The East Tennessee songbird’s rags-to-riches journey comes to life in a new Broadway musical opening in New York in January
NEW YORK, N.Y. (Smokies.LIVE Adventure Center) — From a tiny home in the Smoky Mountains to the bright lights of Broadway, Dolly Parton’s remarkable journey is about to take center stage in New York.
Producers of DOLLY: A True Original Musical have announced the leading cast for the Broadway production, which will tell the story of the Sevier County-born singer, songwriter and entertainer who turned a childhood dream into a global career.
Katie Rose Clarke will reprise her role as Dolly Parton from the musical’s Nashville production. Carrie St. Louis will portray Dolly as an ambitious young singer and songwriter trying to make her mark in Nashville, while 11-year-old Norah Nunes will play Little Dolly.
The cast also includes John Behlmann as Carl Dean and Tony Award winner Gabriel Ebert as country music legend Porter Wagoner.
The musical follows Parton’s journey from the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains to international stardom, drawing on her own life and music.
Featuring songs including “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “9 to 5,” the production explores the people, challenges and dreams that shaped Parton’s life.
Dolly handpicked the five leading actors for the Broadway production.
“Dolly wanted performers with strength, kindness, and humanity as well as talent,” said Adam Speers of ATG Productions.
The Broadway production follows the musical’s sold-out world premiere in Nashville, where it became the most successful production in the history of the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Belmont University.
Preview performances begin Dec. 7 at the St. James Theatre in New York. Opening night is scheduled for Jan. 19, 2027 — what would have been Parton’s 81st birthday.
The musical is written by Parton and two-time Emmy Award winner Maria S. Schlatter and directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.
For the girl who grew up in the Smokies dreaming of a life in music, the story is now headed to one of the world’s most famous stages.
No responses yet