Dolly Parton Broadway Bio Musical aiming for Spring 2025 — Page 6

Probably some spoilers below... I have no idea how to toggle the spoiler button.

I was at the 4th show tonight. It's a little bit shorter (3 hours) and a couple of songs seem to have disappeared from act 2. We were in the front row so I was eavesdropping on the "Changes" notes in the pit.

The orchestra is massive. I think I counted 18 people down there. But even some of them looked bored by the time we were 90 minutes in to act 1. The pit stretches from one side of the theater to the other and was full.

I appreciate the set pieces... I think I have seen so many projection related shows that it was nice to see some actual sets move.

I am a huge fan and have followed her work for 50 years, but the song choice is just bizarre. For act 1... 90 minutes mind you, there are only two songs that average people would genuinely know. And even at that, Tennessee Mountain Home got little to no reaction. It was a mixture of obscure album cuts and some songs I assume are new. As everyone mentioned, The Bridge just ended the act with a thud.

Similarly, the first song of the show, 2009's "My Mountains, My Home," really did not get the show off to a great start. I kind of cringed at Katie Rose Clarke's vocals during that one. She spent the first age just wandering the stage looking depressed. Carrie St Louis did a nice job carrying the Dolly vocals and persona. Act one has a song entitled "Horny on a Runaway Bus" that was also rather cringe.

Act two features a few more "hits," but even at that, there are only 4. I am a huge fan-- I don't need a greatest hits show, but I can't imagine tourists flocking to hear 3 hours of songs they do not know. Someone asked about "Light of a Clear Blue Morning." My favorite Dolly song too and it was the best number in the show. There was life and energy on the stage!

I was also surprised by the waste of some of my favorite actresses. Beth Malone is on that stage for less than 10 minutes and she does not even appear until over 2 hours into the show. She sings part of a reprise and that is it. I also would have liked a little more Klea Blackhurst. It is so great to see her on the stage, admittedly for just a few minutes.

There really is not a proper finale yet. Show ends with a new song that Dolly plans to push as a single. I was a bit insulted that after the actors left they play instrumental versions of some of Dolly's best like Two Doors Down, Baby I'm Burning and Islands in the Stream. Would have been so nice to hear some of those.

So overall a mixed bag. If Cher and Summer did not satisfy audiences with at least giving them the hits, I don't think this is really going to win over crowds.

Updated On: 7/23/25 at 01:32 AM

I understand to desire to cash in a legacy like Dolly, Cher, Tina, Donna, etc. However, I truly feel that all a musical can really do is remind the audience that there is no way to capture the magic of the performer. They are set up for disappointment. Especially with someone like Dolly. And there's not going to be any way to please everyone. In the end you end up with something unfocused and lacking power that no one really likes. The Cher Show was a perfect example. It was better in Chicago but still not great.

Dolly is bound to come off as some hammy show that would play in Branson or Pigeon Forge.

If I'm honest, as a long time Dolly super fan, I'd have preferred something more like Girl From The North Country. Something originated at somewhere like The Public that focuses on her more unknown and gothic catalog.

The Bridge is an amazing song and it's gonna get eaten alive in a show where people wanna see Dolly drag and hear 9 to 5. Now that's a song I'd be fine never hearing again.

I just dont think all the trims and fixes in the world can save a show trying to encapsulate a woman like Dolly Parton. Dolly herself is all heart and a musical about her is gonna come off as anything but. It's gonna be a musical built by machine.

Bettyboy72 said: "I understand to desire to cash in a legacy like Dolly, Cher, Tina, Donna, etc. However, I truly feel that all a musical can really do is remind the audience that there is no way to capture the magic of the performer. They are set up for disappointment. Especially with someone like Dolly. And there's not going to be any way to please everyone."

I agree. Dolly fans will most likely rather save their money and go to Las Vegas and see the legend herself at her residency at the Colosseum than see this on Broadway.

Anyone have an update on where the musical currently is? How much has changed since the first preview?

BrodyFosse123 said: "They're going to need to book the Marquis Theatre if they intend to do that huge convention/expo set-up for its Broadway run. That's the only Broadway house that has the lobby space to achieve this. The other Broadway houses that have the space are already booked: the Gershwin (WICKED) and the Minskoff (Disney's THE LION KING)."

Its going to the Wilson Theater after it's restored when Cabaret closes in the fall. ATG production. ATG Theater.

A Dolly fan asked me to go with him to see this in a few weeks. I am surprised that no one is speaking of the ticket prices. We are paying right at $300 each for orchestra- frontish though - seats. That is close to top ticket prices on Broadway. I think it's a bold move. I just hope it will be good.

BrodyFosse123 said: "shomeika said: "A Dolly fan asked me to go with him to see this in a few weeks. I am surprised that no one is speaking of the ticket prices. We are paying right at $300 each for orchestra- frontish though - seats. That is close to top ticket prices on Broadway. I think it's a bold move. I just hope it will be good."

Keep in mind, you’re paying $300 for a work-in-progress. This show is still be extensively tweaked for the next 2 weeks until its August 8, 2025 Opening Night then it’ll go thru another extensive cycle of tweaking during its pre-Broadway rehearsals then its Broadway previews period."

My point exactly. It's in development, in progress, who knows if it will go to another city for more reworking. They are charging top dollar for seats - they are quite expensive. AND they seem to be selling. So there's that. Hell my tickets for towards-the-end of the Sunset Blvd run were not this much!

Updated On: 7/29/25 at 10:10 AM

Just got three center orch row F seats for $105 each w/fees via reseller for tomorrow (Wed 8/30 eve). At THIS price, I'm gonna head across town and give it a fair shake. The original pricing... nope.

Sounds like a cash grab by the producers knowing Dolly fans are willing to pay those prices even in previews.

I live in NYC and am used to Broadway prices. What is average ticket prices around the USA......so interesting. Never thought about this before.

Does Taylor Swift and big pop stars charge less when they are not playing NYC?

KrupYou said: "I live in NYC and am used to Broadway prices. What is average ticket prices around the USA......so interesting. Never thought about this before.

Does Taylor Swift and big pop stars charge less when they are not playing NYC?"

Honestly I was shocked when we moved from NY to Huntsville, AL at the prices that are charged for shows in Nashville, Huntsville, and Birmingham. All of the theaters are huge barns with terrible acoustics. I was so annoyed with Hamilton at TPAC in Nashville, we would have left at intermission if friends had not been with us. (We have seen it 7 times on Broadway.). I could have easily have been in the orchestra in NY for the price, but in Nashville was in the balcony. We just don’t go because we have seen 90% of the shows a number of times before they get here.

Where has everybody been folks!? I've been complaining about Dolly's cash grab since the show opened and I saw the third preview.

A week before previews began I paid $195 for a seat in last row of the orchestra. Only when I sat through it did I realize what a dud it was and complained loudly to the company when they sent me a survey to fill out. I talked in postings too about what outrageous pricing they started with given what terrible shape the show was in.

The good news for some customers though tis hat ticket prices have begun to plummet now that the word is out about what a disaster the show is.

And you all are right about Nashville audiences. I have a residence here and attend shows in the local Broadway subscription series. I'll say this for the presenters. They know the crowd they are marketing.to -- most are unsophisticated provincial rubes who will pay outrageous prices for sixth rate touring productions. And the producers know it and just keep sending out more lousy cheaply done productions. But I have lost all hope that anything will change.

Meanwhile we can watch and see what happens with this "Dolly." Unless there is a miracle and they get a new director and a new book and a new song list, I predict this show will bomb big time in New York.

But not to worry. They will simply chop it in half and remount it at the hugely popular Dollywood theme park, which is where it really belongs in its current state.