Steamboat High Students Turn 9 to 5 Into Dolly Parton Tribute

Steamboat Springs —Dolly Parton died the day before Steamboat Springs High School students began their first rehearsal for “9 to 5.”

The timing was not lost on the cast or crew. For music director Abbey Foriger, who selected the musical at the start of summer because of its personal impact on her own career, the loss immediately shifted the tone of the production. It was no longer just a show about three women fighting a bad boss; it became a tribute to the woman who wrote its songs.

Foriger told the Steamboat Pilot that many of the students in this production grew up receiving a monthly book from Parton’s Imagination Library. They spent time discussing how the country star never stopped giving back, lifting up those who loved her and even those who doubted her when she was young.

The musical itself is set in the 1970s, but Foriger noted that her students feel a strong connection to the central issues of the plot. The story follows Violet, Judy, and Doralee, three female employees who are tired of being overlooked, belittled, and harassed by their boss, Franklin Hart Jr. What begins as a fantasy of getting rid of him turns into comical reality when they accidentally kidnap him. The women then take control of the office, instituting new policies to boost morale and productivity.

Foriger said she picked the show because Parton had been a source of wisdom in her life as a performer, and she wanted to pass that on to the next generation.

The production features 45 high school students, including 20 on the technical crew. Senior Hudson Merlina plays Franklin Hart Jr., while sophomore Lillian Garner takes on the role of Violet Newstead. Juniors Gretta Wright and Grace Thomas play Judy Bernly and Roz Keith, respectively.

Foriger said she is beyond excited to celebrate the students’ hard work and share Dolly’s legacy with the community. She noted that when a famous musician passes, the conversation usually centers on their music. It is an extraordinary thing, she said, that when people think of Dolly, they cannot help but talk about her radical kindness first.

Performances are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with an additional matinee at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are available through the high school’s website, SSHS.SteamboatSchools.net.

In the rehearsal space on Monday, you could see the energy shift as the cast moved through scenes. Senior Hudson Merlina shared a scene with Sean Oberbeck in the auditorium, while Mikaylla Lopes DaSilva sang as she played the part of Doralee Rhodes. The room filled with the sound of voices finding their pitch, a collective effort to honor a legacy that outlasted its creator. The lights dimmed for the final run-through, leaving only the hum of the stage equipment and the quiet anticipation of a community ready to listen.