Villains of 9 to 5 The Musical
With every story comes conflict. And normally, the conflict involves a person. 9 to 5 is an inspirational story, and paints colorful extreme office "bad guy" characters. Meet the villains of 9 to 5 The Musical!
Whether it's the boss or the backstabbing co-worker, these characters bring out the wildest of emotions in every audience member. Get ready to laugh, cry, and cheer at these memorable performances!
Michael Kilgore as Franklin Hart, Jr.
This is Mike's first show at Stageworks and he is very excited to join this wonderful company in a show he grew up watching as a kid. He has been involved in community theatre since 2016 and has been in several productions, such as RENT, The Rocky Horror Show, Mamma Mia, Rock of Ages and many more. He hopes everyone who gets an opportunity to see this musical will enjoy their experience because, he is, "HERE FOR YOU".
Welcome to Stageworks! How long have you been performing and what have been some of your favorite roles?
I discovered musical theatre in 2016 and have been performing in shows the entire time. I think my two favorite roles iIve played so far are Roger in RENT and Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages. I somehow think I'm a rockstar trapped in an insurance sales agent body.
Tell us about your character in 9 to 5.
Franklin Hart, Jr. is the epitome of 1980's misogyny in the workplace. He is full of himself and thinks he is the cream of the crop.
How is it playing an antagonist?
It's tough because I'm by nature a nice guy and very soft spoken, so embracing this role is a challenge.
How are you like/NOT like your character?
I am not like my character, thank goodness! I am a nice guy, kind hearted and hopefully a lovable dude.
What is going to be unique about 9 to 5 at Stageworks?
I think since this is my first show at Stageworks, I get the opportunity to meet new people and be directed by different directors and their style of musical theatre.
When you’re not onstage, how do you spend your time?
I like doing extreme sport type or outdoorsy activities.
What should I have asked you?
"What was it like singing for the Queen of England when you are a child?"
Glad you asked! It was a wonderful experience that most people don't get the chance to do. I was vocally trained as a kiddo and got to sing in a trio for the Queen of England when she visited Texas in the early 90's.
What’s the best thing about Stageworks?
So far, the people. Everyone is super cool and really glad I get to do theatre with a new group of friends.
Meet Kelli Sumrall as Roz Keith
Kelli is returning to the stage after a near-decade hiatus. In her last on-stage appearance in 2014, she played Lexie in Sweet Delilah Swim Club at Park University. She fell in love with backstage work and has stage managed for Mamma Mia!, West Side Story, and South Pacific at Baytown Little Theater. Kelli would like to thank her amazing husband Nathan for encouraging her to get involved with the theatre community in West Houston.
Welcome to Stageworks! How long have you been performing and what have been some of your favorite roles?
I started performing when I was 12, and my first musical was Brigadoon at Baytown Little Theater. I love roles where I get to make people laugh. In high school I played Minsey in F.A.U.G.H., and at one point I think I was on all fours chasing someone offstage as a human pretending to be a guard dog. My friends knew I would do almost anything for a laugh, so that role was pretty typical for me. In college, I was Lexie Richards in Sweet Delilah Swim Club. Playing a character so outside of my comfort zone scared me—Lexie is confident and sexy in a way that 21-year-old me definitely wasn’t—but she is also such a genuinely fun character who could make the audience laugh uproariously and cry, all in the same scene.
Tell us about your character in 9 to 5.
Roz is THAT girl. She’s the one that reminded the teacher that you had homework. But in her own weird way, Roz isn’t really trying to be malicious. She believes that following the rules and making the boss happy is really what’s best for everyone. Granted, she can be super Puritanical about it and lose sight of the bigger picture—that all these women in the office are just trying to get by—but she genuinely believes that her world of will fall apart if she doesn’t do her part to maintain this system that has given her a tiny shred of power. I don’t think she loves Hart the way she thinks she does: she's infatuated with the safety, control, and immunity that comes with being close to someone in power.
How is it playing an antagonist?
My favorite type of antagonist is the one who truly, wholeheartedly believes they're doing the right thing. I think they're the most interesting. Roz is a delight to play because she's believable: we've all known a Roz, and in some cases, maybe we've been Roz. She's a deeply human antagonist, and she's just a mess. I love that there are no limits to how outrageous her behavior can get.
How are you like/NOT like your character?
I definitely went through a "Roz phase" when I was a younger woman. You might even call it my "I'm not like other girls" era. I thought I had to endear myself to the guys to stay safe, avoid their wrath and not end up like the other girls who dared to challenge them. Then I got to college and met the most amazing, accepting, and safe women who taught me that it was okay to "be like the other girls."
What is going to be unique about 9 to 5 at Stageworks?
I look at the insanely talented people around me, and I keep thinking, "Really? I'm allowed to be here?" Jokes aside, I am in a constant state of awe. Our three leading ladies are everything I want to be when I grow up: dedicated, talented, humble, and all-around beautiful people. The entire cast's joy for performance radiates off of them.
When you’re not onstage, how do you spend your time?
I'm a writer, and I'm working on a book that I'm hoping I'll get to see in print before the end of this decade. I'm also a huge foodie, and I love discovering new places to explore in Houston. I have an annual goal to listen to 100 audiobooks each year (I'm on #62 right now) and if you ask me what I'm listening to right now, I'll never shut up.
What should I have asked you?
"What's your favorite song in the show?"
Great question! "I Just Might" is the one that makes me ugly-cry. It reminds me so much of my mom (who was entering the workforce in the late 70s / early 80s) and how she worked her butt off to be the best mom she could possibly be for her five children. For me, this show is dedicated to all the working moms who just try to get through the day and not lose hope. I love that "I Just Might" acknowledges that pain and hurt, but it has a hopeful message that things will get better.
What’s the best thing about Stageworks?
One thing that really sets Stageworks apart for me--aside from the high quality of the shows I've seen pass through here over the last few months--is the undeniable atmosphere of respect. I remember being scared away from theatre for a long time because I saw too many directors in high school, college, and other community theatres that liked to yell and bully their cast. And the general message was "If you love theatre and want to be involved, you'd better build up a tough skin, because this is just how it is." Stageworks has shown me that that's absolutely not true. From the very beginning, the creative team here has been nothing but respectful, kind, inclusive, and encouraging.
Get 9 to 5 The Musical Tickets
Grab your tickets to 9 to 5 the Musical - and don't forget that Thursdays are Ladies' Nights (where all presenting ladies receive a complimentary beverage). We're also helping women with a female business clothing drive for Dress for Success.
Tickets for all performances are available at stageworkshouston.org/9to5themusical!
