Casting is now complete 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 now play 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 the previously reported 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, and Harry Hepple (Follies) as Cornelius Hackl.
Newly announced for the cast is Emily Lane (Frozen) as Minnie Fay plus ensemble members 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.
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.
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