The full cast has been confirmed for the long-awaited Imelda Staunton-led revival of the classic musical Hello, Dolly! at the London Palladium this summer.
As previously announced, quadruple Olivier Award-winner Staunton will play the formidable Dolly Levy alongside Andy Nyman (Fiddler on the Roof, Menier Chocolate Factory) as Horace Vandergelder, Jenna Russell (Sunday in the Park With George, West End and Broadway) as Irene Malloy, Tyrone Huntley (Jesus Christ Superstar, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Barnaby Tucker and Harry Hepple (Follies, National Theatre) as Cornelius Hackl. The principal cast is completed by Emily Lane (Frozen, Theatre Royal Drury Lane) as Minnie Fay.
The full company includes: Leo Abad, Craig Armstrong, Lindsay Atherton, Gemma Atkins, Alan Bradshaw, Jabari Braham, Kevin Brewis, Jenni Bowden, Daisy Boyles, Samara Casteallo, Olly Christopher, Brendan Cull, Hayley Diamond, Jacqueline Hughes, Ashlee Irish, Jodie Jacobs, Shirley Jameson, Paul Kemble, Emily Langham, Michael Lin, Amira Matthews, Laura Medforth, Matt Overfield, Tom Partridge, Wendy-Lee Purdy, Edwin Ray, Phil Snowden, Kraig Thornber, Gavin Wilkinson and Liam Wrate.
Presented by Michael Harrison, who previously worked with Staunton on the multi-award-winning Gypsy at the Savoy Theatre, the new production will play a strictly limited 10-week season at the iconic venue from 6 July until 14 September.
Hello Dolly! will also reunite the theatrical dream team of leading lady Staunton and director Dominic Cooke after they collaborated so successfully on the critically acclaimed National Theatre production of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies.
With music and lyrics by Jerry Herman (La Cage aux Folles, Mack & Mabel, Mame) and a book by Michael Stewart (42nd Street, Mack and Mabel, Barnum), Hello, Dolly! debuted on Broadway in 1964 with Carol Channing starring. The show debuted in London a year later with Mary Martin stepping into the leading role.
Staunton will follow in the footsteps of a long line of talented and multi-award-winning actresses by taking on the role of the formidable matchmaker Dolly Levi. Previous Dollys include Ginger Rogers, Pearl Bailey, Betty Grable, Phyllis Diller and Ethel Merman. The most recent Broadway revival in 2017 starred Bette Midler followed by Bernadette Peters in 2018.
Staunton reportedly met with Herman just a few months before his death in December 2019, when the composer and lyricist gave Staunton and Cooke permission to switch the musical’s opening scenes and change one of the show’s songs.
Angela Thomas
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