Every day is opening night.

Contact:
Rick Miramontez / Aaron Meier / Briana Sanchez / Morgan Zysman
rick@omdkc.com / aaron@omdkc.com  / briana@omdkc.com / morgan@omdkc.com
212-695-7400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ON THURSDAY, JULY 10, PLEASE

“DOLLY: A TRUE ORIGINAL MUSICAL”
ANNOUNCES COMPLETE CASTING
FOR ITS WORLD PREMIERE IN NASHVILLE, TN
AS PRODUCTION PREPARES FOR ITS FIRST PREVIEW
NEXT FRIDAY, JULY 18 

GRAMMY^® & OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD^®  NOMINEE
JOHN BEHLMANN
TO PLAY THE ROLE OF ‘CARL DEAN’ 

New York, NY (July 10, 2025) – Today, global music icon Dolly Parton announced complete casting for the upcoming world premiere of Dolly: A True Original Musical ahead of the show’s eagerly anticipated, sold-out first preview on Friday, July 18 in Parton’s hometown of Nashville, TN.

GRAMMY^® and Outer Critics Circle Award^® nominee John Behlmann will play the role of ‘Carl Dean,’ Dolly’s husband of nearly 60 years who passed away earlier this year. Behlmann recently played ‘Jerry’ in the Broadway adaptation of the cult television show Smash and starred as ‘Gordy’ in the Tony Award^® nominated musical comedy Shucked.

A headshot of Behlmann is available for use HERE.

Dolly: A True Original Musical will open Friday, August 8 at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Belmont University. Due to overwhelming demand, the run has been extended with tickets now on sale through Sunday, August 31. Tickets for Dolly: A True Original Musical, with prices starting at just $40, are on sale now at www.dollymusical.com or by calling the Fisher Center Box Office at 615 460 2255. Dolly: A True Original Musical may be inappropriate for ages 12 and under.

Joining Behlmann are cast members Katie Rose Clarke as ‘Dolly Parton,’ Carrie St. Louis as ‘Dolly,’ and Quinn Titcomb as ‘Little Dolly,’ each playing the international superstar at different stages of her life. Dolly: A True Original Musical will also feature John Zdorjeski as ‘Porter Wagoner,’ Jacob Fishel as ‘Sandy Gallin,’ Tabitha Lawing as ‘Little Judy Ogle,’ Tony Award nominee Beth Malone as ‘Judy Ogle,’ and Danny Wolohan as ‘Uncle Bill.’

They are joined by ensemble members Peri Barnhill, Klea Blackhurst, Sarah Bockel, Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, Joe Carroll, Donald Corren, Ryan Demoville, Olivia Donalson, Sarah Hunt, Ruchir Khazanchi, James Moye, Cole Ragsdale, Maddie Robert, and Alex Ross. Swings and understudies for the Nashville company include Josh Canfield, Tiffany Engen, Todd A. Horman, Norah Nunes, and Kathlynn Rodin.

Dolly: A True Original Musical features a score by Parton that includes some of her biggest hits as well as new songs she has written especially for the musical, a book by Parton and Emmy Award^® winner Maria S. Schlatter, and is directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.

The music team for the production includes Kimberly Grigsby (music supervisor & music director), Tony Award nominee and Grammy^® Award nominee John Clancy (orchestrations), Kent Wells (musical consultant), Richard Dennison (vocal arrangements and music arrangements), and Gregg Perry (music arrangements and vocal arrangements).

The creative team for Dolly: A True Original Musical includes Emmy Award^® winner Mandy Moore (choreography), Tony Award winner Derek McLane (scenic and additional video design), Tony Award nominee Jennifer Moeller (costume design), Steve Summers (costume consultant), Tony Award winner Donald Holder (lighting design), Tony Award nominee Justin Ellington and Beth Lake (sound design), Olivier Award nominee Nathan Amzi and Olivier Award nominee Joe Ransom (projection design), Robert Pickens (hair design), Katie Gell (makeup design), Charles Means (production stage manager), and Jim Carnahan and Carrie Gardner (casting directors).

The musical is produced by Parton, Danny Nozell, ATG Productions, and Gavin Kalin Productions. 101 Productions, Ltd. are general managers for the musical.

Parton’s career is nothing short of extraordinary. Still topping the charts well into her seventh decade of success, Dolly has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, is an inductee in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and is Billboard’s #1 Country Artist of All Time. With over 3,000 songs written and twenty-five #1 hits, Dolly has firmly cemented her place in music history. But how did this “Backwoods Barbie” rise to become a living legend?

Dolly: A True 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.

For news and updates on Dolly: A True Original Musical, please sign up at www.dollymusical.com

BIOGRAPHY

John Behlmann (Carl Dean) just finished playing ‘Jerry’ in the new Broadway musical Smash. Before that he received a Grammy nomination starring as con man ‘Gordy Jackson’ in the Tony-nominated Broadway musical comedy Shucked. Behlmann also got an Outer Critics nomination for creating the role of dim-witted beefcake ‘Max’ in the Tony-winning musical Tootsie. He was in the Broadway premiere of Joshua Harmon’s play Significant Other, starred as ‘Richard Hannay’ in the New York production of The 39 Steps, and made his Broadway debut in the Tony-winning play revival of Journey’s End. On camera, he’s been in the movies of celebrated directors like Martin Scorsese, Sam Mendes, and Greg Mottola. You can see him in the latest television seasons of “Elsbeth,” “And Just Like That,“ and season 2 of HBO’s “The Gilded Age.” He also recurred as ‘Agent Adams’ on ”Riverdale,” as Ann Dowd’s bumbling FBI partner in “Good Behavior,” and has guest-starred on many other shows. He’s appeared in Off-Broadway plays and musicals for many of New York’s most respected theater companies; and been a voice actor in several global video game franchises, including 15+ years of World of Warcraft. He’s a hobbyist photographer, former trapeze artist, and lives in New York with his wife and two young children.

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