The North High School Drama Department presented a wacky fundraiser to help fund the upcoming spring musical production of “9 to 5: The Musical” on March 19, 20 and 21. Drag queens, dinner, bingo for cash (50/50 splits for winners and the drama department), silent and live auctions and student performances punctuated the packed event at the Elks Lodge on Feb. 13.
The North Denver community banded together to make it a very special night with dinner and dessert donated by eight local restaurants, including Dimestore Delibar, Fire on the Mountain, el Camino, Lechuga, Santiago’s, Local 46, Happy Cakes and Little Man Ice Cream. In spite of all of the food, an emergency Pizza Alley reorder was needed to feed the overflow crowd of 200-plus guests. The Elks Lodge donated the venue, bingo games and tips from the bar. Plus, an array of philanthropic drag queens donated their time to the cause.
Megen Gilman, the theatre teacher and director of the play noted, “We need to raise more than $20,000 for the production of the show “9 to 5” and to buy a new sound system for the stage that is desperately antiquated. It doesn’t do justice to the student performers who work tirelessly to create top-rate entertainment,” she said. “We know it’s a big ask, but this community continues to astound me with their generosity and support.”
And give they did, raising close to $15,000 at the event. With ticket sales for the show, Gilman hopes to attain the ultimate financial goal.
“9 to 5: The Musical”, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, is based on the seminal 1980 hit movie. It will be performed at 7 p.m. March 19, 20 and 21 at North High School. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
Set in the late 1970s, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic. Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy – giving their boss the boot! While Hart remains “otherwise engaged,” the women give their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that had always kept them down. Hey, a girl can scheme, can’t she?
The school has been nominated by the Denver Center for Performing Arts to compete for its prestigious Bobby Gee awards for the last three annual productions of “In the Heights”, “Rock of Ages” and “Chicago”.
Get your “9 to 5” tickets today
- The musical starts at 7 p.m. March 19, 20 and 21 at North High School
- Tickets are general admission and doors will open at 6:30 pm.
- Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
- showtix4u.com/event-details/37595
- Tickets also available from 8 a.m to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays from the North High treasurer.
Photos courtesy of Basha Cohen.
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