Dolly: A True Musical, a bio-musical about that phenomenal
country singer who needs no last name (it’s Parton) is coming to Broadway’s St.
James Theatre in December, with an opening night of Jan. 19, Parton’s 81st
birthday. The show will chart her rise to fame and
feature her greatest hits. She’s the
book’s co-writer with Maria S. Schlatter
“My whole life has been a musical,” she said in a statement. “A great ole opera really and I can’t wait to
present it to you on Broadway. I hope
you enjoy watching as much as I’ve enjoyed livin’ it.”
Tony winner Barlett Sher will direct, with Mandy Moore
choreographing.
Casting has yet to be announced. Quite a while back Kristin Chenoweth talked
about wanting to play Dolly, one of her inspirations growing up in Oklahoma, in
a Broadway musical. Unfortunately, at 57,
she may have aged out to play Dolly in her early years. She’d be a good one, though. I love her 2011 CD of country music, Some Lessons Learned, for which she wrote two of the 13 songs. One is called “What Would Dolly Do?” or “WW
Double D?”
The musical had its world premiere last summer in,
appropriately, Nashville.
This will be Parton’s second time on Broadway. She wrote the music and lyrics for 9 to 5: The Musical, which premiered in 2009.
