The curtain lifts next month on Showbiz Queenstown’s highly-anticipated season of 9 to 5: The Musical, and included in the cast treading the boards will be seven locals who haven’t shared the stage together since 2016, when Showbiz produced Annie.
Back then Sofia Taquet was just 11 and played the lead role, alongside Thea Ericson.
She’s going from a redhead to a buxom platinum blonde, this year taking on the role of Doralee Rhodes (aka Dolly Parton).
Ruby Pullar, meanwhile, was just 7 years old when she played Grace in Annie.
Now 17, she’s channelling her inner teenage boy, playing Josh Newstead in 9 to 5, son of Violet (Zelia Grizzo) and being directed by her mum, Emma, who was Grace, the kind-hearted secretary to billionaire Oliver Warbucks in Annie.
Seasoned local performer Justin Abbiss was Rooster Hannigan, the scheming con-artist brother of Miss Hannigan, a decade ago — this time around he’s Franklin Hart Jr, a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot, and boss of Doralee, Violet and Judy Bernley (Natasha Wilson).
"He’s not having to act very hard, let’s put it that way," Emma laughs.
"It’s always fun and games whenever Justin Abbiss is involved — he’s great in the cast ... he just rips this s... out of everyone, basically, in a nice, supportive way."
Fiona Stephenson, who is back with Showbiz for the first time since 2016 when she played Lily St. Regis, is taking on the role of Margaret, often portrayed as the ‘office lush’, who frequently drinks at work, while Tony Willis, who was in Annie’s ensemble, is 9 to 5’s detective, and fellow Annie ensemble member Caitlin Rivers is now Kathy, the office gossip.
And, in another link, 9 to 5 choreographer Nicole McLean’s son, Ollie, was also in Annie’s ensemble.
Emma says there’s a "really lovely vibe" around the reunited cast, and all the "bloody amazing" talent involved, including several new faces.
For her, though, it’s been a "massive learning curve".
Having never directed before, Emma says she feels like she does not really know what she is doing, but is hugely grateful to all those who have been in her shoes and have lent support.
While excited to see the curtain go up in a fortnight, "I’m getting a little nervous about the fact that we’re almost there, but it’s shaping up to be really fun."
9 to 5: The Musical opens on May 14 at the Queenstown Memorial Centre and runs till May 23 — tickets are on sale now via showbizqueenstown.com
