Andrea McArdle Stars in Media Theatre's HELLO DOLLY, Opening Tonight

She's back where she belongs! "Hello Dolly" starring Andrea McArdle is at The Media Theatre tonight, April 22 to May 24. Andrea McArdle returns to the award-winning professional music theatre venue after winning accolades as "Mame" two years ago.

"Hello Dolly", Jerry Herman's Tony winning musical based on Thornton Wilder's "The Matchmaker", is all about the sassy, brassy, and totally classy lady who has her eyes on Horace Vandergelder and assists a few others in finding love as she follows her own destiny.

Andrea McArdle first captured the hearts of theatergoers everywhere in 1977 when she originated the title role in the mega-musical ANNIE, based on the popular Harold Gray comic strip "Little Orphan Annie". Since then, she has starred in several Broadway musicals and appeared in theatres in New York, nationally and internationally. She has performed in concert halls from Carnegie Hall to the Hong Kong Philharmonic and casino hotels in both Las Vegas and Atlantic City. She has honed her craft by working with some of the great legends of the entertainment industry such as Ethel Merman, Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews, Bob Hope, Liberace, Frank Sinatra, Steve Martin and Martin Short, to name a few, and was privileged to have appeared on television with Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin and Dinah Shore.

As "Annie", Andrea became the youngest performer ever to be nominated for a Tony Award as Best Lead Actress in a Musical. She also received the Theater World and Outer Critics' Circle Awards for her performance and went on to star when the show was produced on London's West End.

Coming full circle, Andrea was tapped by Academy Award nominated director Rob Marshall to appear as "The Star to Be" in the Disney/ABC television production of ANNIE starring Kathy Bates and Victor Garber. And in the summer of 2010, Andrea played, yes, Miss Hannigan in a production at the North Carolina Theatre and at Musical Theatre West in California.

Also on Broadway, Andrea starred in the Jerry Herman musical "Jerry's Girls" alongside Carol Channing and Leslie Uggams; she portrayed the sassy Smoking Car, Ashley, in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Starlight Express"; and starred as Margy Frake in "State Fair"; as Fantine in "Les Miserables" and, most recently as Belle in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast".

Most recently, Andrea appeared Off-Broadway in the satirical "Newsical" and regionally as the title role in "Mame" (Media Theatre). Other theatre appearances include starring as Esther, the Judy Garland role, in "Meet Me In St. Louis"; Mrs. Johnstone in "Blood Brothers", Penelope Pennywise in "Urinetown", Sonia in "They're Playing Our Song"; Luisa in "The Fanasticks"; Eva Peron in "Evita"; Nancy in "Oliver"; the Narrator in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"; Annie Oakley in "Annie Get Your Gun", Sandy in "Grease" and as Mama Rose in "Gypsy".

In addition to ANNIE, Andrea's film and television credits include starring as Judy Garland in "Rainbow", appearing in "The Leading Ladies of Broadway" on PBS, "All My Children"on ABC and headlining her own PBS special "Andrea McArdle On Broadway".

Joining Andrea McArdle in the production is a cast of Media Theatre favorites in plum roles and a few newcomers to add to the mix.

Kelly Briggs, recently seen as Thenardier in Media's "Les Miserables", returns to delight audiences alongside Andrea McArdle as Horace Vandergelder. He worked with her in "Mame" as well.

The silky tenor vocals of Patrick Ludt will enhance the role of Cornelius, as he sings "It Only Takes A Moment". Ludt recently took on the role of Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables" and the chameleon-like actor was also Roger in "Rent", Sir Robin in "Spamalot", and Freddy in "My Fair Lady" at The Media. His sidekick, Barnaby, will be played by Cameron Scot Slusser who makes his Media Theatre debut.

Memorable actress and vocalist Elisa Matthews will bring Irene Molloy to life. She was also seen in "Les Miserables" recently as Fantine, and Media audiences have enjoyed her as Betty in "Sunset Boulevard", Maria in "The Sound of Music", and Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady".

Madalyn St. John makes her debut at Broadway World's "Best Theatre Company" of Philadelphia winner (2012, 2013, 2014) as Minnie Fay.

Sam Nagel as Ambrose Kemper, Anne Connors as Ernestina Money, Megan Rucidlo as Ermengarde, Nicholas Saverine as Rudolph, and Hillary Parker as Mrs. Rose round out the featured roles in "Hello Dolly", with the Ensemble consisting of Rachel Beiswenger, Nicole Calabrese, Zachary Chiero, JP Dunphy, Nathan Nolen Edwards, Karen Hockenberry, Adam Hoyak, Richie Sklar, and Taylor Webster.

For tickets to "Hello Dolly", call 610-891-0100 or visit mediatheatre.org.

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