Beloved musical ‘Hello, Dolly’ set to play at the Geyer Performing Arts Center
Submitted photo
Rehearsing a scene for the upcoming musical 鈥淗ello, Dolly!鈥� at the Geyer Performing Arts Center is Dannielle Seanor (left), an ensemble cast member and the Dolly understudy, and Ben Wren (right) as Horace.
Rehearsing a scene from the upcoming musical "Hello, Dolly!" at the Geyer Performing Arts Center are ensemble cast members Andrew Ferri (left) and Kate Ferri Dawson (right).
Rehearsing a scene from the upcoming show "Hello, Dolly!" at the Geyer Performing Arts Center are (from left) Brandon Kerr (Cornelius Hackl), Rachel Nicely (Irene Molloy), Leyna Wright (Dolly Levi), Maria Spedaliere (Minnie Fay) and Richard Halbroook (Barnaby Tucker).
The enduring musical 鈥淗ello, Dolly!鈥� will bring catchy tunes and the comedic gifts of its actors to the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale next weekend.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a classic and such a fun, engaging show,鈥� said Jill Jassmann-Sharlock, the show鈥檚 director. 鈥淎bsolutely one of my favorites.鈥�
The 1964 musical has lyrics and music by Jerry Herman, book by Michael Stewart and is based on Thornton Wilder鈥檚 1938 play 鈥淭he Merchant of Yonkers,鈥� which Wilder revised and retitled 鈥淭he Matchmaker鈥� in 1955. 鈥淗ello, Dolly!鈥� was also turned into a film, released in 1969.
The musical follows the journey of Dolly Gallagher Levi, a strong-willed matchmaker who travels to Yonkers in New York, to find the perfect mate for the miserly 鈥渨ell-known unmarried half-a-millionaire鈥� Horace Vandergelder.
Around 40 actors, cast in June, will take the stage as part of the GPAC production.
鈥淲e started rehearsing right away as, is often the case with summer shows, everyone is very busy with vacations and other shows,鈥� Jassmann-Sharlock said, adding the show has a crew of six. 鈥淲e had to accommodate all those other schedules for some of our key players, so I wanted to get started as soon as possible to make sure everyone had as many opportunities to rehearse as possible.鈥�
The show is funny, and the actors all lean into that, Jassmann-Sharlock said.
鈥淸It鈥檚] Dolly鈥檚 (played by Leyna Wright) razor-sharp wit, and she and the actor who plays Horace 鈥� Ben Wren 鈥� have excellent comedic timing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檒l be high entertainment for all.鈥�
Jassmann-Sharlock said the key of the music was the biggest challenge.
鈥淭he original is set in the key of the original Dolly, [played by] Carol Channing,鈥� Jassmann-Sharlock said. 鈥淭hat key is very low鈥搉o one sings like Carol Channing. We leveraged the transpositions to showcase the best of our Dolly鈥檚 vocal range, and it鈥檚 magnificent!鈥�
Channing originated the role on Broadway in 1964, and a number of other actresses have tackled the character, from Bette Midler on stage to Barbra Streisand in the 1969 film.
鈥淒olly has been played by so many iconic leading ladies on Broadway, it is hard to pick a favorite production 鈥� but they are all great,鈥� Jassmann-Sharlock said.
The GPAC production of 鈥淗ello, Dolly!鈥� runs Thursday, Aug. 17 through Saturday, Aug. 19 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 20 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $21 each and can be purchased at www.geyerpac.com.