Jenifer Lewis (Hairspray, "Jackie's Back," "The Princess and the Frog") stars as matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi in the resident Seattle production. David Armstrong directs Dolly!, which began performances March 7 and will continue through March 29.
Joining Lewis onstage are Pat Cashman as aging bachelor Horace Vandergelder, as well as Seattle stage veterans Suzanne Bouchard (Irene Molloy), Julie Briskman (Ernestina), Mo Brady (Barnaby Tucker), Greg McCormick Allen (Cornelius Hackl), Matt Owen (Ambrose Kemper), Tracee Beazer (Minnie Fay) and Krystle Armstrong (Ermengarde).
The Hello Dolly! ensemble comprises Greg McCormick Allen, David Alewine, Daniel Cruz, Bojohn Diciple, Michael Ericson, James Scheider, Eric Brotherson, Troy Wageman, Jadd Davis, Neil Badders, Ty Willis, Erricka Turner-Davis, Chelsi Schill, Brittany Jamieson, Maya RS Perkins, Kasey Nusbickel, Cheryl Massey Peters, Karen Skrinde and Corinna Lapid Munter.
The creative team for Hello Dolly! includes Michael Anania (set design), James Schuette and Christine Tschirgi (costume design), Tom Sturge (lighting design), Ken Travis (sound design) and Joel Fram (musical director, conductor).
Lewis has also appeared on Broadway in Eubie and Comin' Uptown. She performed her own one-woman show, The Diva Is Dismissed, at the Public Theater. Lewis most recently starred as Motormouth Maybelle in the Broadway production of Hairspray. Her film and TV work includes "Jackie's Back," "Meet the Browns," "Corrina, Corrina," "Sister Act," "Poetic Justice," Lifetime's "Strong Medicine," "The Preacher's Wife," "Cast Away," and her upcoming vocal role as Mama Odie in the Disney animated feature "The Princess and the Frog."
The popular Jerry Herman musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker, featuring a book by Michael Stewart, earned a then-record-breaking ten Tony Awards in 1964, including Best Musical. The original production, starring Tony Award winner Carol Channing, played 2,844 performances at the St. James Theatre.
The score features "Put On Your Sunday Clothes," "Ribbons Down My Back," "It Only Takes a Moment," "Dancing" and the title song.
Tickets for the Seattle run, priced $22-$81, are available by calling (206) 625-1900 or by visiting www.5thavenue.org.
