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Well, Hello Dolly - Beloved Global Icon Set to Unveil a New Musical in Nashville Before Great White Way Debut in 2026
by Rich and Laura Lynch
Music icon Dolly Parton and international superstar graced the stage at the Fisher Center in Nashville, Tennessee on January 28, 2025 to announce that her latest project Dolly: An Original Musical will make its debut at the Fisher Center this summer. The production will run for a four-week limited engagement with preview performances beginning Friday, July 18 and the final show set for Sunday, August 17, 2025. After that it will be on its way to The Great White Way in 2026!
Dolly: An Original Musical is coming to Nashville in 2025; Broadway in 2026.
Parton said, "I am Tennessee born and raised and Nashville has been my musical home for over 60 years. So, this is the right and perfect place to present the world premiere of my life story as a musical. Right here in Nashville, at the beautiful Belmont University's Fisher Center."
Dolly: An Original Musical will feature fan favorites along with new songs that she penned for the production which is based on a book by Parton and Maria S. Schlatter who is a two-time Emmy-winning, multi-nominated television producer and writer as well as a network executive for variety specials at ABC.
Dolly: An Original Musical will tell her rags to rhinestones story which started in the Smoky Mountains and later led Parton to Nashville and even Hollywood. It tells the tales of her trials and triumphs while reminding us of what a trailblazer Parton is. The show will be directed by Tony Award® winner Bartlett Sher. The New York Times has praised Sher as "one of the most original and exciting directors, not only in the American theater but also in the international world of opera."
Dolly Parton greets students, fans and media at The Fisher Center in Nashville.
Students, adoring fans and a media contingent packed the exquisite theater for a press conference and a fireside chat with Dolly and the shows production team.
At the Fisher Center Dolly and Bartlett were interviewed by Marcus K. Dowling from The Tennessean and later answered questions from the audience. During their discussions it was revealed that Dolly had been working on her life story for years and she wanted to oversee it while she is still alive after all Parton's incredible career started back in the 1960's. Sher talked about the meticulous process of putting it all together and we learned that it is common for Broadway productions to open in other cities first.
Sher emphasized how important casting is and that process was still going on so as of this writing the person who will play Dolly has not been chosen. We do know that there will be three Dollys (little, middle and older). The stars of this show might be famous but if an up-and-coming artist shines the brightest they will win a role. Parton wanted the nationwide auditions to be open to all and she was excited about the fashion element of the show, too.
Marcus K. Dowling, Dolly Parton and Bartlett Sher share some exciting news at Belmont University.
Dolly was asked if anything surprised her and she stated how impressed she was with all the hard work and how involved the production team has been. Another interesting inquiry was their favorite songs in the show. Parton replied that the theme song which was written for the play was hers. Bartlett cited "God, Sex and Music" because it comes in at an important part of the musical. Dolly shared that the new material will be a blend of Broadway and country.
As exciting as the news of Dolly: An Original Musical was, there was another major announcement:
Parton, Dolly: An Original Musical, CTK Enterprises and Belmont University publicized the launch of Dolly U. Their first project is the Broadway show in which hundreds of students have been involved with and will be through the summer launch. Other related classes are being offered covering brand partnerships, marketing and merchandising. These opportunities give Belmont scholars hands on experience in the field while receiving course credits plus an impressive item to have on a resume.
Tickets for Dolly: An Original Musical with prices starting at just $40, are on sale now at www.dollymusical.com or by calling the Fisher Center Box Office at 615-460-2255. The Fisher Center is an elegant event space that includes ballrooms, flexible rehearsal spaces and a gorgeous grand foyer. Since its opening in 2021, it has hosted a wide range of shows including classical, CCM, national broadcasts, pop/rock and soon a world premiere of an upcoming Broadway production.
Dolly: An Original Musical launches at The Fisher Center in July.
Related Links:
For more information on DOLLY: AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links -
Dolly: An Original Musical |
The Fisher Center
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