9 to 5 character breakdown

Doralee Rhodes
Warm, vibrant, and unapologetically bright, Doralee is Mr. Hart’s executive secretary who gets unfairly ostracized by the rest of the office due to vicious rumors spread by her boss. Beneath her glamorous exterior lies a grounded, fiercely loyal Southern woman with a quick temper when pushed and a heart of gold. She’s smart, handy, and deeply devoted to her husband, refusing to let anyone walk over her or her friends. This role requires an actor with infectious warmth, brilliant physical comedy, and a huge, soaring country-pop belt.

Judy Bernly
The emotional core and biggest journey of the show. Judy enters the workplace completely unprepared, naive, and heartbroken after her husband leaves her for his secretary. Over the course of the story, she transforms from an anxious, bumbling newcomer into a confident, independent powerhouse who takes control of her own destiny. An absolute dream for a dramatic and comedic actress, Judy offers an incredible character arc that culminates in one of the most celebrated, high-energy vocal numbers in modern musical theater.

Franklin Hart Jr.
The pompous, hypocritical, self-absorbed President of Consolidated Industries. Hart is a classic corporate villain who takes credit for his female employees' work while treating them with shameless disrespect. What makes the role a blast to play is that he is completely oblivious to his own incompetence and dynamic foolishness. He needs a charismatic character actor who loves playing the antagonist, leans into over-the-top physical comedy, and can handle high-energy staging.

Roz Keith
The office snitch, strict enforcer, and Mr. Hart’s administrative assistant. Roz keeps a tight rein on the secretarial pool and reports back on any minor infraction, making her the most avoided person in the building. Her rigid, humorless exterior hides an intense, utterly unhinged passion for Franklin Hart. Roz is an undisputed show-stealer—a featured comedic role that gives an actor full permission to break out of their shell, embrace theatrical camp, and surprise the audience with unexpected vocal power and physical humor.

Joe
The charming, perceptive junior accountant who sees Violet for the brilliant professional and incredible woman she is. Unbothered by corporate hierarchy or traditional gender roles, Joe is genuinely supportive, patient, and persistent in trying to convince Violet to give romance a chance. He serves as the bright, encouraging romantic presence in the show, requiring a grounded actor who can bring easy charm and smooth, lyrical vocals to the stage.

Dwayne Rhodes
Doralee’s deeply devoted, sweet husband. He is completely enamored with his wife, proud of who she is, and ready to fight anyone who disrespects her. Dwayne brings a warm, steady presence and genuine affection to the stage, serving as a reminder of true, supportive partnership amidst the office chaos.

Josh Newstead
Violet’s teenage son who offers straightforward, practical advice to his mother when she feels stuck. He’s observant, supportive, and represents the younger generation encouraging Violet to fight for what she deserves. A great role for a young actor who can deliver natural, grounded dialogue.

Missy Hart
Franklin Hart’s long-suffering, utterly oblivious wife. Sweet, traditional, and completely devoted, Missy is convinced her husband is an angel and a genius, totally blind to his sleazy behavior and monstrous corporate antics. She brings a hilarious, sweet-natured country charm to her scenes, serving as a bright, absurd contrast to Hart's true nature and adding a fun layer of irony every time she pops up to praise him.

Dick Bernly
Judy’s selfish, immature ex-husband who left her for his young secretary, Mindi. Dick is the catalyst for Judy’s entire transformation—he starts off treating her like an incompetent pushover, expecting her to roll over and accept his decisions. When he resurfaces later expecting a second chance, he gets a rude awakening. It’s a great featured character role for an actor who can deliver punchy, slightly smarmy comedic timing and play the perfect clueless fool for Judy's ultimate moment of triumph.

Mr. Russell Tinsworthy
The elusive, grand Chairman of the Board at Consolidated Industries. Tinsworthy is the ultimate corporate big boss—formidable, sharp, and commanding immediate respect the moment he enters the room. However, unlike Hart, Tinsworthy actually recognizes good work, efficiency, and real leadership when he sees it. This is a high-impact cameo role for a performer with grand stage authority and charisma who gets to sweep in, put Hart in his place, and hand the reins over to the women who earned them.

Maria Delgado
A bright, hardworking secretary at Consolidated who suffers under Hart’s unfair corporate policies. Warm and relatable, Maria gets wrongfully fired by Hart in an act of petty tyranny, which becomes a major turning point that galvanizes Violet, Doralee, and Judy into taking action. She later returns in triumph when the women revamp the workplace. Maria offers an actor great moments of real emotional weight, strong ensemble leadership, and a chance to shine in featured vocal lines.

Kathy
The office gossip and resident chatterbox of Consolidated Industries. Kathy is always in the loop on the latest workplace rumors, eager to lean over a desk and swap the latest news. She’s fun, expressive, and adds a ton of vibrant personality to the secretarial pool, making her a fantastic featured role for a performer with great comedic reactions, high energy, and sharp ensemble timing.

Margaret
The infamous office secretary who copes with the daily grind of Consolidated Industries through secret liquid lunches. Margaret is a fantastic, scene-stealing character with punchy one-liners, hilarious physical antics, and a surprisingly triumphant moment when the office environment finally improves.

Featured Ensemble
The hard-working, high-energy core of Consolidated Industries! This featured group forms the backbone of the office environment and drives some of the show's most iconic moments. They are heavily featured in major dance and movement numbers—including the high-octane fantasy sequences "Hart to Heart" and "One of the Boys"—and handle advanced choreography, featured partnering, and tight vocal harmonies. We are looking for versatile, expressive dancer-singers with great stage presence and dynamic movement skills to bring the fast-paced corporate world to life.

General Ensemble
The essential engine that fills out the vibrant world of the production! This group plays the everyday folk who keep the building running—custodians, mailroom clerks, entry-level staff, hospital personnel, police officers, and local citizens. They bring the energy, humor, and massive vocal power to our big company-wide production numbers like "9 to 5" and the finale. Perfect for performers of all experience levels who want to build distinct, funny background characters, sing big group harmonies, and be part of a fun, supportive stage community.