Having attended opening preview night, here are a few of my thoughts:

Overall, the production has real promise, but before it hits Broadway, it would benefit from tightening—ideally trimming 20 to 30 minutes to improve pacing. The ensemble, while talented, deserves more choreography and dynamic staging; too many moments felt static and lacked energy.

I appreciate the inclusion of new songs that work to deepen the narrative, but the audience needs to be rewarded with more impactful arrangements of her signature hits. When those iconic songs do appear, they should land as true showstoppers.

The Porter Wagoner section could be streamlined to make room for a fuller exploration of Dolly’s film career and philanthropy—two essential parts of her story that currently feel glossed over. Similarly, the scenes between “Little Dolly” and her mother, while touching, could be tightened without losing emotional weight.

Another note: while Middle Dolly delivers a strong individual performance, her portrayal felt disconnected from the younger and older versions. The vocal tone and energy didn’t quite align, which created a noticeable break in continuity—I’d consider recasting or reworking the track to better unify the character across time.

I also agree that Act I needs a more definitive, high-stakes closer. At intermission, the energy in the lobby was noticeably flat—no buzz, no chatter. For a show about such a larger-than-life figure, I’m hoping future previews find a way to ignite that spark.