9 to 5 (film) be a drama, but "any way we did it, it seemed too preachy, too much of a feminist line. I'd wanted to work with Lily [Tomlin] for some time, and it suddenly occurred to [her producing partner] Bruce and me that we should make it a comedy." Patricia Resnick wrote the first draft drama, and Fonda cast herself, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton in the leads, the latter in her first film role. Then Colin Higgins came on board to direct and rewrite the script. Part of his job was to make room for all three in the script. Higgins
9 to 5 (musical) musical for the tour, Calhoun stated that in "believing that a short show is a happy show, we [have] jettisoned a second act song for the character of Mr. Hart, repositioned Roz's song in Act One and tried to make invisible cuts to the book." The 10-month tour concluded on July 31, 2011 at the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas. The re-vamped "9 to 5" began its first national tour of the United Kingdom at the Manchester Opera House from October 12, 2012. Headlining the cast were Jackie Clune, Natalie Casey, Amy Lennox, Ben Richards and Bonnie Langford.