Dolly Parton Musical to Offer 30,000 Free Tickets to NYC Students

by Chris Peterson

The producers of Dolly: A True Original Musical have announced that 30,000 free tickets will be made available to New York City public school students during the show’s first year on Broadway. The initiative, a partnership with the New York City Department of Education, honors Dolly Parton’s lifelong commitment to helping children.

The tickets will be available to middle and high school students, with schools able to apply to bring groups. Individual students can also apply for two tickets so they can attend with a parent or guardian. For some, this could be their first opportunity to see a Broadway show.

To be honest, I was really happy to read this. Dolly did so much to help children throughout her life, including through her Imagination Library, which mails free books each month to registered children from birth until age five. I’m glad the producers are continuing some of that generosity with a show about her life.

I also like that a student can apply for a ticket for their parent or guardian. We talk all the time about wanting more young people to get interested in theatre, but how are they supposed to see it if their families can’t afford to take them?

I would love to see more Broadway shows do something like this. Now, I know giving away thousands of tickets isn’t something every production can afford to do. But I would hope producers look at what this show is doing and consider what they could offer, even on a smaller scale.

Dolly: A True Original Musical begins previews at Broadway’s St. James Theatre on December 7, 2026, with opening night scheduled for January 19, 2027.