Dolly Parton is bringing her life story to Broadway with "DOLLY: A True Original Musical." Previews for the show are scheduled to begin December 7 at the St. James Theatre in New York City, following a successful run in Nashville. The musical is set to officially open on January 19, which coincides with Parton's 81st birthday.
The 80-year-old country music legend wrote the music and book for the production, which is directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher and choreographed by Mandy Moore. Parton shared that the musical will feature some of her well-known hits along with new songs written specifically for the show. She described the production as a dream come true, aiming to share her life's journey "in my own words and through the music that's been part of me every step of the journey."
The show promises to take audiences from Parton's "barefoot beginnings in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee to performing in platform heels under the bright lights of Hollywood." While actors Katie Rose Clarke, Quinn Titcomb, and Carrie St. Louis portrayed Parton at different life stages during the Nashville run, the Broadway cast has not yet been announced. The musical is noted as potentially not being appropriate for children under the age of eight.
This Broadway venture comes two months after Parton canceled her planned six-date residency, "Dolly: Live in Las Vegas," at Caesars Palace due to ongoing health issues. Parton revealed in May that she has experienced kidney stone problems and, for the past three years, has dealt with her immune and digestive systems being "out of whack." She is currently undergoing treatment and reports that she is responding well, with her doctors assuring her that her conditions are treatable.
Parton explained that while she is improving, the medications and treatments have caused some side effects, including feeling "swimmy headed." She also noted that she needs more time to recover before she is ready for the physical demands of stage performance, especially while wearing her signature five-inch heels. Parton, who has achieved EGOT status except for a Tony Award, previously earned a Tony nomination for composing the music for "9 to 5: The Musical" in 2009.