Dolly Parton's Original Musical Lights Up Broadway This December!

Broadway is preparing to host "Dolly: A True Original Musical," a new production dedicated to the life story of country-pop icon Dolly Parton. Previews for the highly anticipated musical are scheduled to commence on December 7 at the St. James Theatre, with the official opening night slated for January 19, 2027, coinciding with Parton's 81st birthday.

The musical, which previously debuted in Nashville in the summer of 2025 under the title "Dolly: An Original Musical," arrives in New York with much of its original creative team intact. Dolly Parton herself contributes to the music, incorporating both new compositions and beloved classics from her extensive catalog. She also co-wrote the book with Maria S. Schlatter. Tony winner Bartlett Sher is at the helm as director, with Mandy Moore continuing her role as choreographer from the Nashville run.

The production is backed by a robust team of producers, including Dolly Parton, Danny Nozell, Adam Speers for ATG Productions, and Gavin Kalin Productions. For eager fans, a ticketing pre-sale for Capital One cardholders will begin on Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET, followed by a general on-sale on Friday at 10 a.m. Producers anticipate a lengthy run, with tickets initially available for performances from December 7 of this year through November 21, 2027.

This marks Parton's second venture into Broadway, following "9 to 5: The Musical," an adaptation of her hit movie that premiered in 2009 and enjoyed a six-month run in New York before touring the West End and various locations in the U.S. and U.K. Expressing her excitement, Parton stated, "My whole life has been a musical. A grand ole opera really. We have a wonderful director, sets, costumes, choreography, music and all the things you need to make a wonderful, entertaining show. Can’t wait to see you there!"

The extensive music team includes Stephen Oremus as music supervisor, Charity Wicks as music director, John Clancy handling orchestrations, and Kent Wells as musical consultant. Longtime Parton collaborators, Richard Dennison and Gregg Perry, are sharing duties for music arrangements and vocal arrangements. The broader creative team features Derek McLane for scenic design, Jennifer Moeller for costume design, Donald Holder for lighting design, Peter Hylenski for sound design, Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom for video design, Robert Pickens for hair design, and Studio Pickens for makeup design. Michael J. Passaro serves as production stage manager, with Jim Carnahan and Carrie Gardner as casting directors. While no casting has been announced for the Broadway production, the Nashville premiere featured three actresses—Katie Rose Clarke, Carrie St. Louis, and Quinn Titcomb—portraying Parton at various stages of her life.

Director Bartlett Sher reflected on the show's journey, noting, "During our world premiere in Nashville, I was overwhelmed by the deep connection audiences have with Dolly. You mention her name and people light up and share a time that she has inspired them and brought them joy. But despite all of that genuine love, Dolly has never really shared her story before. She’s offered glimpses and peeks, but this musical allows her to reveal the unfiltered story in her own words. As we prepare to come to Broadway, we’re thrilled to show that rhinestones were never her whole story." Adam Speers of ATG Productions echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Parton's extraordinary talent, kindness, and enduring contributions, stating that the Broadway production will fully capture the spirit of this amazing woman, with its opening on her 81st birthday celebrating a life defined by generosity, courage, and purpose.

Fans looking to experience Parton's music live prior to the Broadway opening can attend "Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony," a touring show where guest singers interpret her material. This show is currently in an extended run at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center until July 31, with future stops planned for Spokane, Houston, and Milwaukee. This symphony tour offers an alternative for fans, especially after Parton announced in May that she was canceling a planned Las Vegas residency due to ongoing health issues. She reassured fans that she is "responding really well to meds and treatments" and "improving every day," though the treatments make her "a little swimmy headed," which impacts her ability to perform while carrying instruments in her signature high heels.