Rehearsals are underway for the Imelda Staunton-led London revival of Hello, Dolly!, originally scheduled to begin performances at the Adelphi Theatre in August 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic. The production will instead begin a limited run at the London Palladium this summer.
Four-time Olivier winner Staunton, who portrays the late Queen Elizabeth II in the final two seasons of the Netflix series The Crown, will play matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi in the classic Jerry Herman-Michael Stewart musical. Performances at the London venue are scheduled for July 6-September 14. Opening night is July 18.
Dominic Cooke, who directed Staunton in the critically acclaimed production of Follies at the National Theatre, will direct the 1964 Tony winner for Best Musical.
Staunton will be joined by Andy Nyman (Fiddler on the Roof, Hangmen) as Horace Vandergelder, Olivier Award winner Jenna Russell (Sunday in the Park With George, Fun Home) as Irene Molloy, Olivier nominee Tyrone Huntley (Jesus Christ Superstar, Dreamgirls) as Barnaby Tucker, Harry Hepple (Follies) as Cornelius Hackl, and Emily Lane (Frozen) as Minnie Fay.
Ensemble members include 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.
Go inside rehearsals for the upcoming production in the photo gallery below.
Jabari Braham and Gemma Atkins
Tyrone Huntley and Harry Hepple
Tom Partridge, Samara Casteallo, Liam Wrate, Lindsey Atherton, Olly Christopher, Hayley Diamond, Michael Lin, and Emily Langham
Olly Christopher and Hayley Diamond
Michael Lin, Tyrone Huntley, Emily Langham, Harry Hepple, and Imelda Staunton
Matt Overfield and Amira Matthews
Liam Wrate, Lindsey Atherton, Olly Christopher, and Hayley Diamond
Jenna Russell
Jenna Russell, Andy Nyman, and Dominic Cooke
Jenna Russell, Andy Nyman, and Dominic Cooke
Andy Nyman and Emily Lane
Imelda Staunton
Imelda Staunton and Emily Langham
Harry Hepple, Imelda Staunton, and Emily Langham
Harry Hepple and Tyrone Huntley
Gemma Atkins, Jabari Braham, Liam Wrate, Amira Matthews, and Matt Overfield
Emily Langham and Imelda Staunton
Edwin Ray, Ashleigh Graham, and cast of Hello, Dolly!
Bill Deamer, Imelda Staunton, and Dominic Cooke
The creative team will also include set and costume designer Rae Smith, choreographer Bill Deamer, sound designer Paul Groothuis, music supervisor, music director, and arranger Nick Skilbeck, lighting designer Jon Clark, and video designer Finn Ross. Casting is by Pippa Ailion.
Michael Harrison, Gavin Kalin, Aaron Glick, Creative Partners Productions, Jonathan Church Theatre Productions, Crossroads Live, and Jake Hine are producing.
Hello, Dolly! features a book by Stewart with music and
lyrics by Herman. The original Broadway production won 10 1964 Tony
Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for Carol
Channing.
Staunton won the Olivier for Best Actress in a Musical for playing the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and Rose in Gypsy. Additionally, she won a Best Supporting Performance for her two performances in A Chorus of Disapproval and The Corn Is Green. The West End star played Sally in the National Theatre production of Follies that was filmed and broadcast in movie theatres.
Visit HelloDollyLDN.com.
