First and foremost, I sincerely thank you all for coming to see HTAC’s production of 9 to 5: the Musical.
To all the moms and maternal figures in the audience, this show is for you. If it were not for you, your sacrifices, and your never-ending love and support, none of us would be here putting on this show for you all. This cast and crew has worked tirelessly to tell your story of the working woman, the mom, the boss, and everything in between. So from the bottom of my heart, to my mom, all the women I’m lucky enough to know, and the rest of the women in the audience tonight, thank you for letting us tell your story. I hope we do it justice.
When I first proposed this show, I knew that HTAC had a duty to supply an artistic commentary for the social atmosphere surrounding us as college students. In wake of #believesurvivors, #metoo, and the rising number of underrepresented sexual harassment cases on college campuses, I felt like now was the perfect time to readdress these pressing social issues. I say “readdress” because the themes that are prominent in this [9 to 5] franchise have been ongoing for nearly forty years, and even longer before that, until brave women started exposing the system and demanding the justice they deserved. And what I love about this musical, and the original 1980s film, is the confidence and ability of the leading ladies to address these social issues by tapping into honest, personal human emotions: laughter, sadness, sarcasm, and wit.
Our leading ladies are no exception. To Maddie, Amanda, and Jessie, I could not have asked for three stronger, funnier, more talented, or more genuine women to lead this cast. The comedy that you three bring to the stage is so natural, and thanks to you and the rest of the cast, I laughed so hard during every rehearsal that it hardly felt like work. And that is the best kind of work to do. This show is yours now; I’ll be beaming from the balcony, flapping my arms.
To Gabi, you have stepped up in the biggest of ways, and I could not be more proud of what you have done with your HTAC choreography debut. You are the master of simple, effective movements that accentuate the pedestrianism of everyday life, and that is exactly what we are trying to highlight with this show. Thank you for the hours of joint rehearsals, car rides when I didn’t feel like walking, and being able to finish my sentences before I do.
To Ben, Andrew, and Jasmine, Dolly would be so proud. Ben, each song sounds amazing. You’ve made a cast of 15 sound like a cast of 30, and your enthusiasm rubs off on so many people. Thank you for sticking with me from the beginning of this proposal process. It wouldn’t be a show if you weren’t on the staff with me. Andrew, you’ve come out of your shell so much as an apprentice, and I know you will continue to do amazing things with your future in HTAC. Jasmine, a pit has never been more organized, and the work you and the pit have put in definitely reflects in the final product. You all sound amazing. Thank you.
To Gabby and Gillie, your organization, dedication, and professionalism kept me slighter saner than I would be if you two were not around. I appreciate you more than I could say in a thank you page. I love you both.
To my production staff, thank you for your never-ending ideas and creativity. All of the meetings, email chains, and late nights texts have finally paid off.
Lastly, to Taylor, thank you for constantly standing by me, reassuring me that everything was going to be okay even when I thought it wasn’t, and being the most hard-working PM I have ever encountered. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
All my love,
Matt
