The Heritage Players rehearsals for the summer musical are officially in full swing. The cast and crew of 9 to 5 are elated to bring the hilarious musical adaptation of the beloved 1980 film of 9 to 5 to the main stage in Pine City. A cast of 24 was announced following the early May auditions and will be led by some familiar faces and new appearances too. “Personally, I am so excited to see so many new faces involved this year! There is such amazing talent in our community. It gives me joy that our organization continues to grow!” states Rachel Bigelow, Heritage Players Board President.
The infamous trio in the office (Violet, Doralee, and Judy) will be played by Becci Palmblade, Rachel Bigelow, and Emily Schueller. Also starring Lisa Bremer in the role of Roz and Jay Schueller as Mr. Franklin Hart. The cast also includes Tony Omodt-Lopez, Nick Schultz, Aaron Jeske, Nadia Honary-Satriano, Maggie Schultz, Carter Lotz, Jen Simonson, Elisa Mill, Jon Bigelow, Shantelia Sauer-Dunn, Rebecca Thompson, Kathryn Steiner, Wendy Schmidt, Noah Franz, Melissa Lotz, Kayla Gahler, Cheyenne Sandell, Lauren Traynor, and Tracy Welker.
The storyline for 9 to 5 follows Violet Newstead, the headstrong office manager; Doralee Rhodes, the misunderstood southern bell; and Judy Bernly, the nervous, new girl in the office. Together, the three women navigate challenges in the office, their personal lives, and most especially, their overbearing and misogynist boss, Mr. Franklin Hart. But their entire lives are turned upside down after they accidentally kidnap him! The three women must not only learn who they are, but also who they are capable of being to themselves and the role they play in the ever changing world around them. “I love the message for women. Equality is something we still fight for, even in our modern society. I love the themes of female empowerment, being confident in your abilities, and building each other up,” says Bigelow.
Our three leading ladies have a lot to say about their roles. “Playing Violet is a role I have been training for the last 40 years. I am excited to portray an independent, corporate world working mother taking on the good ole boys club with sass and comedy. I hope every aspiring boss lady from 12 years old and up comes to watch the shenanigans unfold on stage!” says Palmblade.
Emily Schuller adds, “I think my favorite part about Judy is how different she is from characters I’ve played in the past. She’s really trying to figure herself out after her entire life has been uprooted – definitely something people can relate to in life. I think Pine City will be able to appreciate the nostalgia and empowerment that this show takes us through.”
9 to 5 can be seen this summer at the Pine City High School Auditorium for 4 performance dates running from July 16 – 19, 2026. Tickets for the production will go on sale on June 16th and can be purchased online through the Heritage Players website at www.pinecityheritageplayers.com. In person sales are also available during regular hours at the Pine City Chamber of Commerce, located at 247 5th Street SE. Ticket questions can be directed to the Chamber at 320.322.4040.
These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the East Central Regional Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
