The full cast has been found for the upcoming Broadway arc of Dolly: a truly original musical comedywhich is scheduled to open at the St. James Theater on December 7 before an official opening on January 19, 2027, which would have been the 11-time Grammy winner’s 81st birthday.
As previously announced, the musical will be directed by Katie Rose Clarke (Merry we ride) in the role of Dolly Parton, Carrie St. Louis (Just in time) as Dolly, Norah Nunes as Little Dolly, John Behlmann as Carl Dean and Gabriel Ebert (John Proctor is the bad guy) as Porter Wagoner. Crystal Kellogg has just completed the main cast in the role of Judy Ogle, Parton’s longtime friend. Clarke, St. Louis and Behlmann will all reprise their performances from the musical’s 2025 world premiere in Nashville.
Also recently announced for the Broadway company are 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 and Quinn VanAntwerp. Swingers Sarah Bockel, Sadie Daniels, Tiffany Engen, Michael Milkanin and Rixey Terry will round out the company. The casting is provided by Jim Carnahan and Carrie Gardner.
The St. James box office will open on November 9 at 10 a.m. ET, and the first 100 online ticket buyers can score two tickets for just $9.25 (get it?) each for select performances running from January to May 2027. Fans in attendance that morning will also take home a free cup of Parton’s new Cup of Ambition coffee.
Tony winner Bartlett Sher will direct the Broadway bow after directing the world premiere. The musical features a book by Parton and Maria S. Schlatter, set to a soundtrack of some of Parton’s biggest hits and completely new pieces, including what is now one of Parton’s final works; The 11-time Grammy winner died at age 80 in August.
The show’s producers are working with the New York City Department of Education on an initiative to provide 30,000 free tickets to New York City public school students during the musical’s first year on Broadway, inspired by Parton’s lifelong commitment to inspiring children. Schools will be able to apply to attend the performances as a group, and individual students will also be able to get up to two free tickets on their own, to attend with a parent or guardian. More information about the program, including how to request tickets, will be announced in the coming weeks.
Cart is Parton’s second musical theater release, having written the original music for the 2009 film 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The musical was based on the film of the same name, which starred Parton and featured her hit title song (which also appears in the musical).
Some of Parton’s longest-serving musical collaborators will be on hand to direct the project’s music, including Richard Dennison, Parton’s vocal arranger since 1975; and former bandleader Gregg Perry, both as vocal and musical arrangers. Stephen Oremus serves as music supervisor, with Charity Wicks as music director. Orchestrations will be by John Clancy, with Kent Wells serving as musical consultant.
The production will also feature choreography by Mandy Moore, scenic design by Derek McLane, costume design by Jennifer Moeller, lighting design by Donald Holder, sound design by Peter Hylenski, video design by Nathan Amzi and Joe Ransom, hair design by Robert Pickens, and makeup design by Studio Pickens. Michael J. Passaro will serve as production manager.
Parton, Danny Nozell, Adam Speers for ATG Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions are producing. Marshall B. Purdy of 101 Productions, Ltd. is managing director, with Michael Leibring as company director.
Tickets are at DollyMusical.com.
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