Five actors, all chosen by Dolly Parton before her death in August, will lead the cast as the country music singer, her husband, and her longtime performing partner.
Initial casting has been set for Dolly Parton’s Dolly: A True Original Musical on Broadway, which starts performances at the St. James Theatre December 7 ahead of a January 19 opening.
Three actors will play the late country music icon: Katie Rose Clarke (Merrily We Roll Along) as Dolly Parton, Carrie St. Louis (Just in Time) as Dolly, and Norah Nunes as Little Dolly. They star opposite Grammy nominee John Behlmann (Shucked) as Carl Dean, Parton’s husband, and Tony Award winner Gabriel Ebert (Matilda, John Proctor Is the Villain) as Porter Wagoner, the country musician who introduced Parton to a TV audience and was part of a vocal duo with her.
All five actors were chosen by Parton before her death in August. All but Ebert reprise their performances from the musical’s 2025 Nashville world premiere, and Nunes was discovered through the show’s “Search for Dolly” online open casting call.
Parton and Maria S. Schlatter co-wrote the musical about the iconic musician’s life and career, set to Parton’s hit songs, like “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You.” Tony winner Bartlett Sher directs, and Emmy winner Mandy Moore choreographs.
“It’s a rare privilege to create a musical alongside the person whose story you’re telling, and working with Dolly on this show will always be special,” said Adam Speers of ATG Productions in a statement on the producers’ behalf. “She was passionate about every aspect of our production, but never more than when choosing the actors who would bring her story, and the people closest to her, to life on Broadway.
“In Katie Rose Clarke, she found an actress who captures not only Dolly’s journey but her voice, her wit, her courage, and the great big heart that carried her through it all. Dolly wanted performers with strength, kindness, and humanity as well as talent. In Katie, Carrie, Norah, John, and Gabe, she knew we had a company that could tell the hopeful, deeply human story of what it means to be a true original.”
The music team includes music supervisor Stephen Oremus, music director Charity Wicks, orchestrator John Clancy, musical consultant Kent Wells, and vocal and music arrangers Richard Dennison and Gregg Perry, who are longtime collaborators of Parton.
The creative team includes scenic designer Derek McLane, costume designer Jennifer Moeller, lighting designer Donald Holder, sound designer Peter Hylenski, video designers Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, hair designer Robert Pickens, makeup designer Studio Pickens, and production stage manager Michael J. Passaro.
Check back for information on Dolly: A True Original Musical tickets on New York Theatre Guide.
Photo credit: John Behlmann, Norah Nunes, Katie Rose Clarke, Carrie St. Louis, and Gabriel Ebert. (Photo by Matthew Murphy)