Production caps Belmont’s year of Dolly U programming following last summer’s Fisher Center premiere of Parton’s Broadway-bound musical, ‘Dolly: A True Original Musical’
Last summer, Dolly Parton stood in the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts to debut and workshop her upcoming Broadway production, “Dolly: A True Original Musical.” Now, less than a year later, Belmont musical theatre students will return to that same stage March 20-22 to perform “9 to 5,” the beloved musical she wrote more than a decade earlier.
Learn more and get tickets for the show on the Fisher Center's website.
The production offers a fitting finale to Belmont’s inaugural year of Dolly U, a creative partnership between the university and Dolly Parton’s CTK Enterprises designed to develop new entertainment projects and provide students with hands-on industry experiences.
“An icon from Nashville wrote this musical,” said Erica Rowlett Aubrey, assistant director and producer of Belmont’s production. “I think it’s really meaningful to do it here because Dolly is such a huge part of the community.”
She noted that the show’s themes still resonate decades after the original film debuted.
“The movie is more than 40 years old, but the message still holds up,” Aubrey said. “It’s wrapped up in this hilarious story, but at its heart it’s about equality and women supporting one another.”
The Belmont production features more than 30 student performers, along with dozens more working behind the scenes in technical roles.
Stepping Into Iconic Roles
For junior musical theatre major Molly Neal, taking on the role of Doralee Rhodes — made famous by Parton herself in the original film — has been a dream opportunity.
In fact, Neal’s appreciation for the country music legend runs deep. A former email address — "mollylovesdolly" — hinted at her lifelong admiration for Parton's music, storytelling and larger-than-life personality.
“Stepping into Doralee’s heels has truly been a dream come true,” Neal said. “With such an iconic character played by Dolly Parton in the film, it takes a lot of intentional research to portray someone audiences already know and love.”
Rather than simply recreating Parton’s portrayal, Neal has focused on finding her own version of the character.
“I’ve been trying to find the sweet spot between Dolly’s presence and my authentic self,” she said. “With a character as big as Doralee, you have to get very specific — the way she walks, talks, laughs and gestures is incredibly unique.”
That process, she said, revealed something deeper about the character. “She is who she is, and that confidence is something I’ll be taking with me long after the final note is sung.”
A Story that Feels Personal
Senior musical theatre major Tyne Dougherty, who plays Judy Burnley, said the character’s journey has felt especially meaningful during her final semester at Belmont.
“Judy starts the show feeling uncertain and vulnerable about what her future will look like,” Dougherty said. “By the end she discovers her strength with the help of her community.”
As she prepares to graduate and step into her next chapter, Dougherty said the role has mirrored many of the emotions that come with that transition.
“As a senior getting ready to graduate and step into the unknown, that journey has felt really personal to me,” she said.
Learning the Pace of Professional Theatre
Producing a large-scale musical like “9 to 5” gives students valuable experience preparing for careers in professional theatre.
Rehearsals began early in the spring semester, but the cast meets only a few times each week — a schedule that requires students to arrive fully prepared.
“Productions in the professional world move quickly, so you learn to take ownership of your character and make every moment meaningful,” Dougherty reflected.
The production is also double-cast, meaning two students share each principal role. For Dougherty, that structure has created a collaborative learning experience.
“You get to watch someone else play the same role and see how they approach it differently,” Dougherty said. “It’s like having someone who understands exactly what you’re going through. We encourage each other, share ideas and celebrate each other’s performances.”
Honoring Dolly’s Storytelling Legacy
Performing a Dolly Parton musical in Nashville adds another layer of meaning for the cast. For many students, the production represents not only an opportunity to bring a beloved story to life but also a chance to celebrate an artist whose influence extends far beyond music.
“Belmont has such a unique connection to Dolly Parton,” Dougherty said. “Getting to perform a musical she wrote on the same stage where she announced her new show last year feels really special.”
For Aubrey, that connection makes the show’s message feel even more fitting.
“I hope people leave entertained,” Aubrey said. “But I also hope they leave thinking about how we can support each other and create environments where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”
In a year when Dolly Parton’s creative influence has been especially visible on Belmont’s campus through Dolly U initiatives and performances at the Fisher Center, those themes echo the spirit that has defined Parton’s career: storytelling that celebrates resilience, kindness and the power of community.
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