucky to have had such positive and strong female role models like Dolly and Patricia in my life; and I wouldn’t be the designer, teacher, or person I am today without them.”

“Growing up in Satsuma, Florida, I always had big sparkly dreams of being a designer,” Jordan continued. “I feel so fortunate that I got to turn those dreams into reality as a costume design instructor at Florida School of the Arts.”

The cast includes: McKayla Whiteside as Violet, Chelsy Lake as Judy, Sydney Sheffield as Doralee, Reid Norris as Mr. Hart and Natalie Drake as Roz.

Production includes: Patricia Crotty, Anna Guzman, directors; Tiffany Jordan, costume design/shop manager, Andrea Montez, choreography; Kandie Smith, music director; Tim Castell, scenic design; and Victoria Sanders, lighting and sound design; Emily Schafer, production manager; and Todd Allen, stage manager.

Additional cast includes: Christi Arnold, Alexis Brown, Jacob Brown, Tara Cooper, Elisa Crivelli, Jordan Fletcher, Amanda Gazy, Iyonna Harris, Shelby Howell, Lucy Jones, Josue Jorgé-Silva, Edward Jordan, Teoman Karaagac, Luke Keely, Maggie Rashaw, Jonray Roman, Hannah Seyler, Kevin Sharbaugh, Lamontiaz Slocumb, Sara Tierney and Caleb Urbistando.

Production staff includes: Crystal Addison, Shelby Brown, Lucy Jones, assistant stage managers; Noah Mastorides, video editor; Emily Schafer, videographer; Madelyn Considine, assistant sound designer; Kennedy Largin, assistant scenic designer; Logen Cheatham, dance captain; Theresa Castelli, house manager; Teoman Karaagac, Josue Jorgé-Silva, assistant to the music director; Lindsey Spaulding, assistant to the costume designer; Maggie Rashaw, Alicia Griffin, Hannah Seyler, production assistants; Dianette Moore, assistant lighting designer; Dianette Moore, Madelyn Considine, sound board operators; Lourdes Acosta Bados, light board operator; Kennedy Largin, spot operator; Tiffany Jordan, Emily Schafer, cutter/draper; Lindsey Spaulding, Shera Hebblewhite, first hand.

Costume construction crew: Lindsey Spaudling, Shera Hebblewhite, Elisa Crivelli, Portia Dedman, Jordan Fletcher, Jonray Roman, Hannah Seyler, Lexi Brown, Sydney Sheffield, Tara Cooper, Josue Jorgé-Silva, Caleb Urbistondo, Christi Arnold, Anna Guzman, Maggie Rashaw, and Sara Tierney.

Scenic construction crew: Natalie Drake, Shelby Howell, Nicholas Ridenhour, Sydney Sheffield, Sara Tierney, Madelyn Considine, Dianette Moore, Padraig Kinnare, Lamontiaz Slocumb, and Zachary Brunke.

Florida School of the Arts is located on the St. Johns River State College Palatka Campus and serves the entire state of Florida. FloArts is part of the academic and administrative structure of SJR State and awards associate degrees in acting, dance performance, musical theater, stage management, theater technology, graphic design/new media and studio art. For more information, call (386) 312-4300 or visit FloArts.org.

Original source can be found here.