Note: A version of this article will be published in the Concord Bridge. 

Stepping into a well-established theater program is no easy task—especially when following a beloved director. For first-year director Evan Kelly, taking on Concord-Carlisle High School’s 9 to 5 as “the new guy” has presented a significant challenge. This is the largest cast he has worked with, and “there are a lot of unspoken expectations and processes that are new to [him].”

Senior JianNan L’Angiocola, playing Bob Enright, admits that having the new director “is definitely a change,” but his care and passion for the production are “more than enough” to make the show a success.

Junior Joanna Stearns, who plays Margaret, notes that Kelly “allows [the actors] to do the scene first in [their] own interpretation” before offering direction, giving actors more room for creativity. 

While the transition has brought new approaches onstage, it has also highlighted the strong role students play throughout the production. Kelly says he was “quite surprised at the level of student involvement in all aspects of the production.” In almost every department, there is a student leader, making it very much “the students’ show.”

For example, sophomore Juliet Perkins, the construction manager, described building the set as a “very involved process,” requiring long hours to ensure each piece is both functional and ready on time. She feels “attached to each piece” and takes pride in everything she and her crew have accomplished, adding that she enjoys “having the chance to add to the story told by the actors by providing a setting that helps them convey their tale.”

Technical director Ned Roos, who oversees multiple crews including construction, lighting, sound, and props, echoes that sentiment. He says the best part “is working with great students who are excited to be part of the show,” calling their enthusiasm “contagious.” Despite this year being “especially busy,” Roos says he is consistently “proud of what [the students] accomplish and how much they learn in just a few months.”

With so many moving parts, the production has demanded a high level of commitment from everyone involved. For the cast, one of the biggest challenges has been balancing complex vocals with demanding choreography.

Senior Maria Kielzcewska, an ensemble member, says that the rehearsals “have been a lot,” as combining music and movement can be difficult, “but it’s been fun.” She says, “There’s always just so much to do and so many new things to add. There’s a lot going on in this musical.”

Senior Charles Mastromarino, playing Franklin Hart, describes the dance numbers as “complicated” and “fast-paced,” but believes the audience will enjoy them because of how “big” and “spectacle-driven” they are. 

The music itself plays a central role in bringing that energy to life. The play, 9 to 5, features music and lyrics by Dolly Parton, with songs such as “Backwoods Barbie” and “One of the Boys.” Kelly is particularly excited about this aspect of the production, calling Parton a “living legend of American music” and noting that “her positivity comes through in each song.” He adds that the cast is really embracing the energy and “bringing the songs to life.”

Beyond the lively music and choreography, however, the show also carries a deeper message. The storyline of 9 to 5 follows three women—Violet Newstead, Judy Bernly, and Doralee Rhodes— working at a company called Consolidated, where they attempt to overthrow their strict, sexist boss, Franklin Hart. Originally scheduled to be performed at CCHS in 2020, Kelly says the musical is “very timely,” addressing “not just misogyny in the workplace, but a bigger theme of the power of the individual to enact positive change.”

Mastromarino describes 9 to 5 as, at its core, a “comedic crowd-pleaser,” but says the show is “unique in that the struggles of the main characters are very genuine.” He adds that the chemistry of its three leads “adds a bit of relatability to the show.”

Stearns hopes the audience will connect with those themes, saying she wants them to feel “the emotions [of] workers that have to experience 9 to 5” and recognize “the sexism toward females during that time.”

For many involved, all of the hard work leads up to one moment: opening night. L’Angiocola says, “You see a sudden energy about everyone, and that energy carries through the show…it not only energizes the audience but us the performers.” For him, show nights have always been “magical” and the reason he keeps coming back each year.  And this year, with students leading both onstage and behind the scenes, that magic is very much their own.

The CC Theatre will perform 9 to 5 at the CCHS auditorium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 7; Friday, May 8; and Saturday, May 9, with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Open captioning will be available at all performances, with professional ASL interpretation at the May 8th performance. Purchase tickets at http://cc-theatre.org.