(Above: Bill Hulings and Vanessa Greenway have leading roles in The Shedd Institute’s production of Hello, Dolly!, running from Sept. 27 through Oct. 6, 2024.)
By Randi Bjornstad
The story behind Hello, Dolly! (the musical opening at The Shedd Institute on Sept. 27 for a two-weekend run) has been around a long time and changed now and again to satisfy audience and performance needs of the times.
The first iteration dates to 1835, when it was an English play titled A Day Well Spent, written by John Oxenford. From there it was adapted by Thornton Wilder in 1938 into a farce called The Merchant of Yonkers. That effort was a flop, but Wilder tried it again in 1954 in a play he called The Matchmaker, expanding the title role.
By then times — and audiences — apparently had changed, and the concept obviously caught on, because it has been done many times and in forms that include stage plays, musical theater, and film.
Basically, it is a play about matchmaking and the vagaries — and machinations — of love in general as the protagonist, Dolly Levi-Gallagher, employs her matchmaking wiles on behalf of herself as well as other clients.
This musical comedy version is the 1964 version created by Jerry Herman and Michael Steward. It’s packed with a dozen or so musical numbers, Hello, Dolly! of course being the most highly recognized example.
The Shedd production originally was to feature veteran actress/singer Shirley Andress in the role of Dolly Levi-Gallagher, but after sustaining an injury, Andress had to withdraw, and the role now will be handled by Vanessa Greenway, with Bill Hulings playing Horace Vandergelder.
Other cast members are Tate Foshay (Cornelius Hackl), Shae Brodsky (Barnaby Tucker), Hannah Rudkin (Mrs. Irene Molloy), Hanna Foshay (Minnie Fay), Wilder Teague (Ermengarde), Owen Colley (Ambrose Kemper), Matthew Leach (Rudolph Reisenweber), and Heidi Turnquist (Ernestina). Ensemble singers are Pablo Aleman, William Chase, Tessa Douangaphaivong, Avery Eberardo, Nehemiah Nance, Nate Rosenfeld, Bailey Ubel, Isabella Willis, Alexis Wood, and John Young.
The production team includes Kirk Boyd, director; Robert Ashens, music director and conductor; Richard Jessup, choreographer; Anna Björnsdotter, costume design; Jim Ralph, set design; Connie Huston, set design and master painter; Diego Ocampo, production manager; Zoë Pouliot, stage manager; Kierstin Kimbell, assistant stage manager; Markus Johnson, technical director; Emily Kidder, rehearsal pianist; Hanna Foshay, dance captain; Krysten Elkins, wardrobe master.
The orchestra, led by conductor Robert Ashens, includes Emily Weinkauf Kidder (piano and assistant conductor); Nathan Waddell (bass); Keegan Vaughan (percussion); Daniel Cathey, Richard Johnson, Bob Ragan, and Erika Richard (reeds); Casey Riley and Cody Simmons (trumpet); and Glenn Griffith and Richard Lewis (trombone).
Hello, Dolly! at The Shedd
When: Evenings at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 27-28 and Oct. 4-5; matinee performances at 3 p.m. on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6
Where: Jaqua Concert Hall, The Shedd Institute, 868 High St., Eugene
Tickets: Reserved seating $29, $33, $37, $39 (35 percent discount for students; other discounts available for groups or ticket packages), available via the Shedd ticket office, 868 High St., by telephone at 541-434-7000, or online at theshedd.org/HelloDolly.
Shedd Dinners at Six: Meals available at 6 p.m., before evening performances and after matinees by reservation, $27.75 for adults and $19.75 for children 9 years and younger. Menus and reservations available by telephone at 541-434-7000.
