It seems like yesterday that the Heights Players began its Diamond Anniversary season, featuring revivals of shows presented over the past six decades. For its final main stage production of this celebrated season, the Heights Players is pleased to present the classic Broadway musical Hello, Dolly!.
Hello, Dolly! hardly needs an introduction. Based on Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker, the show made its debut on Broadway in 1964 and swept the Tony Awards that year. With an ebullient and irresist...
It seems like yesterday that the Heights Players began its Diamond Anniversary season, featuring revivals of shows presented over the past six decades. For its final main stage production of this celebrated season, the Heights Players is pleased to present the classic Broadway musical Hello, Dolly!.
Hello, Dolly! hardly needs an introduction. Based on Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker, the show made its debut on Broadway in 1964 and swept the Tony Awards that year. With an ebullient and irresistible story (book by Michael Stewart) and glittering happy songs (music and lyrics by Jerry Herman), Hello Dolly! celebrates the joy of living. A glorious score (ballads like “Ribbons Down My Back” and “It Only Takes A Moment,” along with rousing production numbers such as “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” and the renowned title number) compliments the lighthearted story of Dolly Levi, a matchmaker in New York City in 1900. Dolly is casting her sights on Horace Vandergelder, a wealthy Yonkers merchant. But in the meantime, she is also setting up romantic arrangements for three other couples. Of course, none of this happens without hilarious complications!
Starring in the Heights Players production is Karen Mascolo as Dolly Levi, fresh from her recent triumphs as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes and The Red Queen in the Theater for Children show, The Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Appearing as the cantankerous Vandergelder is RL Swartz, who appeared in two other classic Wilder roles: The Stage Manager in Our Town and Mr. Antrobus in The Skin of Our Teeth.
Others in principal roles include Dave Kurnov, portraying Vandergelder's chief clerk Cornelius Hackl. Kurnov appeared in the Heights Players production of Pippin several years ago and recently starred as Bobby in Company for Village Light Opera Guild. Maura Gillespie joins for the first time as Hackl's love interest, milliner Irene Molloy.
The comic parts of Barnaby Tucker and Minnie Fay are being played by Sean Dearing and Cait Farrell, respectively. Dearing has appeared on stage in a number of musicals including this season's Mame and Anything Goes. Farrell is best remembered for her appearances as Luce in The Boys From Syracuse and Lois Lane/Bianca in Kiss Me, Kate.
Rounding out the supporting cast are newcomers Gina Montoya as Ermengarde and Andy Geary as Ambrose Kemper as well as seasoned veterans Malary Lynn Nicoletti (Rumors, The Women) as Ernestina Money; Michael Blake (Mame) as Rudolph Reisenweber; Steve Ackerman (Rumors) as The Judge; and Maureen Vidal (Yentl, West Side Story) as Mrs. Rose.
Hello, Dolly! is known for its dance numbers and this production promises to live up to its expectations. Featured female dancers are Masumi Iwai, Jeannie Cascio and Kelly Reader (all returning after Anything Goes) and newcomer Devon Shipley. Male dancers are David Arzberger (A Chorus Line, Anything Goes) and newcomers Kyle Baran, Christopher Michael Milligan, and Jonathan Merechant.
Other veterans in the ensemble are Thomas J. Kane (And Then There Were None) as Stanley; Melissa Croy (Mame, And There Were None, Rumors) as The Court Clerk; Isabella Prince (A Christmas Carol) as The Tall Girl; Maria Elisa Costa as Gussie, the cook, Canelle Boughton as The Spinster and Janelia Thompson as The Bride (all from The Women) and Charlene Deen (Kiss Me, Kate) as The Cigarette Girl. Joining them are newcomers Devin Davis as Louie; Abby Patrick as The Diffident Girl; and Hannah Giddings as Gertrude, the housekeeper.
Directing the production is Thomas N. Tyler, whose recent shows include Kiss Me, Kate and West Side Story. His staff includes musical director Anne Rebold, choreographers Hilary Goldman and Michael Kidney, stage manager Casey Buttari, lighting designer Leo J. Contrino, costume designers Malary Lynn Nicoletti and Scotty Wiggins, set personnel Colleen Finn, Paul Keim and Gary VanderPutten, prop personnel Jan VanderPutten, Debbie Keim and Steve Ackerman, lighting technician Tony Artiga, house staffing coordinator and reservations manager Corrine Contrino, and program editor Bob Wachewski.
Join the Heights Players for an evening filled with "Elegance" or "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" for a Sunday matinee. "It Only Takes A Moment" to fall in love with Dolly and all her friends. Hello Dolly! runs from May 6th through 22nd with performances at 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2:00 p.m. on Sundays. Call 718-237-2752 for reservations or visit our website to make email reservations.