Country music icon Dolly Parton is seen in New York in 2008 with 9 to 5: The Musical actress Megan Hilty, centre, who plays the part Parton played in the original 1980 film of the same name, while co-star Allison Janney looks on. (Bebeto Matthews/Associated Press)

Broadway is saying goodbye to Dolly Parton, with producers of 9 to 5: The Musical announcing the show featuring her music will close in early September.

The producers announced Wednesday the curtain will come down on the musical — which features a score by the country music icon and original 9 to 5 movie star — on Sept. 6, following a disappointing run.

Directed by Tony Award-winning director Joe Mantello, 9 to 5 opened for previews at New York's Marquis Theatre in March, following a tryout run in Los Angeles in 2008.

The book of the musical was written by Patricia Resnick, who penned the screenplay of the original 1980 hit film on which the musical is based, which starred Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.

At close, the musical will have played just 148 performances on Broadway.

"I couldn't have asked for a better experience on my first Broadway show," Parton said. "I've had the privilege of working with an amazing group of people, who have become like family to me."

Though critics generally praised the strong performances of the female leads — Allison Janney, Megan Hilty and Stephanie Block — and lauded Parton for her music, the show itself was widely considered a poor adaptation of the film.

National tour remains

The show is still slated to begin a national tour in September 2010, kicking off in Nashville.

"I can't wait for this show to hit the road so people across the country can see why I'm so proud of everyone involved," Parton said. "And I'm so pleased that we'll be opening the tour in Nashville. Great things happen in Nashville."

Parton, meanwhile, has several other projects on the go. Her new children's book, I Am a Rainbow, has just been released.

Geared for the preschool set, it talks about feelings such as fear, anger and sadness by referring to the colours associated with them (yellow, red, blue).

"It's very important that kids know it's OK to have all these feelings. We all do. It's how you deal with them that really matters," Parton said in an interview Wednesday on Q, CBC Radio's cultural affairs show

"It's important that they learn how to share, how to deal with feelings, how to present their emotions."

Since 1996, her Imagination Library program has supplied millions of free books to preschoolers in the U.S., Canada and Britain. Parton began the charity to foster early literacy.

She said she wanted kids in the program to have something that seems to speak directly from her. I Am a Rainbow will be offered through the program next year.

"I'm so overdone, like a cartoon character, like Mother Goose or Mickey or Minnie Mouse. They pay attention if it's coming from me," she said.

Parton is also looking forward to more projects involving children.

"I want to have a children's show of my own — some of it animated, some shows that are not. I've always wanted to do more children's programming, CDs and DVDs, and working in that," Parton said.

With files from The Associated Press