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Book by Michael Stewart
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman
Based on the Play "The Matchmaker" by Thornton Wilder
Original Production Directed and Choreographed by Gower Champion
Produced for the Broadway Stage by David Merrick and Champion-Five, Inc.
HELLO, DOLLY! is the story of Mrs. Dolly Levi's efforts to marry Horace Vandergelder, the well-known half-a-millionaire, and send his money circulating among the people like rainwater the way her late husband, Ephraim Levi, taught her. Along the way she also succeeds in matching up the young and beautiful Widow Molloy with Vandergelder's head clerk, Cornelius Hackl; Cornelius' assistant, Barnaby Tucker, with Mrs. Molloy's assistant, Minnie Fay; and the struggling artist, Ambrose Kemper, with Mr. Vandergelder's weeping niece, Ermengarde.
Mrs. Levi tracks Vandergelder to his hay and feed store in Yonkers, then by train back to Mrs. Molloy's hat shop in New York, out into the streets of the city where they are all caught up in the great Fourteenth Street Association Parade, and finally to the most elegant and expensive restaurant in town, the Harmonia Gardens. There, Dolly is greeted by the waiters, cooks, doormen and wine stewards in one of the most famous songs in the history of American musical comedy, HELLO, DOLLY!
What happens in the end? Dolly gets her man, of course. Even makes him glad she caught him. Dolly leaves the stage at the end of Act II with a wink to the audience as she takes a peep into Vandergelder's bulging cash register, and promises that his fortune will soon be put to good use. She quotes her late husband as she says, "Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It's not worth a thing unless it's spread around encouraging young things to grow."
HELLO, DOLLY! is an ebullient and irresistible story of the joy of living, glittering with happy songs, shining with loving scenes, alive with the personality of one of the most fabulous characters on the musical stage...Dolly Gallagher Levi!
Classic musical numbers include Put On Your Sunday Clothes, Ribbons Down My Back, Before the Parade Passes By, Elegance, It Only Takes A Moment and So Long, Dearie.
DIRECTED BY A. ROBERT DIONNE
MUSICAL DIRECTION BY HEATHER MacROBIE
Tech Week (MANDATORY):
Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi (alto / 30 – 45) An indefatiguable meddling matchmaker of stringly dramatic appearance; a widow in her middle years.
Ernestina (40 – 60) A girl in need of Mrs. Levi's services.
Ambrose Kemper (tenor / 18 – 30) A young struggling artist seeking to marry Ermengarde.
Horace Vandergelder (baritone / 40 – 60) A well-known, tight-fisted half-a-millionaire. Humiliates himself by chasing a woman too young for him; a client of Mrs. Levi's- a widower of some means.
Ermengarde (18 – 28) The 17 year-old weeping niece of Horace Vandergelder.
Cornelius Hackl (baritone / 18 – 28) Vandergelder's timid chief clerk
Barnaby Tucker (baritone / 18 – 28) Cornelius' extremely timid assistant
Minnie Fay (mezzo / 18-28) A young girl who works in Irene's shop.
Widow Irene Molloy (legit voice / mezzo / 18 – 30) A millineress with a Hat Shop near 14th Street in New York City. Mr.s Levi has introduced her to Mr. Vandergelder.
Mrs. Rose (alto / 30 – 45) Sells vegetables from a street cart, a friend of Mrs. Levi's from years before.
Rudolph Reisenweber (bass / 35 – 65) The Prussian major-domo of the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant.
Stanley (15-22) A young waiter.
Fritz, Harry, Louie, Danny, Manny, & Hank (singers/dancers) Harmonia Gardens waiters.
The Judge (bass / 35 – 65) New York night court.
First Cook (chorus) Harmonia Gardens employee; german accent.
Second Cook (chorus) Harmonia Gardens employee.
Policeman (chorus) Several officers, one speaking.
Townspeople & Waiters (chorus / 15 – 70)
Every time I find I am on the docket to direct a "classic musical" I find myself falling into the "not again" mentality: but it's short-lived, for when I start to gather character information, dust off my script/score, listen to the songs again, and prepare for the show I get more and more excited to be a part of such a strong production of a well-known favorite.
You see, it is with good reason that shows like HELLO, DOLLY! have stood the test of time and still continue to bring in some of the largest and most appreciative theatre audiences ever. They are well put together, with strong scripts and scores, and have helped shaped the musical theatre into what it is today. Don't be fooled- HELLO, DOLLY! will provide all actors with the same excitement you get from the "newer" works that have saturated NH community theatre; once and while you need to just "take a breath" and enjoy some well-written, well-produced, FUN musical theatre. I am convinced that HELLO, DOLLY! will satisfy every artistic hunger (and we'll have some fun along the way too!).
I hope that you will join Heather and I as we present this "chestnut" of musical theatre and discover the fun and excitement that has kept this show a popular favorite for almost 50 years. Let's revisit this show and have a fun time making new friends, celebrating existing friendships, and putting forth a show that will no doubt be one of the most memorable this Fall.
Take a bow, dust off your "Sunday shoes" and join us on September 9th or 12th!
A. Robert Dionne, Director
