DOLLY: A TRUE ORIGINAL MUSICAL begins on Broadway in December 2026
Posted: 7/7/26 at 8:14am
Definitely confirms now that TITANIQUE will not extend again.
That is a VERY long preview period though. Also, when was the last time a show was in previews through the ENTIRE peak holiday season?
Posted: 7/7/26 at 8:19am
I give this three months
Posted: 7/7/26 at 8:23am
My assumption is they'll be frozen earlier than the 19th but just wanted to have opening night be Dolly's birthday. This way they're open for Christmas/New Year and get the press blitz later in January
Posted: 7/7/26 at 8:23am
That preview period will be at full price and it’s brilliant ( sadly ) marketing. If the show sucks, you’ve already made a ton of money cause the reviews won’t kill you.
This already has a huge built in audience.
Let’s hope it’s enjoyable.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 8:37am
quizking101 said: "Definitely confirms now that TITANIQUE will not extend again.
That is a VERY long preview period though. Also, when was the last time a show was in previews through the ENTIRE peak holiday season?"
MJ comes to mind.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 8:52am
They should have waited a bit longer and spent more time working on the book, especially since the out-of-town tryout was abysmal. As it stands, it'll probably get swallowed up by Paddington and Warriors.
Updated On: 7/7/26 at 08:52 AM
Posted: 7/7/26 at 8:53am
A winter opening is never good.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 8:57am
From the folks who brought you "Christmas in the Square"!
Posted: 7/7/26 at 9:12am
As much as I adore Dolly as an artist and as a human, this has disaster written all over it. It won’t make it to the Tonys.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 9:40am
Closing notice stated as Sunday March 21, 2027. 😎🥃
Posted: 7/7/26 at 9:47am
Here's to hoping they've replaced Clarke and St. Louis - I've never seen two women embody Dolly less.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 9:48am
BrodyFosse123 said: "Closing notice stated as Sunday March 21, 2027. 😎🥃"
You're predicting the weekend before Easter?
I mean anything could happen. This really seems like the craziest news I've read in a long time. Whose money are they playing with? I wouldn't have confidence in these producers.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 9:59am
The way to make a Dolly musical financially successful - "Hello, I'm Dolly" (name of her first album) - a musical charting the beginning of her career through the Porter Wagoner Show ending with her releasing "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You". "Clear Blue Morning" would be a great finale. It's hard because the only Tony categories Dolly would be Book and Musical as a producer because the songs would all be existing. Sabrina Carpenter as Dolly and Tim Blake Nelson as Porter. A life spanning bio musical just doesn't work.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 10:14am
theblackumbrella said: "The way to make a Dolly musical financially successful - "Hello, I'm Dolly" (name of her first album) - a musical charting the beginning of her career through the Porter Wagoner Show ending with her releasing "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You". "Clear Blue Morning" would be a great finale. It's hard because the only Tony categories Dolly would be Book and Musical as a producer because the songs would all be existing. Sabrina Carpenter as Dolly and Tim Blake Nelson as Porter. A life spanning bio musical just doesn't work."
Act one needs an overhaul but KRC is truly phenomenal and she needs to be the focus of the show. I do agree that it needs to focus on one time during her life and not her full career.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 10:18am
You have to wonder if producers or creatives ever look at these boards? Seems silly that they wouldn't seeing its free advice from the audience you want to win over.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 10:21am
BrodyFosse123 said: "Closing notice stated as Sunday March 21, 2027. 😎🥃"
Boomers and older Gen X might just surprise us all and show up for this musical. Starting in December is brilliant. I know I'll be getting tickets as holiday gifts. Bad book? Nothing a double alcoholic beverage and Dolly's songs can't fix.
Updated On: 7/7/26 at 10:21 AM
Posted: 7/7/26 at 11:03am
It's definitely going the way of A Beautiful Noise and I guess is built for touring. The actress playing Dolly has a near zero chance of being competitive for the Tony because of Evita and Warriors.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 11:53am
ucjrdude902 said: "You have to wonder if producers or creatives ever look at these boards? Seems silly that they wouldn't seeing its free advice from the audience you want to win over."
I don't know. We're a very small sample of essentially anonymous names lacking any of the usual demographic information upon which decisions might commonly be made. They might find useful anecdotal information here that they could run through their own decision-making filters, but as has been noted here many times in many threads over the years, we are hardly representative of the general theater-going audience.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 12:32pm
I’m guessing a trajectory more like THE CHER SHOW. Winter opening. Some good business. Minimal if any Tony nominations. The gays are run through. August closing.
And at least one review that will use her famous quote - “It takes a lot of money to look this cheap”
Posted: 7/7/26 at 12:54pm
You can always tell when a show isn't for the people on this board, because without missing a trick, everyone starts prognosticating it's demise.
Truth is, we're all snobs. And sometimes it's just not that serious and people have a good time and the show rides on that. Someone mentioned MJ and I seem to remember many on this board saying it wouldn't last and here we are.
People love Dolly. And a lot of people love Dolly. It's not a forgone conclusion. The audiences for Paddington and Warriors and this are all 3 very distinct circles with little overlap beyond theatergoers that just see everything.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 12:58pm
SteveSanders said: "ucjrdude902 said: "You have to wonder if producers or creatives ever look at these boards? Seems silly that they wouldn't seeing its free advice from the audience you want to win over."
I don't know. We're a very small sample of essentially anonymous names lacking any of the usual demographic information upon which decisions might commonly be made. They might find useful anecdotal information here that they could run through their own decision-making filters, but as has been noted here many times in many threads over the years, we are hardly representative of the general theater-going audience.
"
The general theater going audience would not be able to offer the kind of notes you get here; the kind of observations that come from years of theater going and or knowledge of theater making.
I think Dolly's name will have this run for 9-12 months, regardless of quality.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 1:12pm
OhHiii said: "You can always tell when a show isn't for the people on this board, because without missing a trick, everyone starts prognosticating it's demise.
Truth is, we're all snobs. And sometimesit's just not that serious and people have a good time and the show rides on that. Someone mentioned MJ and I seem to remember many on this board saying it wouldn't last and here we are.
PeopleloveDolly. Anda lotof peopleloveDolly. It's not a forgone conclusion. The audiences forPaddington and Warriors and this are all 3 very distinct circles with little overlap beyond theatergoers that just see everything."
If we’re being honest, MJ also opened just after the pandemic and people were still squirrelly about going to the theatre. Even in the best of circumstances, there was a possibility that the COVID effect could’ve been insurmountable. It killed the other hot jukebox musical of the time (AIN’T TOO PROUD)
Posted: 7/7/26 at 1:16pm
quizking101 said: "OhHiii said: "If we’re being honest, MJ also opened just after the pandemic and people were still squirrelly about going to the theatre. Even in the best of circumstances, there was a possibility that the COVID effect could’ve been insurmountable. It killed the other hot jukebox musical of the time (AIN’T TOO PROUD)"
No, people were saying this as soon as MJ was announced, pre-COVID. It's fine, the majority of people on this board aren't inclined to like shows like this. I get it, they aren't for me either. But the cynicism is just funny coming from a bunch of theater snobs. The type of people who see Dolly ain't going to Death of a Salesman.
Posted: 7/7/26 at 1:58pm
You can purchase tickets now if you have a Capital One card (code is your first 6 digits). Front center mezz is only $179 before fees. First block goes all the way to January, 2028, which feels presumptuous. Opening night is on sale too and currently has the entire house open…
https://us.atgtickets.com/events/dolly-a-true-original-musical/st-james-theatre/calendar/2026-07-07
Updated On: 7/7/26 at 01:58 PM
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