Kelowna Actors Studio performers working ‘9 to 5’

This season, Kelowna Actors Studio (KAS) not only has new shows in the pipeline for theatre goers, but it will be the organizations 20th season.

It’s a proud milestone for the company that has seen immense community support through the last two decades.

“It’s because of our audiences, our students, and the parents that have kept us around getting through COVID and the last 20 years,” KAS Artistic Director Randy Leslie told Kelowna10. “And we’ve really built up a great family here and it’s been amazing.”

Kicking things off this year, is ‘9 to 5: The Musical’ which is based on the 1980 film that starred Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dolly Parton. Parton also wrote and composed the songs and lyrics for the musical that premiered in 2009.

“It’s one that I thought would be good for this time period right now coming out of COVID. It’s funny, it’s got some great tunes by Dolly Parton,” Leslie said. “It’s a lot of fun because you get to go back to that period of time when women weren’t treated as they should be. So, they become the boss, and kidnap their boss, and it’s the comedy, and fun surrounding that.”

KAS will be offering the hit musical for a second time, having brought it to stage a decade ago. However, Leslie said this time it’ll be a bit different.

“It’s really nice to come back to it, and it was such a strong show back when we did it before,” he said. “Now we’ve added some new effects, new sets, and costumes which makes it more interesting for me coming back a second time directing it.”

While there may be some new features in the show, two actresses are reprising their roles. Janice Sorestad has come back as Violet Newstead, and Megan Jackson steps back into Doralee Rhodes, a.k.a, Dolly’s character.

“When they asked if I’d like to do it again pretty much ten years later, I said, ‘yes of course. Get me up there’, Jackson said. “I really like shows that have a lot of comedy in them, so this is one that’s definitely up my alley.”

She summed up her character as spunky and someone who’s not afraid to speak up.

There’s always an advantage for an actor when you get to play a character again. Jackson explained it was Parton’s notable southern accent that was something she didn’t want to change.

“I feel I put a lot of pressure on myself with that [the first time]. But I made it a little bit more of my own this time around and it’s been great,” she said. “Dolly has a very strong southern drawl and I feel I put more of a modern spin on it.”

Other shows slated for this season include Sunset Boulevard, Grease, and The Wizard of Oz.

Remaining tickets for ‘9 to 5: The Musical’ can be found online.