NI Dolly Parton tribute setting sights on Broadway with open call audition
"I love that she brings so much joy to so many people and if I feel that I'm able to bring some of that joy to the Dolly Parton fans in our country, that just makes me feel so good"
A Northern Irish Dolly Patron tribute act is putting her name in the ring for the chance of a lifetime to perform on Broadway.
At the end of 2024, country superstar Dolly Parton launched an open call called 'The Search for Dolly', allowing people all over the globe to audition to star in her new show Dolly: An Original Musical by posting an audition on social media.
Dolly: An Orginal Musical will feature a score by Dolly that will include some of her biggest hits as well as new songs she has written especially for the Broadway show.
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After performing across the country and beyond as the blonde bombshell for over 10 years, tribute act Kirsty Coard decided to put herself out there and post an audition and join the thousands of others hoping to one day become Broadway's Dolly.
Speaking to Belfast Live, the mother of two from Newtownabbey said it would be a "dream come true" to travel to the US and audition in person if she makes it past the first round.
Dental nurse by day - Dolly by night, Kirsty has loved being on the stage since she was a child and found a passion for performing as a tribute early on.
She said: "I started singing when I was about nine in church so that's where I found the love of singing - when I went on to secondary school, I was always performing in plays and took any chance I got to act and sing.
"I knew from a young age that I wanted to be on a big stage as I wanted to perform and make people happy.
"The tribute thing actually came when I was about 14 or 15 and there was a school's version of Stars In Their Eyes and I portrayed Madonna and got right through to the final stage to perform at The Waterfront Hall.
"That was the biggest stage I'd ever been on and at that moment, I just knew I wanted to be a tribute act - but I never knew I could actually make a career out of it at the time."
After school, Kirsty went on to do Performing Arts before getting jobs in groups and bands that would travel around Northern Ireland performing covers.
Being on the NI music scene since she was 19, it was only ten years ago that the frontman of the tribute band she was performing in suggested that she would make a great Dolly Parton.
"I'd always loved Dolly Parton but I kind of laughed at the idea - I didn't think I sounded like her and I did not remotely look like her in any way, so I kind of laughed at it and thought 'ok whatever'.
"But me being me, I love a challenge, and I love Dolly, so I thought why not let's try this," Kirsty explained.
"It took about a year of research and preparation - I watched hours and hours of her performances, her interviews, studying her facial expression, the way she moved, her wigs, her makeup, just everything Dolly.
"I needed to know her inside out before I actually started doing it professionally and now I just feel like I know her. She's like my best friend."
Kirsty had the opportunity to see Dolly live in Belfast when she performed at the SSE Arena - a memory that left her "mesmerised".
She added: "I love that she brings so much joy to so many people and if I feel that I'm able to bring some of that joy to the Dolly Parton fans in our country, that just makes me feel so good."
Many across the country may know Kirsty from her duo tribute band 'The Dolly & Shania Tribute Show' with friend and fellow performer Patricia as Shania Twain.
"I love acting and portraying other people, that's where I feel that I get my confidence from," Kirsty continued.
"I feel like I'm Dolly Parton and I just feel like I'm somebody else and I just really enjoy that, I enjoy that."
When Dolly's open casting call appeared on her social media, she knew she had to give it her all or she would end up "kicking herself" for missing out on such a unique opportunity.
"An opportunity like that doesn't come too often.
"I've got so much love as well from everybody and the support has been unreal - it's very overwhelming.
"The auditions closed January 13 so it'll probably take them some time to go through all of the auditions because I'm sure there's hundreds and then the selected few will get the chance to go over to New York to audition in front of the casting directors.
Watch her audition below...
"Hopefully Dolly would make an appearance. I think that's what I would be really excited about, just to meet her."
When asked what it would mean to have the opportunity to audition in person, or even take the role of Dolly, Kirsty said it would be a "dream come true".
She continued: "As a singer and an actor, you can't get any bigger than Broadway - I mean that's just the ultimate goal.
"It'd be wonderful and our wee country is just so supportive as well with the amount of people that are backing you.
"It'd be great for a little person like me from Northern Ireland going over to New York, would just be incredible."
You can find out more about Kirsty's Dolly Tribute act and where she is performing next here
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