From John Lithgow to Kevin Kline- Fans Chime in on the Ideal Horace for HELLO, DOLLY!

By: Jan. 19, 2016
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

Broadway Horaces David Burns and Cab Calloway

As announced on BroadwayWorld, The Divine Miss D will returning to Broadway next season in the guise of The Divine Miss M, as Bette Midler struts down the staircase of Harmonia Gardens in a brand-spanking new revival of HELLO, DOLLY!

As is the case when any beloved old musical is plucked for a revival, the guessing game now begins where theatre fans pick their dream casts to fill out the show's supporting roles. What makes the game a little more interesting this time is that a high-profile star like Bette Midler may attract bigger names into the casting pool.

When director Gower Champion and producer David Merrick cast the wildly eccentric GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES star Carol Channing as matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi in the original 1964 production, they knew they needed to gather equally unique personalities to play the supporting roles.

That's why the daffy clown Charles Nelson Reilly, a recent Tony-winner for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, was cast in the romantic role of Cornelius Hackl opposite an Irene Molloy essayed by Eileen Brennan, the off-beat star of Off-Broadway's LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE.

As for the surly Horace Vandergelder, the well-known half-a-millionaire from Yonkers, Champion and Merrick nabbed David Burns, who had won Tonys for playing the blowhard mayor in THE MUSIC MAN and the spineless husband in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM.

Earlier today, we made some casting suggestions and asked you for some of your own. Here's how you responded on Facebook...


Daniel McDonald: John Lithgow or Victor Garber either of these gentlemen would be the exact "foil" and have the gravitas to play opposite Miss Midler.

Stephen Thompson: I think he has to be a romantic lead without knowing he is the romantic lead. Hugh Jackman could pull it off or Gerard Butler

Joseph Barcia: Mandy Patinkin would be great. Boyd Gaines would be an interesting choice, too. Nathan Lane is great, but not in this role.

Brendon Slater: NATHAN LANE! Since they've already worked together.

Alex Tiscareno: John Schneider, Tom Wopat, Patrick Page or even Steven Colbert....

Nathan Bottorff-Gaik: Nathan Lane! They had such great chemistry together in "Isn't She Great"!

Roy George: Michael ball, Billy Crystal, Danny burstein

Greg Dorsey: John Lithgow or Danny Burstein. And I agree, this is not the role for Nathan Lane at all.

Kathleen Mullins: Tringale Peter Gallagher, Norm Lewis or Michael Ball. Those are my top three.

John Lewis: I think Nathan Lane or Danny Devito.

Richard Pahl: I was impressed by James Caan in FOR THE BOYS.

Mike Shulman: Nathan Lane would be perfect better than the late Walter Matthau.

Patricia Turner: Michael Crawford. Doubt it would happen but he was in the movie as Cornelius.

Kim Sloan: Steve Carell or Harrison Ford, it would be hilarious.

Marie Baker: Fred Applegate or Michael Rupert

Frank James: Kevin Kline

Katie Iannello: Danny Burstein!!

Sylvester Smith: Jonathan Groff as Cornelius!!!!!

Janet Landry: John LaRouquette

Paula Gentry: Victor garber

Joe Minnich: Patrick Stewart

Phil Harrison: Kelsey grammer would be good

John B. DeHaas: Jeff McCarthy

Richard Bernstein: PETER GALLAGHER

Deborah R Weston: Richard Gere?

Hayley Goldstein: Kevin Kline.

Isabel Pearce: Danny Burstein but he's in Fiddler

Mindy Lopkin: Nathan Lane!

Robin Howell Burt: Harry Connick, Jr

Neil Feigeles: Me.... Mandy Patinkin

Mario Mon: Nathan lane

Anthony Pisano: Peter Gallagher.

Nancy Garcia: Michael Ball.



Videos