Comments on: Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 Busts on Broadway

By: Mark Raymond Cubbage

Mark Raymond Cubbage — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:45:50 +0000

I study music a lot and I do believe the musical failed because of two reasons.

1. I think that the musical was published far in advance and way too much.
2. Megan can’t sing, period. Every time I listen to her it sounds as if she is gasping for air and her voices bounces and has a bad accent.

By: Taylor

Taylor — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:02:21 +0000

I apologize if this sounds hostile. But are you on glue?

Have you seen Megan Hilty perform live? She brings nothing but grace and talent with her to the stage, and to say that she was the downfall of this show is absolutely absurd. The show flopped because of the lack of recognition at the Tony Awards (which is only because it opened on Broadway very close to the time the awards were tot ake place). Megan Hilty performs the role with incredible precision and heart, and she puts everything she has into it – you can tell. Her performance is flawless, and so is her appearance and presence on stage. She is inspiration to budding musical theatre performers everywhere, I can tell you that much. Let’s not forget that Dolly hand-picked her for the role, which says massive things about what Dolly thinks of her. I’ve never heard anything but praise coming from Dolly about Megan. Perhaps before you make a snap judgement, you should stop and think about how ridiculous and ignorant you sound.

By: Backwoods J. Barbie

Backwoods J. Barbie — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 04:10:28 +0000

Say what you want, but I do not agree with this “article”. It is in no way going to change the fact that Megan Hilty is an amazing actress who works hard and does an incredible job every night. Blaming her for the closing of 9 to 5 is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. It sounds to me more like someone is pointing fingers with no real justification at all. Even if I had no idea who Megan Hilty is, or some other actor/actress was mentioned, I would still find it all absurd. As others have said in their comments before my own, Megan is playing Doralee, NOT DOLLY. Even Miss Dolly Parton herself spoke volumes about how proud she is of Megan and the rest of the brilliant cast of 9 to 5. Yes, it’s unfortunate that the show is closing, but everyone (not just Megan) involved in the show has done such an amazing job bringing this show to life on stage night after night. “When it’s all said and done, we’re gunna shine like the sun!”

By: Allie

Allie — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:09:57 +0000

So let’s get a few things straight before we unrightfully criticize one person and blame the “failing” of the show on them. The Marquis Theatre has never been known to have a show in there for long. It’s basically going to die if you open something in it. The place is cursed. Gavin Creel has closed TWO shows in that theatre. Does that mean it was his fault? No. It means that the theatre is too big for the shows that go in it. If you follow the weekly Broadway grosses as closely as someone like myself does, you would see that 9 to 5 did in fact sell many seats a week, enough to sell out many theatres on Broadway, but not enough for the shows larger-than-life home.
As for the comment on Megan Hilty, she is beyond talented and no, you’re right, she’s not exactly like Dolly Parton. But would a show like Wicked be any good if every Glinda was exactly like Kristin Chenoweth? People would stop coming if the way the character was percieved by certain actors and actresses in every show stayed the same. We should count ourselves lucky to have gotten the amazingly beautiful and talented Megan Hilty to portray herself as a spot-on DORALEE RHODES. Doralee is who she was hired to play. Not Dolly Parton.

By: Ahastey

Ahastey — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:49:58 +0000

ARE YOU CRAZY?! Megan Hilty is amazing in this role. Besides, shes not playing DOLLY PARTON, shes playing DORALEE RHODES! Your judgement and criticism is outlandish and rude. She and the Stephanie J. Block and Allison Janney all did wonderful justice to the movie, the characters and the three original women. Simply because she is young, normal and not at all fake doesnt mean she is the cause of the closing of the show. As many others have said, there are many uncontrollable things causing the closing. I think you should apologize to Megan Hilty as well as all of her fans and the cast and crew of 9 to 5!!

By: Allyson

Allyson — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:36:35 +0000

Megan is a fantastic performer. She was the main reason why I wanted to see the show in the first place. Her portrayal of Doralee was flawless. She’s a brilliant young lady and she gets an excellent response from the audience every night. How would you like it if someone blamed you for something like that. True it’s only Megan’s second show and she’s still growing but I can say she’s grown into a true pro since I saw her make her Broadway debut in Wicked. It’s the fault of the economy.

By: ADistantDreamer

ADistantDreamer — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:29:14 +0000

When an actor/actress takes on a role that has previously been played by someone else, especially some one as famous as Dolly Parton, it is NEVER the goal for them to be identical to the person they are replacing, in either performance or appearance. Megan has done the role Dolly originated more than justice, was nominated for 3 different awards for her interpretation and Dolly herself has had nothing but positive things to say about her.
That being said, the very fact that you would choose to blame Megan’s appearance for the fact that is show is closing just shows that you were ignorant enough not to look at the larger picture. If you had then you would have seen that there were many factors (such as an expensive set, lack of recognition at the Tony awards and audiences buying discounted tickets) that contributed to an early closing and that Megan, let alone any of the other immensly talented cast memebers, should not in any way be blamed.

By: Casey

Casey — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:53:31 +0000

I would have to say that your claim that Megan Hilty is the reason for 9 to 5’s closing is completely ridiculous. I saw the show a couple weeks ago and found Megan’s portrayal of Doralee Rhodes to be absolutely fantastic. If anything should be blamed for the show not succeeding, it would be patrons buying discounted tickets and the lack of a “Best Musical” nomination at the Tony Awards. And, as all of the actresses in this show have said, they are not trying to imitate the leading ladies of the movie but are taking over the rolls as their own. Megan should not be blamed at all, nor should any of the actresses. It is an unfortunate and untimely closing, but it was simply a lack of bringing in enough money to fund such an insanely technical (and expensive) show.

By: DollyNood

DollyNood — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:22:03 +0000

No doubt Dolly is an unequaled singer-songwriter but with the candy-floss hair and her bawdy, larger-than-life, knock-’em-out curves, Dolly is one of the greatest hotties of the world.

At age 63 now, as of Januari 19 th 2009, she still looks better than a lot of those so-called supermodels. I’d say it’s way overdue that she showed those 34E’s aka “The Best Boobs in the Bizz” to the world, so c’mon Dolly pose nude in the near future and don’t wait until y’er 100-th birthday or at least have the pictures that have been taken in the past published!!

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:06:43 +0000

I completely disagree with your criticism of Megan Hilty. She does have that over-the-top southern glam girl look with the large chest and big mass of blonde hair. She was the standout performer for my family and I when we saw the show. I think a lack of money on the part of NYC visitors has led to the demise of many Broadway shows. Don’t blame a wonderful actress like Megan Hilty, blame the economy!