Wagner College Theatre opens their 2014-15 Season with one of America's great musicals, Hello, Dolly! from October 1-12. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the musical's Broadway premiere, the Wagner production is directed and choreographed by Broadway veteran Norb Joerder (WCT's Little Women) with musical direction by James Higgins (WCT's The Drowsy Chaperone).
Hello, Dolly! brings to life the tale of Dolly Levi and celebrates the search for love. The cantankerous half-a-millionaire Horace Vandergelder hires matchmaker Dolly Levi to find him a wife. Dolly soon hatches a plan to woo and win Vandergelder's hand herself, while simultaneously arranging romantic prospects for his niece, his clerks and two of Manhattan's most eligible shop girls.
Hello, Dolly! is based on
Thornton Wilder's 1955 comedy "The Matchmaker," and features a book by
Michael Stewart, music and lyrics by
Jerry Herman, and is packed with memorable songs, including "Put On Your Sunday Clothes," "Before the Parade Passes By," "It Only Takes a Moment," and the title song, "Hello, Dolly!"
Wagner College Theatre's production boasts a cast of 26 and features Allie Luecke as Dolly Gallagher Levi,
Jordan Bunshaft as Horace Vandergelder, Joe O'Malley as Cornelius Hackl, Jonathan Quigley as Barnaby,
Danielle James as
Irene Molloy,
VyVy Tran as Minnie Fay, Alec Reiss as Ambrose Kemper,Daniela Sottile as Ermengarde, and Melissa Silano as Ernestina. The ensemble includes Nicole Amato, Zach Berteletti, Addi Berry, Dana Gough,Greg Ippolito (Rudolph), Stephen Kallas, Darnell Kenney,
Ryann Lillis, Jake Tyler Marks,
Jeff Mills, Julia Paladino, Jason Rath, Tyler Roberts,Maria Salerno, Mari Skoultchi, Kelly Swint, and Megan Viglione.
The design team includes Phill Hickox (sets), Vicki Neal (lights), Kurt Alger (costumes), Richard Kroth (sound), Emilia Martin (wig design). Christopher Luner is production stage manager.
Winner of 10 Tony Awards (before The Producers took that title), Hello, Dolly! was one of the longest-running musicals of the 1960s. Produced by
David Merrick with direction and choreography by
Gower Champion, the show opened at Broadway's St. James Theatre January 16, 1964, setting forth a record-breaking 6 and ½ year run. Dolly was one of the first musicals to use star casting to help keep the show running -
Ginger Rogers,
Betty Grable,
Martha Raye,
Phyllis Diller,
Pearl Bailey, and
Ethel Merman. The show has become one of the most enduring musical theatre hits, enjoying three Broadway revivals and international success.
Gene Kelly directed the 1969 film starring
Barbra Streisand and
Walter Matthau that was nominated for seven Academy Awards. Wagner College Theatre previously presented Hello, Dolly! in 1994 and featured
Kathy Brier,
Charlie Siedenburg,
James Patric Moran,
Timothy Quinlan, Kathy Kendall, Elizabeth FitzGibbon and Robyn Ruehl.
Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm, with matinees Saturday at 2pm; added Sunday matinee October 12 at 2pm. Located in Main Hall, the Wagner College Theatre box office can be contacted at (718) 390-3259 or boxoffice@wagner.edu. Wagner College Theatre Box Office hours are Monday through Friday 12:00Noon-4:00pm. Single tickets are on sale now for Hello, Dolly!, with price ranges for children, senior and adult tickets. Wagner College students attend free with current ID.
Photo Credit: Karen O'Donnell
