Illum Productions has been awarded an animation project collaborating with Peter Nigrini Design Studios, out of New York, for the Broadway production “9 to 5 the Musical” based off of the 80’s movie.
Peter’s body of work covers a number of disciplines in the theatre. A few of his video designs include: Jean Genet’s Elle produced as the inaugural production of The Art Party starring Alan Cumming, the Tony award nominated, Say Goodnight Gracie at the Helen Hayes Theatre & the World Premier of Charles Wuorinen’s Adaptation of the Salman Rushdie novella, Haroun and the Sea of Stories. In addition to his work as a video designer, Peter occasionally designs in other media for the theatre such as scenery for the Lincoln Center Theater/Lincoln Center Festival Production of Chen Shi-Zheng’s Orphan of Zhao.
We will be animating the fantasy sequence of Violet Newstead, played by Allison Janney of West Wing, whom day-dreams that she is Snow White singing to the bluebirds & demolishing the dark castle of her boss, the evil Franklin Hart Jr.
Joe Merideth, our animation director stated, “This was a true collaboration and a great opportunity to explore a different kind of venue for animation. I haven’t seen too many live performances with an animation element so it was an exciting and welcomed challenge.”
We were asked to create a style related to old Disney movies of the 40’s as well as feel of animation reminiscent of early Looney Toon cartoons. The castle was created in CG but textured to match that of the concept hand painted art so it had a 2D hand painted feel to the final rendered frames. Jerry, our Creative Director, said, “We went for a Chuck Jones style animation to the castle, so instead of dramatically shattering the castle upon destruction, we simply popped a couple components off of it to simulate the same approach that Franklin Hart was going through in the play. A male stroked elimination of his personal ego in a comical way.”
The theatre performances will open in California at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles before heading to New York, April 23, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway).
Megan Hilty, Allison Janney and Stephanie J. Block
WORLD PREMIERE!
Don’t miss this new musical comedy based on the classic hit movie! 9 to 5: THE MUSICAL features a brand-new score by seven-time Grammy Award® winner DOLLY PARTON that includes the blockbuster title song, plus a book by original screenwriter PATRICIA RESNICK and direction by two-time Tony Award®-winner JOE MANTELLO (directing his first new musical since Wicked). Emmy Award®-winner and Tony Award® nominee ALLISON JANNEY stars as Violet Newstead, the super-efficient office manager who joins her fellow co-workers - frazzled divorcée Judy Bernly (STEPHANIE J. BLOCK) and sexy secretary Doralee Rhodes (MEGAN HILTY) - to turn the tables on their “sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot” of a boss, Franklin Hart Jr. (Tony Award nominee MARC KUDISCH).
Joe Merideth, animation director & I toyed with going to New York to see our animation in the Broadway musical, 9 to 5. Conflicting schedules, costs, ho hum, etc. Then I received an email from Andrew Bauer, Peter Nigrini’s right hand man, who asked, “Hey I have some tickets, would you like to come see the show?” “Well yes we would!” I replied & a couple of phone calls later, we were planning a trip to the Big Apple to see our work on a Broadway stage.
