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

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 2/18/25 at 4:15pm

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. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/18/25 at 4:20pm

I love Sutton Foster, but she's 49. Maybe they should retitle it Coal Miner's Mother? <<ducks for cover>>

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 2/18/25 at 4:56pm

Sutton Foster reads much younger on stage than 49.

[Kad]

Posted: 2/18/25 at 4:59pm

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

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/18/25 at 5:00pm

Zooey sho’ gots questions, y’all.

 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 2/18/25 at 5:21pm

TotallyEffed said: "Sutton Foster reads much younger on stage than 49."

She obviously starred in a whole TV show about how she doesn't look her age. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 2/18/25 at 5:26pm

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

 

And no one is answering.

"

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 2/18/25 at 5:39pm

This would be a great opportunity to find fresh new talent to take on the role. Even if they use the triumvirate model like for CHER or SUMMER, Sutton Foster does not even seem remotely come close to being a viable option.

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’d like to see her move to straight plays and act her age.

[FolliesCabaret]

Posted: 2/18/25 at 6:56pm

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! 

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 2/18/25 at 8:15pm

Wasn't Loretta Lynn a Trump supporter? The fact that her daughter and manager are producing on the show gives me the feeling that little factoid will be left out.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 2/18/25 at 8:24pm

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."

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/19/25 at 3:13pm

On paper this is a total mismatch of performer and role. I hope to be proven wrong. I wasn't a fan of her "Marian" in THE MUSIC MAN. 

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 2/19/25 at 3:19pm

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. 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 2/19/25 at 4:33pm

Original score or maybe mix of both?

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 2/19/25 at 4:48pm

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.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 2/19/25 at 5:48pm

Did I miss something or was no bookwriter announced?

Odd to have a director, star, music supervisor, and producers in place but no writer…….

[binau]

Posted: 2/19/25 at 5:57pm

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... 

[Ke3]

Posted: 2/19/25 at 7:16pm

Sutton Foster might not read 49 but she certainly doesn't read as 15 either. Or 25. Or 35.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 2/19/25 at 11:24pm

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.

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/20/25 at 5:57am

I believe all the original Broadway musicals she's appeared on have been major floperoos.

She does better in revivals. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/20/25 at 6:42am

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. 

[Sammy232]

Posted: 2/20/25 at 7:34am

Alex Kulak2 said: "Wasn't Loretta Lynn a Trump supporter? The fact that her daughter and manager are producing on the show gives me the feeling that little factoid will be left out."

Yes she was - and very vocal about it.

What strikes me as strange is why they would do this at the same time (or within a season or two) as the Dolly musical.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/20/25 at 1:15pm

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.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/20/25 at 1:36pm

I feel this is going to basically be COAL MINER’S DAUGHTER Plus - covering her entire life and continuing further to the later years. I see Sutton being a narrator for Act 1 as a younger actress handles the young Loretta then Sutton taking over completely as Loretta in Act 2. As mentioned, Loretta’s legendary catalogue of songs is being used, similar to THE CHER SHOW.  Basically a play with music instead of the jukebox musical concept. 

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 2/21/25 at 12:43am

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).