Producer Michael Harrison has confirmed Imelda Staunton’s Dolly Levi will finally sashay into the West End when the long-delayed revival of the classic musical Hello, Dolly! opens at the London Palladium next summer.
The quadruple Olivier Award-winner will lead a star-studded cast into the iconic venue for a strictly limited 10-week season from 6 July until 14 September 2024.
Presented by Harrison and David Ian (the producers of the multi-award-winning Gypsy at the Savoy Theatre), 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.
Commenting on the production, Staunton said: “I’m delighted that we are announcing our new production of Hello, Dolly!, which is a truly joyous show. I am also thrilled to be working again with Dominic Cooke and Michael Harrison. Dolly Levi is one of the great characters in musical theatre, and I can’t wait to join the company in bringing our new production to the iconic London Palladium.”
Staunton will star alongside Tyrone Huntley (Jesus Christ Superstar, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) as Barnaby Tucker, Andy Nyman (Fiddler on the Roof, Menier Chocolate Factory) as Horace Vandergelder, Jenna Russell (The Bridges of Madison County, Menier Chocolate Factory) as Irene Malloy and Harry Hepple (Follies, National Theatre) as Cornelius Hack.
Further casting will be announced at a later date.
Announcing the production’s previous postponement Harrison and Ian said: “Whilst we are naturally disappointed that we aren’t able to stage the show this summer, we are completely committed to Hello, Dolly! Dominic Cooke’s new production is set to have a cast of 34 and an orchestra of 18 musicians. This, coupled with Rae Smith’s stunning new designs, means we do not want to compromise the length of run, so postponing until the time is right and schedules permit is the best option, but plans are already underway for the new season which we will announce as soon as we can. Dolly will most certainly be back where she belongs.”
With music and lyrics by Jerry Herman (La Cage aux Folles, Mack and Mabel, Mame) and 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 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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