"9 to 5" cast profile: Alyssa Blitch

Alyssa Blitch tries out multiple careers in the ensemble of "9 to 5"!

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
AB: I’m in the ensemble, so I get to play a pretty wide variety of roles. I go from an office worker to alter-ego to mobster to skunk to an overwhelmed nurse to a boy, then back to an office worker! It’s great. 

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
AB: Growing up in Gainesville, I was actually a part of a production of "Snow White" that Rhonda Wilson directed when I was in elementary school. Since then, I became a member of Danscompany of Gainesville and stayed there for seven years. We did the ballet "Cinderella" every winter and a spring concert that featured "The Wiz." Through the years, I have been fortunate to be cast as Nightflower, Spring Fairy, and in my last spring as a member I was blessed with the role of Dorothy. During this past fall I was privileged to be cast in "Trial By Jury," Santa Fe College’s first operetta.

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "9 to 5"?
AB: I actually didn’t technically audition for “9 to 5,” but Kevin Anderson contacted me because they needed a few extra dancers. I didn’t know at the time that I would be able to get this wonderful experience!

GCP Girl: What is your favorite musical number in the show?
AB: I’m not sure what my favorite musical number is, but my favorite sequence in the show is the fantasy scenes. I love going from a sexy mobster to a skunk in less than five minutes. The variety is pretty hilarious, for me at least.

GCP Girl: Tell me about your least favorite job.
AB: My least favorite job is probably finding clipboards for my boss and me before the top of the show -- they always seem to walk away from wherever I put them...although I think this question might be referring to a real job…

GCP Girl: What are you looking forward to the most about performing in "9 to 5"?
AB: Performing in “9 to 5” after all the rehearsal hours and work everyone put in is really great. Seeing all the big music and dance numbers come together is awesome, and also just hearing the audience actually laughing at the jokes I’ve now heard over a hundred times now, and realizing that it is in fact a well put together and comedic show is pretty exhilarating.

GCP Girl: Why should people see this show?
AB: If people want to laugh at witty and fantastic suggestive humor while enjoying stepping back in time, this is the perfect show for them. Plus, there’s so much talent to see on this stage!

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know!
AB: Well, obviously I want everyone to know that, since the show, I’ve become friends with THE Brittney Kelly…so I’m famous by association and I’m really excited about it.

Thanks, Alyssa! This is the last weekend for the show - enjoy it while you still can!

xo xo GCP Girl

"9 to 5" cast profile: Ed Hunter

Ed Hunter is one of the actors playing Mr. Tinsworthy, the chairman of the board, in "9 to 5"!

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
EH: Well, my character is Mr. Tinsworthy, the Chairman of the Board of Consolidated. But mainly I am the fly operator that makes, well, things go up and down. I can’t be more about what sorts of “things” without giving away a surprise or two.

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
EH: I started at GCP in 1996 in "My Fair Lady," and have done an average of a show a year since then, sometimes two. Most recently I was seen as Mr. Pinky in "Hairspray," Father in "A Christmas Story," and Marvin and Henry in this season’s "Chasing Manet."

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "9 to 5"?
EH: I never actually auditioned for this show. It was getting close to opening and Kristin Paulson asked me to be the fly operator on crew. I came to a meeting for the crew and ran into Rhonda on my way out, and she asked, “So, do you want to be on stage?” Turns out someone dropped out, and so I took over the role of Mr. Tinsworthy.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite musical number in the show?
EH: Well, since I only sing in the encore, I guess that’s it. But seriously, there are so many good numbers in this show, including the title song.

GCP Girl: Tell me about your least favorite job.
EH: My worst real job ever was doing debt collecting for a scam magazine subscription company in Miami.

GCP Girl: What are you looking forward to the most about performing in "9 to 5"?
EH: Tinsworthy is a neat character, plus I get to give Hart his comeuppance.

GCP Girl: Why should people see this show?
EH: Like I said, it’s a fun show with a lot of great dancing and singing.

Thanks, Ed! "9 to 5" starts the final week of its run tonight!

xo xo GCP Girl

"9 to 5" cast profile: Laura D'Anieri

Laura D'Anieri plays Missy Hart, the boss's clueless wife, in "9 to 5"!

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
LD: I am playing Missy Hart, the sweet and ditzy wife of Franklin Hart. Missy is focused on her diamonds, furs and vacation plans...and this is lucky for her because it prevents her from seeing what a jerk her husband is.

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
LD: I was in GCP’s production of “Chasing Manet.” I had a dual role. I played Esperanza, the caring nurse who looked after the elderly folks in the nursing home, and Saviana, a little old lady who wore a frilly bonnet and red tennis shoes and communicated through animal sounds only...She was a hoot!

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "9 to 5"?
LD: I wanted an opportunity to be in a production with my daughter, Lily. So we both mustered our courage and auditioned.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite musical number in the show?
LD: I love “Change It”…it is so upbeat and it has a wonderful message…if you don’t like something the way it is, then you have the power to Change It…just go for it.

GCP Girl: What are you looking forward to the most about performing in "9 to 5"?
LD: The show is so fast-paced and lively, it just keeps us all at a charged level. The energy is amazing.

GCP Girl: Why should people see this show?
LD: This show is FUN and the leads are incredibly talented. I am in awe of them!

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know!
LD: I am the mother of five and after spending a bazillion years raising my kids, I am totally living out my crazy dreams of being on stage….and it is a blast.

Thanks, Laura! Break a leg tonight!

xo xo GCP Girl

"9 to 5" cast profile: Mike McShane

Mike McShane steps in front of the lights as one of the actors playing Mr. Tinsworthy, chairman of the board, in "9 to 5"!

GCP Girl: Tell me a bit about your character.
MM: I am the understudy for Mr. Tinsworthy as well as the Lighting Designer. Mr. Tinsworthy is the head of Consolidated. He is Franklin Hart, Jr.’s boss. He is the only person who can set Hart straight and allow the trio to rise through the ranks and be recognized. Mr. Tinsworthy has heard about Violet Newstead’s contributions over the years and feels that she is ready to run this particular division of Consolidated.

GCP Girl: Tell me about some of your previous shows.
MM: I recently directed/designed/acted in “Death of a Salesman” (Hap Loman/Howard Wagner) and “Christmas Belles” (Raynerd Chisum) at the High Springs Community Theater. Designs: "Chicago: A Musical Vaudeville" (University of Florida), "The Fantasticks" (Expressions Studio Theater), "Noises Off!" (UF), "The Mousetrap" (UF), "The Threepenny Opera" (Acrosstown Repertory Theatre), "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (ART). Roles: Boolie Werthan, “Driving Miss Daisy” (Actors' Warehouse), Sidney Bruhl, “Deathtrap” (High Springs Community Theater), Bellomy/Mortimer, “The Fantasticks” (Expressions Studio Theater), Bobby, “American Buffalo” (Everyday Theater).

GCP Girl: Why did you audition for "9 to 5"?
MM: I was only on as the Lighting Designer. I met with director Rhonda Wilson while still in my old age makeup as Boolie Werthan from The Actors’ Warehouse production of “Driving Miss Daisy” to ask if I could design the lights for the show. Then the opportunity availed itself to where I would alternate with Mr. Ed Hunter on the role of Mr. Tinsworthy.

GCP Girl: What is your favorite musical number in the show?
MM: Roz’s “Heart to Hart.” It is a great character song that has enough overt sexuality to balance out Hart’s “Here For You.”

GCP Girl: Tell me about your least favorite job.
MM: Working at Chik-Fil-A shortly before I got a job working at Smathers Library.

GCP Girl: What are you looking forward to the most about performing in "9 to 5"?
MM: Playing an old Southern gentleman again.

GCP Girl: Why should people see this show?
MM: It is an empowering musical. Dolly Parton does a fine job of taking on the great American Musical Comedy.

GCP Girl: Tell me something you'd like everyone to know!
MM: I am going to design lights and projections and understudy the role of Ian in “Rooms: A Rock Romance” in the Hippodrome Cinema. This will be a grand south east regional premier of the rock opera on May 13 and 14th.

Thanks, Mike! You can see Mike as Mr. Tinsworthy tonight in the third week opener!

xo xo GCP Girl

"Moonlight & Magnolias" cast announcement!

Congrats to the new cast of "Moonlight & Magnolias"!

David O. Selznick - Henry Wihnyk
Ben Hecht - Adam Lishawa
Victor Fleming - Doug Diekow
Miss Poppenghul - Jennie Stringfellow