Gary Beach, Vicki Lewis to Lead Maltz Jupiter Theatre's HELLO, DOLLY!

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is heading into the final show of its 2011/12 season with Hello, Dolly!, March 13 through April 1, directed by Tony®-nominated director and choreographer Marcia Milgrom Dodge and starring Broadway veteran Vicki Lewis and Tony® winner Gary Beach. 

Described as "complete with a stunning set, large orchestra and cast of 22 performers, Hello, Dolly! is packed with memorable Jerry Herman songs, including 'Put On Your Sunday Clothes,' 'Before the Parade Passes By' and 'It Only Takes a Moment.' This Broadway hit is sure to make everyone fall in love with America's most beloved matchmaker, Dolly Levi!"

“This is truly a tony of a show, and we are ecstatic to welcome both Vicki Lewis and Gary Beach onto the Maltz Jupiter Theatre stage,” said Andrew Kato, the Theatre’s artistic director. “Along with Marcia Milgrom Dodge – who last directed the favorite Anything Goes at our Theatre – I can’t think of anyone better to take our audiences on a whirlwind race around New York at the turn of the twentieth century. This spectacular musical adventure is a true treasure and will be sure to warm your heart!”

Based on the book by Michael Stewart, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and Thornton Wilder’s 1955 play “The Matchmaker,” Hello, Dolly! became an award-winning hit musical that broke box office records and has attracted such stars as Carol Channing, Mary Martin, Pearl Bailey and Ginger Rogers in the title role.

When it first hit Broadway in 1964, “Hello Dolly!” dominated the Tony® Awards in ten categories, including Best Musical. The show received rave reviews and became the longest-running musical in Broadway history up to that time, running for 2,844 performances. It enjoyed three more Broadway revivals over the years, and its 1969 film was nominated for seven Academy Awards. Its musical score is in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The show has local ties, too. Its original Broadway costumes were designed by former Tequesta resident Freddy Wittop, with many that can still be seen in the permanent collection of the Costume World Broadway Collection, a theatrical museum dedicated to Broadway costuming in Pompano Beach.

“We are ecstatic to be ending our season with a large-scale, song-and-dance extravaganza that will truly excite our audiences, and hopefully whet their appetites to renew their subscriptions for our upcoming 10^th anniversary season,” said Andrew Kato, the Theatre’s artistic director. “People of all ages will love this show.”

The show will also feature other recognizable stars, including Matt Loehr – who received rave reviews for the starring role in Theatre’s 2011 production of Crazy for You – and Aaron Bower, who also appeared in Crazy for You and received critical acclaim for her role in the Theatre’s January production of Cabaret. 

As a preview to the live stage production, the Theatre is offering a free night at the movies on Monday, Feb. 27, with the full-length movie version of Hello, Dolly!, starring Barbra Streisand. Showtime is 7 p.m. The movie is free, but advanced tickets are required; call (561) 575-2223.

Tickets to Hello, Dolly! (March 13 – April 1) start at $43 and may be purchased by calling (561) 575-2223 or by visiting www.jupitertheatre.org. Hello, Dolly! is sponsored by Admiral’s Cove Cares Foundation.

Season subscriptions are also currently on sale for the Theatre’s 2012/13 Tenth Anniversary Season Celebration, with subscriptions that start at $183. The shows featured in the Theatre’s 2012/13 season include Amadeus, The Music Man, Singin' in the Rain, Doubt and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre

In only nine seasons, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida’s preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state’s largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws over 70,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 7,000 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres and has earned numerous Carbonell Awards, South Florida’s highest honor for artistic excellence. For more information about the Theatre’s upcoming shows and Conservatory, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.