Dolly doppelganger ushers in TUTS 2010 season

The CultureMap offices just had a special visitor swing by: Dolly Parton.

Dolly  — or a reasonable facsimile — barged in, big hair and all, to announce the new TUTS 2010-11 season. The real Parton penned the music and lyrics for 9 to 5, based on the 1980 hit movie she starred in, along with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.  The musical will have its Houston premiere Nov. 9-21 at the Hobby Center.

The season highlight is likely to be Billy Elliot, the Tony Award-winning musical based on the 2000 movie about a British coal miner's son who finds his passion in ballet. A co-presentation with Broadway Across America, it have its Houston premiere Feb. 23-March 13, 2011.

Also on the calendar:

• Hairspray will open the TUTS season Oct. 5-17.  The popular musical based on the 1988 John Waters' cult film about a plump teenager who takes a stand for integration on a popular TV dance show is making its  second Houston run.
• TUTS' holiday offering is Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas: The Musical  (Nov. 24 - Dec. 5), based on the iconic children's story.
• Curtains (March 26 - April 10, 2011), a musical whodunit, features the music of legendary songwriters John Kander and Fred Ebb.
• The current Broadway hit Rock of Ages (May 31 - June 12, 2011) includes hits from Journey, Night Ranger, Styx and Whitesnake.