When Alia Bisharat Glidden steps on stage in Virginia Rep’s 9 to 5: The Musical, it will be the first time she’s appeared in a production since the pandemic. And, she says, she’s up for the challenge.
“Theater is my passion,” says Glidden who is playing housewife Judy Bernley in the production, running June 21 to August 4 at The November Theatre.
The lively musical is based on the 1980 20th Century Fox film of the same name staring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton. The musical opened on Broadway in 2009 and received fifteen Drama Desk Award nominations, as well as four Tony Award nominations.
Both the musical and the film celebrate female friendship. Pushed to the boiling point, three female co-workers, Violet, Judy, and Doralee, concoct a plan to get even with their sexist-egotistical-lying-hypocritical-bigot of a boss and live out their wildest fantasy. The women take control of their office and learn there’s nothing they can’t do, even in a man’s world.
9 to 5: The Musical Runs Through Aug 4 at Virginia Rep’s November Theatre
When Glidden saw that Virginia Rep was doing the show, she immediately wanted to audition for the role of Judy, played by Jane Fonda in the film.
“Judy was married for all of her adult life. Her husband leaves her for his secretary and now she’s starting over at thirty-five. She’s never had a job. In the show, you see her transform from an insecure woman to a strong woman who takes ownership of her life,” Glidden says.
One of her favorite musical numbers in the show is Get Out and Stay Out.
“It’s the most pivotal scene for Judy. It’s specifically where her character stands her ground,” Glidden says, adding the show has so many big musical numbers. “Dolly Parton wrote all the music for the Broadway show, and it’s so incredibly fun. There are so many amazing moments in the show.”
Glidden started her career at Virginia Rep when she was seventeen and appeared in Beauty and the Beast. A couple of years later, she played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.
She moved to New York at the age of twenty-one and moved back to Richmond in 2018 and the following year was cast in the ensemble of Cinderella where she understudied the roles of the fairy godmother and step-mother – her last role before the pandemic.
Born and raised in Richmond, Glidden juggles her acting career with homeschooling her two children — six-year-old James and three-year-old Tillie. She should be a pro at the task since she was homeschooled “before it was cool to be homeschooled,” she says, noting she has more flexibility in summer to pursue acting.
Glidden practiced her role at home every day before rehearsals for the show began. “There are about fifteen songs in the show and I have to practice a lot,” she says. “It’s a vocally demanding show. It’s a fast-moving train because there are so many upbeat numbers.”
It’s a train that Glidden is glad to be on, she adds. “For me, it’s definitely a dream role.”
Virginia Rep’s 9 to 5: The Musical runs at November Theatre, June 21 though August 4. For showtimes and tickets, visit VirginiaRep.org.
