Parton, Fonda, Tomlin gather for '9 to 5'

NEW YORK, May 1 (UPI) -- The stars of the 1980 hit movie "9 to 5" appeared in New York to attend the premiere of a new Broadway musical based on the film, observers said.

It was big night for country star Dolly Parton, who starred in the movie and wrote its music, which is also featured in the new live musical that premiered Thursday, the British tabloid The Daily Mail reported.

Parton, 63, Jane Fonda, 71, and Lily Tomlin, 69, appeared together before the show, an office comedy and feminist revenge fantasy that enthralled audiences as a movie nearly 30 years ago, the newspaper said.

Allison Janney of the television show "The West Wing," Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty have taken the roles once played by the originals, with Hilty stepping into Parton's iconic role as the perky blond Doralee and singing Parton's song "Backwoods Barbie," the Daily Mail reported.

The show opened to mixed reviews, with New York Daily News theater critic Joe Dziemianowicz praising Parton's songs as "big-hearted" but panning Joe Mantello's direction.