"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>>
“I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>>
-whatever2
The tour opens tonight in Somerville, NJ. Wish I could go, it's so close for me. I just have to wonder why in all their press releases why the ensemble cast isn't listed, nor are they listed on the tour's website. http://hellodollyontour.com/
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
I was told by Carol herself that her original Harmonia Gardens gown is in the Smithsonian. The gown Ginger Rogers wore (an exact replica, is in a costume museum in Florida. Other gowns (all replicas) that were worn by Martha Raye, Betty Grable, Pearl Baily and Ethel Merman are all still extant but no one seems to know where.
The Betty Grable estate auctioned off several other costumes the star wore in HELLO, DOLLY! on Ebay a few years ago but not the red gown.
Top billing Monday, Tuesday you're touring in stock, but Sally's here!
There are no two ways about it. You must love Sally. She is so fun, so exuberant, so joyful; my smile was from ear to ear the second she pulled that newspaper down until the finale curtain. (And what a curtain call she gets! Holy Cabooses!)
It's not just Sally though. The entire production is wonderful. I was expecting a five dollar set with two dollar costumes, and I was pleasantly surprised in both departments. The cast is very strong too. The actress who plays Irene has a strong voice, and even sounds like Florence Lacey sometimes. Cornelius was also great and the ensemble a complete delight.
The show itself deserves much credit. For a book that is about 45 years old, there are no signs of wear and tear. This thing fires along without a creak or a groan. Of course, as scores go, you don't get much better than this.
Was it worth the trip to god knows where in New Jersey? Absolutely! If you are able to go see this I strongly urge you to do so.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
Awwww! Whizzer I was almost there tonight as well! My friend is the swing, but I couldn't make it! Glad to know it's a great show. Hoping to catch it later on in the run.
and chance you can post the full cast list with understudies??
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Loliveve - my previous comment re: Ms. Struther's appearance was rude and unnecessary and I apologize for it. I regretted it as soon as I posted it. I dislike mean posts like that when I read them and certainly hope I don't have that kind of poised in my pen again.
I saw Sally Struthers in a reading of Minsky's playing the role Beth Leavel had played in LA. Now I love Leavel, but she couldn't make the character work. She seemed too sexy and vibrant to be a tired sort of mother to the strippers in a tawdry burlesque house. I'd never have believed it, but Sally Struthers was a brilliant casting choice. I was expecting a Rosie O'Donnell type of loud, anything-for-a-cheap-laugh, speak-sung performance. Not only can Struthers sing, but she can sell a song like a seasoned musical theater veteran. Her comic timing was sharp as a tack, and she exudes incredible warmth, all the more impressive since she played the character as a profoundly tired, seen-it-all, wiseass. I would love to see her take on Dolly Levi.
TimesSquared- Funny you should mention Rosie, because that's exactly what I was expecting her performance to be and Sally wasn't like that at all. She put all of her songs over so well, and you're right about that timing! The woman certainly knows how to sell a laugh!
For those with friends in the show, please tell them how wonderful it was. I feel like I want to send thank you notes to the whole cast for putting me in such a good mood all weekend, ha.
Someone asked for a cast list:
Dolly- Sally Struthers Ambrose- Brad Frenette Horse- Zachary Berger, Michael J Rios Horace- John O'Creagh Ermengarde- Hilary Fingerman Cornelius- Matt Wolfe (truly excellent; he has what it takes to make it in New York) Barnaby- Garett Hawe Irene- Lauren Blackman Minnie- Halle Morse Mrs. Rose- Brooke Robyn Dairman Ernestina- Jamey Hood Rudolph- Tony Triano Judge- Michael Gorman Court Clerk- Michael Baxter Ensemble- Michael Baxter, Zachary Berger, Erin Chupinsky, Brooke Robyn Dairman, Lucas Fedele, AJ Hughes, Liesl Jaye, Louis Jones, Lauren Krautmann, Joseph Nicastro, Michael J Rios, Lisa Rohinsky, Paige Wheat
The pit isn't huge- just eight members, but they make it sound a lot fuller than that number would lead you to believe.
The curtain call (slight spoiler I guess) has the train come back on for Dolly's entrance and she comes out in this big white wedding dress. It made the crowd go wild.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
Saw the tour in Detroit yesterday afternoon. What a wonderful production. You can't not love Ms. Struthers as Dolly. She radiates throughout the entire performance and surely keeps everyone laughing. I can't agree more with Whizzer about Matt Wolfe though. Such a wonderful, honest, and most of all, truthful performance as Cornelius. The score is impeccably sung and danced and the design is lovely. Also for anyone curious, the orchestra listing is: Conductor / Keyboard 1 Keyboard 2 Reed Trumpet Trombone Guitar / Banjo Bass Drums / Percussion
I believe the orchestration was reduced specifically for this production and for the pieces they planned on having on the road. No music system. Just a simple reduction.