EXCLUSIVE: Dolly Parton has announced the trio of actors who will play her in this summer’s pre-Broadway world premiere of Dolly: An Original Musical in Nashville. Katie Rose Clarke, Carrie St. Louis, and Quinn Titcomb will each play the country music icon (and 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee) at different stages of her life.
Both Clarke and St. Louis have Broadway credentials, with the former having most recently appeared in Merrily We Roll Along as Beth, the wife of the character played by Jonathan Groff, and the latter appeared most recently in Kinky Boots. Titcomb, who will play the youngest incarnation of Parton, made her professional acting debut at five years old as Lulu in the Broadway national tour of Waitress and appeared in the 2023 film Theater Camp opposite Ben Platt.
Parton, who is producing along with Danny Nozell, ATG Productions and Gavin Kalin Productions, also announced a two-week extension at Nashville’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Belmont University due to ticket demand. The limited engagement starts preview on Friday, July 18, ahead of a a Friday, August 8, opening night. The new closing night is Sunday, August 31.
Dolly is expected to hit Broadway sometime in 2026.
The show will feature a score by Parton that will include some of her biggest hits as well as new songs she has written especially for the musical. Dolly‘s book is by Parton and Maria S. Schlatter, and the director is Bartlett Sher, whose many Broadway credits include To Kill A Mockingbird, McNeal and South Pacific.
Dolly will reunite Clarke with Sher: She played Clara in the director’s production of The Light in the Piazza which was also broadcast as part of PBS’ Live From Lincoln Center series.
St. Louis most recently played Rose in the hit Off Broadway musical comedy Titanique. In addition to Kinky Boots, her other Broadway credits include Wicked and Rock of Ages.
In addition to Waitress, Titcomb has appeared in national touring and regional productions of Les Misérables, The Sound of Music, Frozen and Fun Home.
The official synopsis for the new musical reads “Dolly: An Original Musical takes us on a journey through the life of this rhinestone in the rough, from her barefoot beginnings in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee to performing in platform heels under the bright lights of Hollywood. Featuring all her beloved hits, including “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors,” and “9 to 5,” this joyful and moving new musical will take audiences inside the literal rags-to-riches story of Parton and give you new insight into her triumphs, trials, and trailblazing.”
Last year Parton announced a nationwide “Search For Dolly” open casting call, with thousands of actors submitting themselves and 15 chosen to travel to New York for in-person auditions. Producers said today that two actors from the search have been cast in the Nashville company. Complete casting and design team for the production will be announced in the coming weeks.
