Dolly Parton Musical to Open on Her 81st Birthday
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- Dolly: A True Original Musical will begin previews at Broadway's St. James Theatre on December 7, with the official opening set for January 19, 2027 — Dolly Parton's 81st birthday — with tickets going on sale July 8.
- Parton co-wrote the musical's book with two-time Emmy winner Maria S. Schlatter, her collaborator on the Netflix film Christmas on the Square, with the score drawing on hits including 'I Will Always Love You,' 'Jolene,' 'Coat of Many Colors,' and '9 to 5.'
- Bartlett Sher (To Kill a Mockingbird, South Pacific) directs the production, which had its world premiere in Nashville last summer; Sher said the Broadway version will let Parton 'reveal the unfiltered story in her own words' beyond 'glimpses and peeks.'
- The music team is led by two-time Tony and two-time Grammy winner Stephen Oremus as music supervisor, alongside music director Charity Wicks, orchestrator John Clancy, and longtime Parton collaborators Kent Wells, Richard Dennison, and Gregg Perry.
- Producers Dolly Parton, Danny Nozell, Adam Speers (ATG Productions), and Gavin Kalin Productions announced the dates, with Speers saying the Broadway run is 'shaping the show and deepening the storytelling' from the Nashville premiere and that opening on Parton's birthday is 'essential' in this moment.
- The creative team includes choreographer Mandy Moore, scenic designer Derek McLane, costume designer Jennifer Moeller, and lighting designer Donald Holder, with casting and additional team members to be announced in the coming weeks.
Why it matters: Parton becomes one of the few living artists to see a biographical musical open on Broadway during their lifetime, with the St. James Theatre date giving producers a clear six-month run-up to capitalize on her 81st-birthday marketing moment and drive early ticket demand starting July 8.
