Dolly: A True Original Musical, about Dolly Parton‘s life and career, is open now in Nashville. Held at Belmont University’s Fisher Center in Nashville, the biopic covers all of Parton’s story, beginning with her early days in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee.

Three actresses portray Parton at various stages throughout her life, including Carrie St. Louis, who plays Parton as she is getting her start in country music. For St. Louis, whose numerous roles include playing Glinda in Wicked on Broadway, the chance to play Parton was a new chapter for her and her career.

“It’s my first time originating a role,” St. Louis tells Everything Nash. “The other roles I’ve played in the past, I’ve come in once the show has already been up and running. You’re trying to make sure that you don’t change the show, too. That upsets everybody else in the cast. But you also don’t want to just do exactly what the person before you did. So there’s sort of a balance with that. But with this, I get to really be hands on the ground. I saw the show from the very first day till now.”

Getting To Know Dolly Parton

St. Louis got the chance to work closely with Parton, who has been involved in every aspect of Dolly: A True Original Musical since the beginning.

“She is just the greatest human alive,” St. Louis boasts. “And I tell everyone that asks, I’m like, she’s better than you even can imagine. Which is crazy to me, because I know we all know how wonderful she is, just from all of the work that she’s done. But she is super involved in this process. She is there eight hours a day, all day, for rehearsals, giving input. She is so generous and shares so much of her life with us, so that we can have the best interpretation of her, and really feel like her. And, I mean, she’s just the most generous.

“I don’t have enough good positive words to say,” she continues with a laugh. “She’s just truly the greatest. And she leaves every room with just kindness and light and love. It’s been just so wonderful getting to learn from her and watch how she works. She’s a hard worker, and she’s really passionate about this, and about telling her story in the right way. So we’ve been so lucky to be able to get to work with her so intimately. She doesn’t wanna miss a thing. … She’s writing songs on the spot. It’s about her. She’sjust incredible. We all have as many hours in a day as Dolly Parton and I don’t know how she does it.”

 

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How Carrie St. Louis Got Her Role In ‘Dolly: A True Original Musical’

St. Louis was fortunate enough to be part of Dolly: A True Original Musical, thanks to her years of experience as an actress. It’s also what led her to portray Parton in Nashville.

“I was lucky enough to be asked to do one of the first workshops, where they are sort of going through the script and figuring out what the show is going to look like, and what it’s gonna be,” St. Louis reveals. “And then I continued with the show. And basically, every workshop is like an audition in a way, because you’re in front of Dolly, you’re in front of the team, you’re workshopping the material. And there’s no guarantee that you will end up playing the role at the end of the day. So you kind of just have to put your face in it, and know that what’s meant for you will not pass you by. … It’s been a really amazing journey, and I’ve gotten to see the show through all the different steps playing Dolly, which is just a dream come true.”

Spending Time In Nashville

Not only is St. Louis enjoying playing Parton, but she is also enjoying spending time in Music City, which is a much different pace than the Big Apple.

“It’s just such a great town,” the California native boasts. “And I mean, everybody obviously loves Dolly, so it’s the perfect town for the Dolly musical. But also, just everyone here has been so friendly. And coming from New York, people aren’t as — there’s a line in the show where I say, ‘Well, I’m a country girl. When somebody walked by or drives by, we waved.’ It’s just not necessarily the vibe in New York to wave at strangers. But I do feel that Southern hospitality being in Nashville, and I absolutely adore it here.”

More dates have been added to see Dolly: A True Original Musical. Find more information, including how to buy tickets, showings and more, at DollyMusical.com.