Dolly Parton musical "Here You Come Again" to premiere at Goodspeed

[David10086]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 4:48pm

Connecticut's Goodspeed Musicals has announced its upcoming season of new musicals playing the Terris Theatre, which will include a new Dolly Parton-themed musical from Emmy winner Bruce Vilanch, Gabriel Barre, and Tricia Paoluccio.

Running July 26–August 27, Here You Come Again follows a down-on-his-luck, diehard Dolly Parton fan who gets more than a few lessons from the country music–singing sensation herself. The jukebox score comprises songs made famous by Parton, including "Jolene," "9 to 5," "Islands in the Stream," and more. The work, which will be directed and choreographed at Goodspeed by Barre, had its world premiere at Delaware Theatre Company last year, followed by runs at Texas' Casa Mañana, Florida's Kravis Center, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and Tennessee's Studio Tenn.

Parton was working on an autobiographical jukebox musical as recently as 2016. It's unclear how—or if—this project would affect Parton's work, also planned to feature a score of her greatest hits. Parton also wrote a mostly original score for the 2009 stage adaptation of the 1980 film 9 to 5, the famed motion picture that co-starred Parton and featured her smash-hit title song on the soundtrack.

https://www.playbill.com/article/dolly-parton-musical-here-you-come-again-joins-goodspeed-musicals-season

[jpbran]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 5:21pm

Studio Tenn just south of Nashville (in Franklin) is doing this in May. Will likely check it out, but haven’t gotten tix yet.  

[MCfan2]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 6:28pm

I like the title. "Here You Come Again" is one of my favorite Dolly songs.  

[JSquared2]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 6:33pm

This seems like one of those shows, like Flashdance, Dirty Dancing, The Bodyguard etc that has no Broadway ambitions and will be content to just play regionally and (eventually) in every high school and community theatre.

 

[BETTY22]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 6:56pm

She owns the rights to her music so she must have approved it 

[quizking101]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 7:06pm

“Here You Come Again” is also the “Female Star Spot” number in the revival of “DANCIN’” - they critique the song while they dance it and it’s kind of hilarious because it’s a good, but problematic song

[David10086]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 9:58pm

JSquared2 said: "This seems like one of those shows, likeFlashdance, Dirty Dancing, The Bodyguardetc that has no Broadway ambitions and will be content to just play regionally and (eventually) in every high school and community theatre.

"

Then it will go on tour as part of a 'Broadway series' and be billed as 'the hit Broadway musical' - like 'The Bodyguard', 'Dirty Dancing' and "Flashdance' did in past years. 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 10:15pm

This probably stands to make more more if it stays off Broadway and tours non-equity. There would be a huge market for it. “Here You Come Again” is a Mann and Weil song. Parton didn’t write it. She also didn’t write Dumb Blonde. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 10:33pm

I do wonder if we'll ever see another attempt at a score from Dolly. She's tossed around ideas here and there. Including a bio-show starring Chenoweth. I'd really love to see her work with a young playwright on something that deals with Appalachia. Maybe even touching on the opioid crisis? The woman has depth so I don't think it's completely unreasonable even if it's not exactly the down home Dolly brand.

[bk]

Posted: 3/21/23 at 10:37pm

BETTY22 said: "She owns the rights to her music so she must have approved it"

She does NOT own Here You Come Again - that was written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil - they own it.

[David10086]

Posted: 3/22/23 at 3:55pm

Ke3 said: "I do wonder if we'll ever see another attempt at a score from Dolly. She's tossed around ideas here and there. Including a bio-show starring Chenoweth. I'd really love to see her work with a young playwright on something that deals with Appalachia. Maybe even touching on the opioid crisis? The woman has depth so I don't think it's completely unreasonable even if it's not exactly the down home Dolly brand."

 

I can't see her getting involved with something as dark as the opioid crisis in a Broadway musical which she would collaborate. She knows her audience - they're not really clamoring for something this hard and brutal. And it's not something she can put a happy spin on, either.