Dolly Parton Broadway Bio Musical aiming for Spring 2025

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 8:46pm

In a recent interview she gave she stated that it’s planning to be on Broadway for Spring of 2025.  I’m curious if Kristin Chenoweth would still be considered to star in it.  I know there’s been year of talk from both how they would love for it to happen.  
a Dolly Parton Musical is about the only artist who I feel could have an interesting one and a collection of great songs.  

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 9:49pm

Megan Hilty

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 9:49pm

I hate a bio musical but love the catalogue here. I feel like it could go a lot of different ways so I hope the book is smart.

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 10:47pm

I agree I hope the book is as smart as she is.   And I think it could actually be an interesting blend of catalogue songs mixed with some new songs to help fill it out.    Personally I’m going to hope that Kristin is still interested and available.    I wonder if it would take places as a story book (ala imagination library. And be a little bit big fish/ princess bride type)

[jvoom]

Posted: 10/20/23 at 10:53pm

I'll start by saying I am a huge Dolly fan so either way, I'll be buying a ticket. Though my instinct is this will be a bright, flashy camp fest - I would love to see somebody take Dolly's music and construct an original story, something akin to "Girl from The North Country". Her earlier work is some of the most beautiful, tragic, theatrical music ever written. Songs like "Down from Dover", "The Bridge", "Daddy Come and Get Me" already feel like 3 minute musicals. 

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 10/21/23 at 9:50am

I think there will definitely in time be a non bio musical using her catalogue as well (personally though I don’t think Dolly will be involved in that one besides the royalties).  She has so many songs that would fit into a musical.  

[BETTY22]

Posted: 10/21/23 at 10:28am

I'm not the greatest fan of this genre - however, lets hope this is more 'Beautiful,' than Britney Spears....

 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/21/23 at 6:31pm

This could be really great. I hope it is a little elevated and not just a glitzy camp fest. Parton has a lot of depth. They should look at The Cher Show as a cautionary tale of trying to be too literal and cram everything in. 
 

Also I’d love to find a new talent or an up and comer to play Dolly. Cheno is way too campy out of the gate.  I don’t think she’s the best actress or the right woman for the job. Hilty was a little too “on the nose” Dolly for 9 to 5. I don’t think the person needs to be doing an impression. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 10/22/23 at 1:35am

BETTY22 said: "I'm not the greatest fan of this genre - however, lets hope this is more 'Beautiful,' than Britney Spears....

"

Well considering this is a biomusical it's already more Beautiful than it is OUAOMT since that wasn't a biographical show about Britney Spears...

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 11/8/23 at 10:26am

Interview where Dolly Parton talks about the musical and its development

[Sammy232]

Posted: 11/8/23 at 10:56am

Bettyboy72 said: "This could be really great. I hope it is a little elevated and not just a glitzy camp fest. Parton has a lot of depth. They should look at The Cher Show as a cautionary tale of trying to be too literal and cram everything in.


Also I’d love to find a new talent or an up and comer to play Dolly. Cheno is way too campy out of the gate. I don’t think she’s the best actress or the right woman for the job. Hilty was a little too “on the nose” Dolly for 9 to 5. I don’t think the person needs to be doing an impression."

I recall seeing a post somewhere that Kerry Butler was doing a reading of a Dolly musical - not sure if it's this same one.

 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 11/8/23 at 11:33am

Truly, it should be Megan Hilty to originate it. I’m sure there’s a dozen actresses who would be fantastic replacing or different productions, but Hilty was SO good in 9 to 5. Dolly has to have her in mind. 

[Tag]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 11:26am

On Stern the other day, Dolly said this is happening "next year" and Gregg Perry is doing the arranging.

[pablitonizer]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 11:39am

BETTY22 said: "I'm not the greatest fan of this genre - however, lets hope this is more 'Beautiful,' than Britney Spears....

"

LOL what? OUAOMT was not a biomusical about Britney. She'll get her own biomusical once her beautiful memoir 'The woman in me' gets a Broadway adaptation in the next few years, mark my word!

 

Updated On: 11/17/23 at 11:39 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 11:51am

Hilty is attached to Death Becomes Her which seems likely to transfer in the 24-25 season. I would be surprised if she jumped ship from that.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 11/25/23 at 4:48pm

I see Laura Bell Bundy posting clips of Dolly Parton.  I could easily see it.  She would make an amazing Tammy Faye too

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/25/23 at 11:11pm

I’d imagine this has a tryout somewhere before 

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 11/26/23 at 2:00am

Are we really counting Kristin Chenoweth completely out on this? 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 11/26/23 at 4:15am

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 11/26/23 at 5:04am

It sounds like she thinks she's going to be replaced.  I feel like there are so many southern bells on Broadway that I would rather see do the roll anyway, like Laura Bell Bundy.

[theblackumbrella]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 11:49am

I would really love Sabrina Carpenter playing Dolly in this production. Listen to her song “Slim Pickens” to hear her more country-side. Her stint in Mean Girls was so short due to COVID so don’t know how that was received. I also really wish this show told the story of a young Dolly making her way to Nashville with her uncle, landing on Porter Wagoner’s show, and ending with her departing. Her first album being named “Hello, I’m Dolly” affirms that. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 10/23/24 at 11:53am

Broadway Flash said: "It sounds like she thinks she's going to be replaced."

Nobody is owed anything after a reading and creative teams often go in different directions for any number of reasons. As she implied, a director will also want to put their stamp on the show and will have an equal say in the casting.

I doubt someone as big as Sabrina Carpenter would do this show –– Dolly's big enough for this to, at minimum, have a CHER SHOW-level run –– but stranger things have happened!

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 12/5/24 at 12:02pm

Nationwide "The Search for Dolly" casting call launched

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/5/24 at 12:10pm

KevinKlawitter said: "Nationwide "The Search for Dolly" casting call launched"

Also, the show has been renamed DOLLY: AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL. (It was previously titled HELLO, I'M DOLLY.)

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 12/5/24 at 12:30pm

Feels like a stunt since the videos are to be public uploaded to social media.

They could do far worse than the likes of Carrie St. Louis, Kerry Butler, and (allegedly, please tell me I'm wrong) Kelli O'Hara in workshops.