Santino Fontana to Join Hello, Dolly as Cornelius!!

[Call_me_jorge]

Exciting! I wish Gavin a speedy recovery! https://www.broadway.com/buzz/191212/put-on-your-sunday-clothes-santino-fontana-to-play-stint-as-cornelius-in-hello-dolly/

[GeorgeandDot]

Wait, Creel is injured? Is his understudy in this week or....? That article is a bit confusing.

[BrodyFosse123]

He’s fine. He leaves to have surgery in mid-March so Santino will fill in. This is not a recent injury nor one that has been affecting his current performances.

[DramaTeach]

It says in the article that Gavin is recovering from back surgery.

[CT2NYC]

Although I think Santino will be a great fit, this news makes me extra happy that I'll be seeing Gavin in this role again tomorrow night, probably for my last time.

[GeorgeandDot]

O yeah, that's a different article than the one that I read, which said Creel was injured. Hope everything goes well for him and Santino is the best and should absolutely kill it as Cornelius.

[LizzieCurry]

Broadway.com phrases it as "Fontana will take over for Tony-winning star Gavin Creel, will be out of the show temporarily as he recovers from back surgery."

Playbill says: "taking over for Tony winner Gavin Creel while he recovers from back surgery."

Neither of them say he already had the surgery. Broadway.com uses the future tense, though.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Gavin was out of the matinee today.

[NOWaWarning]

Wow! I just happen to already have bought tickets for his first performance. How exciting!

[sorano916]

Phillytheatreguy10 said: "Gavin was out of the matinee today."

I'm seeing it tonight so half of me is hoping that he's saving his strength and just doing the evening performance two show days, but the other half of me is trying not to get hopes up. Heh.

[AllThatJazz2]

Already in NYC the first weekend he’ll be performing - now looking to see if I can extend my trip by a day so I can catch him.

[Dollypop]

Saw the show this afternoon and Dante Christian White was quite good.

Had no idea Gavin had injured himself.

Back surgery is serious stuff. I'll be praying for his complete recovery.

[nealb1]

Would love to see Dante in the role.  His tenor voice soars into the rafters when he sings.  He's fantastic!

[Trish2]

Does anyone here know when Bernadette's official opening date is?

[GeorgeandDot]

I think it's tomorrow. Isn't it?

[qolbinau]

After 9 months of preview performances, Hello, Dolly will be officially opening on Feb 22! Congrats to all involved and thank you Bette Midler for getting the show warmed up for Bernadette. 

[BroadwayLover4]

yes.

[freewilma]

Saw the matinee sunday afternoon and he was out then.  The understudy was wonderful.  

[JBroadway]

Oh man! I would love to see this! I returned to the show a few weeks ago to see Bernadette and Victor, but if I'd know Santino would be in the show, I would have waited!! Love him. 

[CT2NYC]

sorano916 said: "Phillytheatreguy10 said: "Gavin was out of the matinee today."

I'm seeing it tonight so half of me is hoping that he's saving his strength and just doing the evening performance two show days, but the other half of me is trying not to get hopes up. Heh."

Please let us know. I'm hoping that he'll be in for Bernadette's opening tomorrow, but, at this point, who knows?

[msmp]

This is very exciting to me. I saw Gavin back in December and absolutely loved his performance, but I'm a big fan of Santino Fontana and I really hope he'll be still in the show when I see it again in late March. Wishing Gavin a speedy recovery, though!

[Wick3]

nealb1 said: "Would love to see Dante in the role. His tenor voice soars into the rafters when he sings. He's fantastic!"

I agree. I was lucky enough to see Christian Dante White in the role back in March and was really hoping to see him again in the role! Personally I think Christian's interpretation of the role was better than Gavin's.

I was hoping they'd also make an announcement of when Christian is on as I would certainly buy a ticket to see him as Cornelius again!!!

[uncageg]

Why can't they u just let Dante White go on for Creel? He was incredible.

[EthelMae]

IMHO, I saw White a few months ago as Cornelius, and he was fine-just fine. But he didn't have any of Creel's sense of comedy and charm in the role. I'll look forward to Fontana's take on the role.

[GeorgeandDot]

Christian Dante White is amazing. He's so talented and so adorable. He's just as great as Creel, if not just a tad better, IMO.