Until the end of the studio era, Tony-winning stage musicals would be transformed into Oscar-winning films regularly ("My Fair Lady," "The Sound of Music"). Then Broadway began to borrow from Hollywood taking hit movies, adding some songs, and hoping lightning struck twice. When this worked, the Tonys came calling. In 1970, "Applause," the musicalization of "All About Eve," took the top prize, in 1982, Fellini's "8 1/2" became the Tony-winning "Nine," and in 1984 "La Cage Aux Folles" was the big winner. In the 1990s, it was the turn of "Kiss of the Spider Woman" (1993) and "The Lion King" (1998). In this decade, four of the best stage musicals began life as movies -- "The Producers" (2001), "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (2002), "Hairspray" (2003) and "Spamalot" (2005).

Now "Nine to Five," one of the top-grossing comedies of 1980, is moving from screen to stage. Dolly Parton, who made her movie debut in the original and picked up an Oscar nod for composing the catchy title tune, has written a score of new songs. Tony-winning director Joe Mantello ("Wicked") helms a host of talent, headed up by four-time Emmy winner Allison Janney ("The West Wing") in the role first played by Lily Tomlin. Taking on the roles originated by Jane Fonda and Dolly herself are "Wicked" alums Stephanie Block and Megan Hilty, respectively.

While reviews for the show, which is trying out in Los Angeles this fall before a Broadway opening next spring, were mixed they contained lots of helpful hints which if heeded could turn it into a hit. Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times found the whole less than the sum of talent involved: "Audiences who just want to have nostalgic fun will no doubt find this return to the scheming secretarial pool a laugh riot. But this equal-rights fairy tale, directed by Joe Mantello (the wizard behind 'Wicked') in a manner that compulsively gooses the material with bawdy innuendo, makes clear that, though we may have come a long way, baby, we've taken a few steps backward in our ability to create thoughtful musical entertainment."