Community Players will be working ‘9 to 5’ this weekend
PAWTUCKET – The Community Players, Rhode Island’s oldest community theater, take us back to the late 1970s in “9 to 5: The Musical,” which opens Friday.
The show is adapted from the movie of the same name and has a score composed by Dolly Parton, one of the stars of that popular 1980 comedy.
Both versions tell the story of three office workers – Violet, Doralee and Judy -- who join forces to overrule their domineering boss, Franklin Hart Jr., and make their workplace more female-friendly. Each has her own agenda, stemming from being over-worked, over-looked, or subjected to Hart’s unwanted advances. While their complaints are valid, their unorthodox methods for changing things are meant for laughs.
For the Community Players’ production, a paraphrase of the saying “it takes a village to raise a child” applies. In this case, it takes a family to bring the musical to the stage.
Director Marcia Zammarelli started by recruiting professional musician and teacher Esther Zabinski to be the music director. Zabinski, who started her career at Natalia deRezendes’ One Voice Studio in Slatersville, has extensive experience as a music director, including at Trinity Repertory Company and at the former Ocean State Theatre.
Through Esther, Zammarelli brought on Rebekah Zabinski as stage manager. Rebekah studied theater as an undergraduate and has been an assistant production manager at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival. She is Esther’s twin sister, and they are co-owners of Zabinski Music Studio at 228 Main St.
When Rebekah was concerned about time away from her daughter, Gabrielle, a sixth grader at Mount St. Charles Academy, the director said bring her along; she could help backstage.
Finally, Ben Zabinski, a musician, vocalist and brother of the twins, who also teaches at Zabinski Music, was persuaded to audition for the show. He was cast as Joe, the quiet guy in the office who is in love with Violet.
This is the first time the three Zabinski siblings have worked together on a musical, and Rebekah speaks for all when she says, “It’s fun.”
“There is a lot of verbal shorthand among the three of us,” Ben says, noting that
other actors have observed how the Zabinskis communication with just a word or two.
They grew up doing that as three of six children of professional musicians and educators who encouraged everyone to learn to play an instrument.
“Not everyone made (music) a career, but everyone still dabbles,” Esther says.
Esther found her career path playing piano professionally, and while Rebekah
turned to behind-the-scenes theater work, she teaches violin and also plays bassoon. Both women are voice teachers.
Ben has a degree in psychology and worked in that field until his sisters urged him to teach with them. “I should have done it sooner,” he admits. “I love to teach.”
Even though they are working on the same show, each Zabinski has a different focus. Ben is on stage. Rebekah and Gabrielle oversee what Rebekah calls
“the silent chaos backstage.” Challenges include fitting all the set pieces in the wings and mapping routes to and from stage with glow tape to avoid gridlock. Gabrielle will be costumed so she can go on stage while putting things in place.
Esther, meanwhile, is turning individual vocalists and instrumentalists into a team. Parton’s score for “9 to 5” calls for three-part harmonies, and Esther has been listening closely “to pick
apart what sounds good” when sung by the specific collection of soprano, tenor and alto voices she has. She also leads the six-member orchestra and plays piano through the entire production.
The fun the Zabinski family is sharing will extend to audiences, they promise.
“It’s going to be a fun show,” Rebekah says.
“It’s light hearted and has good music,” Ben adds.
“Audiences are just going to have a great time,” Esther
agrees.
The Community Players present “9 to 5: The Musical” Dec. 2-11, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., in Jenks Auditorium, Division Street, across from McCoy Stadium. Tickets are $25 for adults, $18 for students with valid ID, with discounts for groups of 20 or more. Purchase tickets online at www. thecommunityplayers. org or reserve by calling (401) 726-6860.