The names of the five leading cast members of the upcoming Broadway production of the Dolly Parton musical DOLLY: A True Original Musical were revealed on Friday morning (Oct. 2). The ensemble will be lead by Katie Rose Clarke (Merrily We Roll Along), who will play the title role, reprising her portrayal of the late country icon in the show’s previous Nashville production when the musical moves to Broadway’s St. James Theatre.
Before her death at 80 in August following a brief battle with cancer, Parton hand-picked the show’s cast, including Carrie St. Louis (Just in Time), who will play “Dolly,” described as “the ambitious and talented singer/songwriter trying to make her break in the Nashville music scene.” Eleven-year-old newcomer Norah Nunes, one of the finalists of the “Search For Dolly” online open casting call, will take the stage as “Little Dolly.”
The musical, which begins previews in New York on Dec. 7, is slated to open at the St. James on Jan. 19, 2027, which would have been Parton’s 81st birthday.
Grammy nominee John Behlmann (Shucked) will take on the role of Parton’s late beloved husband of six decades Carl Dean, with Tony-winner Gabriel Ebert (Matilda the Musical) will play late country star and early Parton mentor/collaborator Porter Wagoner.
“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. 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,” said one of the show’s producers, Adam Speers of ATG Productions in a statement.
“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,” he continued. “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.”
Additional casting for the show will be announced soon.
In keeping with Parton’s longtime commitment to inspire children, the producers, in partnership with the New York City Department of Education, announced that they plan to provide 30,000 free tickets to the show to New York City public school middle and high school students during the show’s first year on Broadway; more details about the initiative will be announced soon.
The show features a mix of some of Parton’s most iconic hits (“Coat of Many Colors,” “Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “I Will Always Love You”) as well as new songs she wrote for the show, with a book by Parton and two-time Emmy-winner Maria S. Schlatter (Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square), with Tony-winner Bartlett Sher (South Pacific) directing. Tickets for the show that got its world premiere last summer in Nashville, are available here.
Check out a video of the cast coming together for the first time below.
