Foster-led COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER musical in the works

BroadwayWorld has just learned that the music and life story of beloved country music icon and legend  Loretta Lynn will be celebrated and depicted in a new stage musical, COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER, starring Tony Award-winner Sutton Foster.  

The production is in development under the direction of Tony Award-winner Sam Gold.  Music Production is by Tony Award-winner Jeanine Tesori. Gold and Tesori last worked  together on the Tony Award-winning musical Fun Home. Loretta Lynn's manager, producer, and daughter, Patsy Lynn, and longtime adviser,  Nancy Russell, will act as consulting producers. 

Inspired by the award-nominated 1980 film and autobiography by Loretta Lynn and  George Vecsey, Coal Miner's Daughter chronicles Loretta’s rise from humble beginnings  in rural Kentucky to country music legend. The stage adaptation will include songs from  Loretta’s career and share stories from Loretta’s life beyond the film’s ending. 

Zooey sho’ gots questions, y’all.

BrodyFosse123 said: "Zooey sho’ gots questions, y’all"

 

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Loved what she did with Marian, Lovett, and Fred - and agree with the others that she (famously) doesn't read her age on stage. I'm sorta tired of the young, middle, and adult actors in biopic musicals trope, but even if it goes that way, I'm excited! 

quizking101 said: "I guess good for her for trying new things, but after she butchered (pun intended) Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and the general lethargy of Once Upon A Mattress, I don’t find that a casting of Sutton exciting."

I respect your opinion, but I thought she was terrific in both of these productions. Your use of the word "lethargy" in reference to her performance in Once Upon a Mattress leads me to believe you saw the show on an off day, because any criticism I'd have of her performance in that show would tend towards "manic"" rather than "lethargic."

The thing is: I agree with folks that this sounds like a total mismatch for Sutton on paper but I felt the same way about The Music Man & was pretty doubtful about her playing Mrs. Lovett, but she turned out to be easily my favorite part of each of those shows. 
 

For me, I’m not sure Sutton has let me down yet, so this is something I’ll be excited to see. 

BroadwayGirl107 said: "The thing is: I agree with folks that this sounds like a total mismatch for Sutton on paper but I felt the same way about The Music Man & was pretty doubtful about her playing Mrs. Lovett, but she turned out to be easily my favorite part of each of those shows.


For me, I’m not sure Sutton has let me down yet, so this is something I’ll be excited to see."

Agreed. She always wins me over.

Kad said: "A straightforward bio musical seems out of character for everybody involved, so I assume there's something more to it."

Exactly. Sutton Foster, Sam Gold and Jeanine Tesori.....what??? I wouldn't expect a single one of them let alone all 3 to be involved in something like this. Hopefully this is something new/different/special... 

THE WILD PARTY at Encores is the only time I truly think Sutton has been miscast and not been able to overcome it. I agree that with the talent involved, there must be something more to this.

Of her original musicals, they typically run around a year or so with “Little Women” being the biggest flop of them all, closing after four months. “Young Frankenstein” was a huge flop and still ran for over a year, but you can’t really blame that shows failure on her.

The last original musical she did was “Shrek” and that was 16 years ago, closing after a year so it’s not as if she has a string of shows that open and immediately close. 

I was just looking at Loretta Lynn's Wikipedia page and...ew. In 2010 she told USA Today that she did not support same-sex marriage, as she was "an old Bible girl." And she was, as other posters have pointed out, an enthusiastic Trump supporter during the 2016 election (evidently she was smart enough to keep her mouth shut during the 2020 election). Hard pass from me on seeing a musical about her.

Evidently she published a second autobiography in 2002, so perhaps the intended Sutton Foster musical is a sequel to Coal Miner's Daughter, and is about Lynn later in life, but they are keeping the title of the first biography/film for name recognition value.

And do to this at the same time as the Dolly Parton musical? I don't see this show going past the workshop phase unless the producers are anxious to lose a lot of money.

Jordan Catalano said: "Of her original musicals, they typically run around a year or so with “Little Women” being the biggest flop of them all, closing after four months. “Young Frankenstein” was a huge flop and still ran for over a year, but you can’t really blame that shows failure on her.

The last original musical she did was “Shrek” and that was 16 years ago, closing after a year so it’s not as if she has a string of shows that open and immediately close."

Exactly the points I was about to make. It’s also worth noting that SHREK and (to a lesser extend) LITTLE WOMEN are both frequently produced, and the pro-shot of SHREK is very popular (for a while it was on Netflix).