VILLAGE THEATRE EVERETT "9 to 5" January 10 - February 8, 2026 Opening Night Review 1/10/26
9 to 5
Music and Lyrics: Dolly Parton
Book: Patricia Resnick
Music Director: R.J. Tancioco
Choreographer: Daniel Cruz
Director: Katy Tabb
Village Theatre
Everett, WA
Review: 7:30pm Performance on January 10, 2026
The first show of 2026 at the Village Theatre Everett is the classic comedy, “9-5”. The show opened on Saturday night to a full theatre with great anticipation from the audience.
Placing a show like this in the post-holiday slot was a wise move for the season. It’s far-fetched and comedic (depending on your sense of humor) which is perfect for the start of the new year during one of the coldest months.
Having seen one other production of this musical, I had a good idea what I was in for on opening night.
The Village Theatre always produces shows of a certain quality. This is to be commended as consistency is a hard thing to achieve from show to show. But, the fine folks at the Village Theatre have done it.
As always, I tend to not go over plot points as I’d rather the reader go attend a performance and make up their minds for themselves.
What I will say is that the cast was as strong as you would imagine for a Village Theatre show. Brandon O’Neill (Franklin Hart, Jr.), Beth DeVries (Violet Newstead), and Bobbi Kotula (Roz Keith) were standouts in a fabulous cast. Taylor Niemyer-Symons came on as the understudy for the role of Judy (usually played by Sarah Rose Davis) and hit it out of the park. If an announcement had not been made, I would have not known she was an understudy. She was fantastic and on an opening night to boot!
The themes of female empowerment are still as relevant today as they were decades ago. The sexism, ageism, and other themes are played for comedic effect at times and do depict how far we’ve come (yet how far we still have to go). It did make me wonder for just a moment if we need musicals like “9 to 5” - or - are there better ways to show the struggles of women and marginalized communities in a musical theatre format? I see it from both sides but it was something I wasn’t prepared to ponder as I left the theatre.
If you want a show that will have you laughing and taking certain aspects of the show with a grain of salt from the patrons experience, “9 to 5” will fit the bill very nicely.
“9 to 5” runs through February 8th. Tickets are available: HERE!
Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts Media
Connect with Eclectic Arts Media: Social Media and Email Links
Music and Lyrics: Dolly Parton
Book: Patricia Resnick
Music Director: R.J. Tancioco
Choreographer: Daniel Cruz
Director: Katy Tabb
Village Theatre
Everett, WA
Review: 7:30pm Performance on January 10, 2026
(Kristin Burch, Sarah Rose Davis, Beth DeVries, and Brandon O'Neill in 9 to 5 at Village Theatre. Photo: Auston James (2025).)
The first show of 2026 at the Village Theatre Everett is the classic comedy, “9-5”. The show opened on Saturday night to a full theatre with great anticipation from the audience.
Placing a show like this in the post-holiday slot was a wise move for the season. It’s far-fetched and comedic (depending on your sense of humor) which is perfect for the start of the new year during one of the coldest months.
Having seen one other production of this musical, I had a good idea what I was in for on opening night.
The Village Theatre always produces shows of a certain quality. This is to be commended as consistency is a hard thing to achieve from show to show. But, the fine folks at the Village Theatre have done it.
As always, I tend to not go over plot points as I’d rather the reader go attend a performance and make up their minds for themselves.
What I will say is that the cast was as strong as you would imagine for a Village Theatre show. Brandon O’Neill (Franklin Hart, Jr.), Beth DeVries (Violet Newstead), and Bobbi Kotula (Roz Keith) were standouts in a fabulous cast. Taylor Niemyer-Symons came on as the understudy for the role of Judy (usually played by Sarah Rose Davis) and hit it out of the park. If an announcement had not been made, I would have not known she was an understudy. She was fantastic and on an opening night to boot!
The themes of female empowerment are still as relevant today as they were decades ago. The sexism, ageism, and other themes are played for comedic effect at times and do depict how far we’ve come (yet how far we still have to go). It did make me wonder for just a moment if we need musicals like “9 to 5” - or - are there better ways to show the struggles of women and marginalized communities in a musical theatre format? I see it from both sides but it was something I wasn’t prepared to ponder as I left the theatre.
If you want a show that will have you laughing and taking certain aspects of the show with a grain of salt from the patrons experience, “9 to 5” will fit the bill very nicely.
“9 to 5” runs through February 8th. Tickets are available: HERE!
Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts Media
Connect with Eclectic Arts Media: Social Media and Email Links
(Beth DeVries and the ensemble from 9 to 5 at Village Theatre. Photo by Auston James (2025))
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