At long last, Dolly Parton has unveiled her long-awaited musical biography.  Dolly: A True Original Musical had its world premiere at Nashville’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts last week.  Similar to the Cher and Donna Summer musicals, this show features three actresses playing Dolly at various ages…and sizes.  The actresses on hand opening night were Katie Rose Clarke, Carrie St. Louis and Quinn Titcomb – and I couldn’t make that up if I tried!  The run has been extended two weeks and will now close on August 31^st.  After that…who knows.

Few things make me happier than a story about Marissa Jaret Winokur, the original star of Hairspray.  But what about a story about Winokur returning to Hairspray?  The talented Tony winner will be directing a production of the musical for 5-Star Theatricals at the Scherr Forum Theatre in Thousand Oaks.  Opening night is October 10^th.  More details can be found at 5StarTheatricals.com.

I’ve already told you about the Hollywood Bowl’s upcoming semi-staged production of Jesus Christ Superstar which runs Aug 1-3.  You already know that Cynthia Erivo will be playing Jesus, and Adam Lambert will play Judas.  We can now tell you that they will be joined by Josh Gad as Herod, Phillipa Soo as Mary Magdalene, and Raul Esparza as Pilate.  Frankly, I was really looking forward to Raul’s Magdalene.  Well, maybe next year.

Mattel has announced they are expanding the Barbie line.  We’ve already had Barbies of various sizes, colors and ethnicities.  We now have a Barbie with Type 1 diabetes!  She’ll even come equipped with her own glucose monitor!  I look forward to a more full-figured Barbie in a blue dress taking a little pill with a big story to tell!

Someone who has actually been a Barbie is Cher.  And, boy, did she knock ‘em dead last week in Rome.  She did a performance at Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda show.  Easily looking two decades younger than her chronological age, she performed a number of ditties in a number of outfits while sporting a number of different hair styles and colors.  While I can’t say she actually “sang”, they did turn her microphone on for some mid-show patter, including an endless anecdote about filming Tea with Mussolini in Rome.  You can see the full show on BillyMasters.com.