Dolly Parton Musical Faces Disruptions from Anti-LGBTQ+ Audience Members

The creators behind a Dolly Parton jukebox musical are urging homophobic audience members to refrain from attending their show. "Here You Come Again," co-written by two-time Emmy-winner Bruce Vilanch alongside director Gabriel Barre and lead actor Tricia Paoluccio, is currently on tour across the United Kingdom. This musical, tailored for UK audiences by playwright Jonathan Harvey, tells the story of a gay Parton fan who finds solace in an imaginary version of Dolly Parton, played by Paoluccio, during tough times. However, as English actor Stevie Webb has reported, performances have been disrupted by homophobic incidents.

Homophobic Outbursts Disrupt Performances

Webb, who stars as the show's protagonist, recently shared his experiences on TikTok, highlighting multiple instances where audience members were removed for shouting anti-LGBTQ+ slurs during the performances. These disruptions have tarnished the experience for both the cast and the rest of the audience.

On February 11, in response to the negative attention these incidents have garnered, the show's producers released a statement condemning the behavior. "In light of homophobic comments and abuse directed at our company, we condemn this abhorrent behavior in the strongest way," they declared via an Instagram post. "Individuals making such comments are not welcome at our show and will be removed from the theatre immediately. Our production stands against all forms of prejudice and proudly celebrates inclusivity and respect."

Webb described the frequency of ejections due to homophobia as "insane." In Manchester alone, he recounted an incident where the performance had to be stopped entirely because of a woman’s aggressive outburst against a gay character on stage. The disturbance prompted a heated reaction from other audience members, leading to a 15 to 20-minute interruption while the disruptive individual was escorted out.

A Pattern of Disruptive Behavior

Almost weekly, similar incidents have occurred, according to Webb. He noted that the recent shows at London’s Riverside Studios witnessed some of the worst behavior, including a man shouting homophobic slurs at the stage.

Webb expressed his disbelief that a musical about Dolly Parton, known as a long-time ally and icon within the LGBTQ+ community, could provoke such hatred. "It’s been eye-opening," Webb admitted. "Traveling the country, I’ve seen how many people are unwilling to accept a gay character on stage. It's bizarre, like being offended by the color blue."

After sharing his experiences, Webb received an overwhelming response from supporters shocked by the incidents. He noted that while most comments were supportive, he also encountered a significant amount of online vitriol, which he had to filter out. "It's just part of how we have to live," he commented on his TikTok post.

Focusing on the Positives

Addressing why he chose to highlight the negative behavior of a minority of audience members, Webb used an analogy borrowed from writer Stephen Fry: "If there’s a pristine swimming pool with a tiny turd floating at one end, you’d focus on that. That’s why it bothers me—it pulls focus." His primary concern remains the impact on the wider audience's enjoyment.

Webb concluded his message with a note to those disturbed by the show’s content: "I’m sorry about your life, and we don’t offer refunds." He also emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive environment for everyone attending the show.

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