The Dolly Parton musical Here You Come Again UK tour has extended its run, adding additional dates due to popular demand. Also announced today, West End star Steven Webb will be joining the company as Kevin, a 40 year old has-been-who-never-was comedian in the new musical, alongside previously announced star and co-writer Tricia Paoluccio, who is reprising her role as Dolly following US acclaim.
The additional dates added to the tour include Cambridge, Malvern, Edinburgh, Cheltenham, Bath, Blackpool and Liverpool.
Steven Webb began his career 30 years ago in Oliver!, as the titular role, at the London Palladium. Since then he has appeared in a wide range of film, television and theatre. He has just finished a long stint starring as Elder McKinley in the West End run of The Book Of Mormon.
He also has many television credits, having previously played roles in the much beloved BBC series Miranda and E4’s The Inbetweeners.
Steven Webb says: “I’m beyond excited to be bringing Kevin to life here in the UK. I grew up listening to Dolly and other country music as my dad was a big fan. Twenty years ago, I was in a similar state to Kevin. I was down, a relationship had come clattering to a halt and I felt aimless. Then Dolly Parton played one night at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. So, I grabbed a ticket and took myself down there. Just like Kevin, I was inspired, galvanised and uplifted by Dolly and her message of love and perseverance. It was practically life-changing. And that’s why she means so much to so many people. It’s no coincidence that the hashtag WhatWouldDollyDo became a life motto for so many. Getting to sing and hear her biggest hits (and watch Tricia embody Dolly) every night is going to be the greatest gift a show could ever give.”
For the first time ever, all of Dolly Parton’s biggest hits are brought together in a rollicking and joyful new musical, fully authorized by Dolly herself. Packed with iconic songs like Jolene, 9 to 5, Islands in the Stream, I Will Always Love You, Here You Come Again and more, this lively and touching new musical tells the story of a diehard fan whose imagined version of international icon Dolly Parton gets him through trying times.
Kevin has just separated from his long-time boyfriend, Jeremy, an investment banker, and is in quarantine in the attic bedroom of his childhood home in Yorkshire. Surrounded by precious belongings from his youth, he is reunited with a much-loved old record player and his cherished Dolly albums. He remembers the hard times those songs helped him through in the past and counts on them to help him once again. With her wit, humour and charm, Dolly teaches him a whole lot about life, love and how to pull yourself up by your bootstraps… even if your bootstraps don’t have rhinestones!