DOLLY: A True Original Musical on Broadway
Dolly Parton’s life story, in her own words and songs, comes to West 44th Street. Previews start December 7, 2026. Opening night is January 19, 2027, the day she would have turned 81.
DOLLY: A True Original Musical brings Dolly Parton’s life and music to Broadway at the St. James Theatre, with previews beginning December 7, 2026. Directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher, the Dolly Parton musical pairs the songs everyone knows with new music she wrote for the stage, and it officially opens January 19, 2027.
This is your planning guide to the Dolly Parton Broadway musical: what to know before you buy Dolly Parton musical tickets, when to go, who’s in it (three actors play Dolly), what you’ll hear, whether it works for kids, and how to build the night around a 44th Street curtain.
Dolly Parton Musical Tickets
Tickets are on sale now, starting with the first preview on December 7. The initial on-sale calendar already runs into November 2027 and no closing date has been announced, so you aren’t racing a final week. The real question is which stretch of the run you want, and whether you care more about a particular seat or a particular night.
This page is about the Broadway musical. If you searched for Dolly Parton Broadway tickets, you’re in the right place. If you meant something else:
- Not a concert or tour. DOLLY is a book musical with a cast of actors. Nobody is playing a Dolly Parton concert at the St. James.
- Not Hello, Dolly! That’s the 1964 Jerry Herman show about matchmaker Dolly Levi. Totally different musical.
- Not 9 to 5: The Musical. The song “9 to 5” is in DOLLY, but the 9 to 5 stage show is a separate production based on the 1980 film.
Seat-first or date-first?
You want specific seats
Buy earlier. The further out you book, the more of the house you get to pick from, and that matters most on Friday and Saturday nights and through the holidays. If a center-orchestra pair is the goal, don’t wait for reviews.
You’re flexible on the night
Compare several performances before you commit. Prices on Broadway move by date, day of the week and section, so don’t assume one performance is the cheap one. Line up three or four dates and see what each one actually costs for the seats you’d take.
Official DOLLY: A True Original tickets are sold through ATG Tickets, the St. James Theatre’s ticketing partner. The listings on this page show live availability across dates, which makes side-by-side comparison easier when you’re weighing a preview against a post-opening performance.
Finding Lower-Priced Dolly Broadway Tickets
As of October 10, 2026, the production hasn’t announced a rush, digital lottery or standing-room program. If one shows up, we’ll add it here. Our Broadway rush and lottery guide explains how those programs work across Broadway, and the matinee guide is worth a look if a daytime show fits your trip.
30,000 free tickets for NYC students
During its first Broadway year, the production is giving away 30,000 tickets to New York City public middle and high school students in partnership with the NYC Department of Education. Schools can apply to bring groups, and individual students can apply for two free tickets to share with a parent or guardian. It’s a real program, but it’s for eligible students only, not a general discount.
When Should You Buy Dolly Broadway Tickets?
There’s no single right answer. It depends on what you want out of the night. Here’s how the first stretch of the run breaks down.
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From Dec 7
Previews
You see it first, before critics do. Shows often keep changing during previews, with songs trimmed and scenes tightened, so you’re watching a work in progress. Some fans love that; some would rather wait.
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Late Dec
Holiday weeks
The early preview weeks land in peak Midtown holiday season, when Dolly fans and holiday visitors are both in town, and hotels and restaurants near Times Square book up too. Check the performance calendar for holiday-week schedule changes before you build a trip around a specific night.
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Jan 19, 2027
Opening night
The official opening, on what would have been Parton’s 81st birthday. The show is locked from this point on, and the performances right around it carry some extra occasion.
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After Jan 19
After the reviews
For anyone who’d rather know what the critics thought before spending. You’ll be picking from what’s left, so be flexible about seats.
More timing strategy for any show: when to buy Broadway tickets · last-minute Broadway tickets.
Dolly Broadway Dates
The St. James has DOLLY on an open run, meaning no end date has been set. The initial ticketing calendar runs through November 2027. If you see a “final performance” date floating around, it isn’t official.
An opening on her birthday
Dolly Parton died in August 2026, at 80. The production says she handpicked the Broadway leads herself before her death, and opening night lands on January 19, 2027, which would have been her 81st birthday. The show is going ahead on its announced schedule.
Dolly Parton Musical Cast
The production announced its five leads on October 2, 2026, and added Crystal Kellogg as Judy Ogle a week later. Here’s the DOLLY: A True Original Musical Broadway cast so far.
Katie Rose Clarke
Reprises the role she played in the Nashville world premiere.
Carrie St. Louis
The young singer-songwriter fighting for a break in Nashville.
Norah Nunes
Cast out of the production’s online “Search for Dolly” open call.
John Behlmann
Dolly’s husband of nearly 60 years.
Gabriel Ebert
Tony winner as the country star whose TV show put her in front of a national audience.
Crystal Kellogg
Dolly’s best friend since third grade.
Full ensemble & swings
Ensemble: Piper Allen, Bill Army, Josh Canfield, Lincoln Cohen, Ryan Demoville, Haley Fish, Sarah Hunt, Erin Kei, Evan Kinnane, Ryland J. Mar, Jenny Mollet, James Moye, Julian Ramos, Larkin Reilly, Maddie Robert, Alex Ross, Quinn VanAntwerp.
Swings: Sarah Bockel, Sadie Daniels, Tiffany Engen, Michael Milkanin, Rixey Terry.
As announced by the production, October 2026. Casting can change. Check the theater’s posted cast board on the day.
Who Plays Dolly Parton on Broadway?
Three people, which surprises a lot of buyers. DOLLY follows her across a whole life, so the role is split by age:
Little Dolly
Norah Nunes
Dolly
Carrie St. Louis
Dolly Parton
Katie Rose Clarke
Clarke carries the role from Nashville to Broadway and plays Dolly Parton, the star. St. Louis plays her during the hungry early Nashville years. Nunes, 11, came out of the show’s online “Search for Dolly” and plays her as a girl.
What Is DOLLY: A True Original Musical About?
It’s Dolly Parton’s own story, told the way she’d tell it. The musical follows her from a big family in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains to Nashville, where she talked, sang and wrote her way into the business, and on to the kind of fame where one name is enough. The production describes it as her life told in her own words and songs, and she co-wrote the book herself.
The people around her drive the story: Porter Wagoner, the country star whose TV show gave her a national audience; Carl Dean, the husband who stayed famously out of the spotlight; and Judy Ogle, her best friend since third grade. This isn’t a greatest-hits revue with narration in between. It’s a book musical, with scenes and characters, built from her songs.
What Songs Are in the Dolly Parton Musical?
The production has confirmed these four, and you can probably already hum them:
“I Will Always Love You”
Written as her goodbye when she left Porter Wagoner’s show, which gives it real weight in this story.
“Jolene”
Her best-known song, and maybe the most covered.
“Coat of Many Colors”
Her song about the patchwork coat her mother made, straight out of the Smoky Mountain childhood.
“9 to 5”
The title song from the 1980 film. It’s in DOLLY, but this isn’t the 9 to 5 musical.
No full song list has been published yet. We won’t guess at one. Expect more of her catalog, but wait for the production to confirm the details.
Does DOLLY Include New Songs?
Yes. The score mixes established Dolly Parton songs with new music she wrote for the stage. So even fans who know every word of the catalog will hear something new.
From Nashville to Broadway
The world premiere
DOLLY premiered in summer 2025 at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on Belmont University’s campus in Nashville. The production says the run sold out and was the most successful in the venue’s history.
The Broadway version
The show moves to the St. James with Katie Rose Clarke still in the title role, a Broadway company around her, Gabriel Ebert as Porter Wagoner and Bartlett Sher directing. Previews begin December 7, 2026.
Anything you read about the Nashville run describes that earlier production. Broadway shows usually change on the way to New York, so don’t treat Nashville details as a preview of exactly what you’ll see.
Who Created DOLLY: A True Original Musical?
Mandy Moore here is the choreographer, not the singer-actor of the same name. Producers include Dolly Parton, Danny Nozell, ATG Productions and Gavin Kalin.
Bartlett Sher Directs the Broadway Production
Sher is a Tony winner and one of Broadway’s go-to directors for big, carefully built productions. His credits include the Lincoln Center Theater revivals of South Pacific and The King and I, plus To Kill a Mockingbird. He leads DOLLY’s Broadway production at the St. James.
How Long Is DOLLY: A True Original Musical?
The Broadway running time hasn’t been officially announced. You’ll find numbers on third-party listings, but they don’t agree with each other, so we’re not repeating any of them. For dinner and transit planning, budget for a full-length evening musical and check the official listing closer to your date.
Is the Dolly Parton Musical Good for Kids?
The production advises that DOLLY may be inappropriate for children 8 and under, which makes 9 and up the practical floor. Past that, it’s your call: this is a full-length evening show about an adult life, love and career. A young fan who already knows “Jolene” by heart is probably in good shape. For more family picks, see our Broadway shows for families guide.
Is DOLLY a Good Fit for Your Night?
First Broadway show
Yes. Familiar music makes it easy to get into, and the first-timer guide covers the rest.
Dolly fans
Obviously. Her story, her songs, plus new ones nobody has heard on a record.
Date night
A big, warm crowd-pleaser. Pair it with dinner on Restaurant Row, two blocks up.
Families
Kids 9 and up, per the production’s guidance. Better as an evening treat than a first-ever show for little ones.
Holiday trip
Previews run through the holidays. Book the hotel and dinner when you book the seats.
Dolly Parton Musical Reviews
No Broadway reviews yet. Critics publish them at opening, which for DOLLY is January 19, 2027. Anything you see before then is either preview chatter or coverage of the 2025 Nashville production, which was an earlier version of the show.
What we can say about Nashville is what the production has said: the run sold out and became the most successful production in the Fisher Center’s history. We’ll update this section with Broadway reviews after opening night.
Where Is the Dolly Parton Musical Playing?
The St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue in the Theater District. It’s a short walk west of Times Square. For section-by-section advice on where to sit, use our St. James Theatre seating guide.
Plan the Night Around a 44th Street Curtain
Dinner first
Restaurant Row (West 46th) and Ninth Avenue are a few minutes’ walk. Book ahead on weekends.
Restaurants near Broadway →Stay close
Walking back to your hotel after the show beats waiting for a car in the curtain-down crush.
Hotels near Broadway →Getting there
Times Sq–42 St and 42 St–Port Authority put most of the subway map within a few blocks.
How to get to a Broadway show →Driving in
Reserve a garage in advance. Midtown on a show night isn’t the place to circle.
Parking near Broadway →Short on time? Our pre-show dining guide is built around 8 p.m. curtains, and what to wear to Broadway covers the dress question.
DOLLY on Broadway: Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Dolly Parton musical on Broadway?
Yes. The Dolly Parton Broadway musical, DOLLY: A True Original Musical, begins previews at the St. James Theatre on December 7, 2026, and officially opens on January 19, 2027. It is an autobiographical musical with a book by Dolly Parton and Maria S. Schlatter and music by Parton.
Is the Dolly musical still happening after Dolly Parton’s death?
Yes. Parton died in August 2026, and the production has continued as planned, announcing its Broadway leads in October 2026. According to the production, she handpicked those leads herself. Opening night, January 19, 2027, falls on what would have been her 81st birthday.
What is DOLLY: A True Original Musical?
It is a biographical Broadway musical that tells Dolly Parton’s life story through her own words and songs, from her childhood in the Smoky Mountains to Nashville and international fame. The score mixes her best-known songs with new music written for the show.
When does the Dolly Parton musical begin Broadway performances?
Previews begin Monday, December 7, 2026, at the St. James Theatre.
When does DOLLY open on Broadway?
Opening night is Tuesday, January 19, 2027. No closing date has been announced, and the current ticketing calendar runs into late 2027.
Where is DOLLY playing?
At the St. James Theatre, 246 West 44th Street, in Manhattan’s Theater District, a short walk west of Times Square.
Who plays Dolly Parton in the musical?
Three actors play Dolly at different stages of her life: Katie Rose Clarke as Dolly Parton, reprising her role from the Nashville premiere; Carrie St. Louis as the young singer-songwriter chasing her break in Nashville; and Norah Nunes as Little Dolly.
Who is in the Dolly Broadway cast?
The leading Broadway cast includes Katie Rose Clarke, Carrie St. Louis and Norah Nunes as Dolly, John Behlmann as Carl Dean, Gabriel Ebert as Porter Wagoner and Crystal Kellogg as Judy Ogle.
Where can I buy Dolly musical tickets?
Dolly musical tickets are on sale now for performances starting December 7, 2026. The production’s official ticketing runs through ATG Tickets, and you can compare live availability across multiple dates on this page before choosing a performance.
Are there rush, lottery or discount tickets for DOLLY?
As of October 10, 2026, no rush, lottery or standing-room program has been announced. The production has announced 30,000 free tickets during its first year for New York City public middle and high school students, but that program is for eligible students, not a general public discount.
Does the show use Dolly Parton’s songs?
Yes. The production has confirmed songs including “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “9 to 5.” A full song list has not been published.
Is “Jolene” in the musical?
Yes. “Jolene” is one of the songs the production has confirmed for the show.
Is “9 to 5” in DOLLY?
Yes, the song “9 to 5” is part of the show. That does not make this the 9 to 5 musical, which is a separate stage show based on the 1980 film.
Are there new Dolly Parton songs in the musical?
Yes. Alongside her hits, the score includes new music Parton wrote specifically for the stage.
Who wrote the musical?
The book is by Dolly Parton and Maria S. Schlatter, and the music is by Dolly Parton.
Who directs DOLLY?
Tony winner Bartlett Sher directs, with choreography by Mandy Moore.
How long is DOLLY?
The Broadway running time has not been officially announced. Third-party listings disagree with each other, so check the official production listing closer to your performance.
Is DOLLY appropriate for children?
The production says the show may be inappropriate for ages 8 and under, which makes 9 and up the practical floor. Beyond that, think about whether your child is ready for a full-length evening musical about an adult life.
Are Broadway reviews for the Dolly Parton musical available yet?
Not yet. Critics publish Broadway reviews at opening, which for DOLLY is January 19, 2027. Coverage of the 2025 Nashville run describes an earlier production, not the Broadway one.
Is DOLLY a Dolly Parton concert?
No. It is a Broadway musical about Dolly Parton’s life, performed by a cast of actors, using her songs plus new ones written for the show. It is not a concert or a tour stop.
Is this the same musical as Hello, Dolly!?
No. Hello, Dolly! is the 1964 Jerry Herman musical about a matchmaker named Dolly Levi. DOLLY: A True Original Musical is the autobiographical Dolly Parton musical, a completely separate show.
Is this the same show as 9 to 5?
No. 9 to 5: The Musical is based on the 1980 film and played Broadway in 2009. DOLLY tells Parton’s own life story, and the song “9 to 5” is one of many in it.
Ready to See DOLLY?
Pick your stretch of the run (previews, holidays, opening or after the reviews), compare a few dates, and lock in the seats that matter to you.
DOLLY on Broadway
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More Broadway Planning Guides
Got your DOLLY date? Here’s the rest of the night: the theater, the seats, dinner on 44th Street, a hotel within walking distance and the easiest way in and out of Midtown.
St. James Theatre Guide
Where DOLLY plays: location, history and what to expect inside the room on West 44th.
Explore the St. James →St. James Seating Guide
Section-by-section sightlines and where the value sits, before you buy.
See the seating guide →