Bartlett Sher Signs on to Direct Dolly Parton Biomusical
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The highly anticipated Dolly Parton biomusical, “Hello, I’m Dolly,” has just announced a major addition to its creative team. Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher will helm this Broadway-bound project, promising a spectacular debut in 2026.
Unveiled only last month, “Hello, I’m Dolly” is set to feature a blend of brand-new songs and beloved hits from Parton’s extensive career. Dolly Parton herself is actively involved, collaborating with Maria S. Schlatter on the musical’s book. The show aims to capture the essence of Parton’s incredible life story and musical legacy.
Sher, known for his exceptional direction in the 2009 revival of “South Pacific,” brings a wealth of experience and acclaim to the project. His previous works have garnered Tony nominations for productions such as “The Light in the Piazza,” “Awake and Sing!,” “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” “Golden Boy,” “The King and I,” “Oslo,” “My Fair Lady,” and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” “Hello, I’m Dolly” marks Sher’s first foray into directing a jukebox musical and his first new musical on Broadway since 2014’s “The Bridges of Madison County.”
Expressing her excitement, Parton stated, “How lucky I am to have the great Bartlett Sher direct my ‘Hello, I’m Dolly’ musical. When you decide to put your whole life up on stage, you hope and pray to find the right director with the right creativity and sensitivity to present all the blood, sweat, tears, light, love, and laughter that I’ve experienced over seven decades of living. My heart tells me that Bartlett is the man and the director for the job.”
Sher echoed her sentiments, sharing, “Dolly is one of the great songwriters in the American canon, and being entrusted with the opportunity to help her translate that glorious talent into the American musical theatre is not only an honor, but absolutely a thrill. As a young man growing up in San Francisco, I was a huge fan of the Grateful Dead. Their favorite vocal artist was Dolly Parton, and so is mine.”
The musical’s title, “Hello, I’m Dolly,” has significant ties to Parton’s illustrious career and the musical’s Broadway aspirations. It harkens back to Parton’s 1967 debut album, which was released just three years after “Hello, Dolly!” became a Tony-winning sensation on Broadway.
This exciting project is being produced by Parton herself, along with Adam Speers for ATG Productions and Danny Nozell for CTK Enterprises.
“Hello, I’m Dolly” will be Parton’s second Broadway venture, following her successful creation of the original score for the 2009 musical “9 to 5,” which was based on the film in which she co-starred and featured her chart-topping title song.
With Bartlett Sher’s direction, the collaborative genius of Parton and Schlatter, and a story filled with the heart and soul of one of America’s most cherished performers, “Hello, I’m Dolly” is set to be a must-see event that will surely capture the hearts of Broadway audiences.
