Three performances are scheduled at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis (11 AM and 8 PM Jan. 13, 8 PM Jan. 14) before the players move to Carmel, IN, to appear at The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts (7:30 PM Jan. 15).
Jack Everly, who was music director and conductor of the 1978 and 1995 Broadway revivals of Hello, Dolly!, conducts. His principal cast for the concert includes Christina Bianco (Off-Broadway's NEWSical the Musical, Forbidden Broadway Goes to Rehab) as Minnie Fay, James T. Lane (The Scottsboro Boys) as Barnaby, opera star Gwendolyn Jones as Ernestina Money, Laura Shoop (the most recent Broadway revivals of Oklahoma! and Fiddler on the Roof) as Mrs. Malloy, Robin Massie as Ermengarde, Ben Crawford (Shrek the Musical and the Broadway revival of Les Misérables) as Cornelius, with the Indianapolis Men's Chorus.
Everly conducted Patty's new "Broadway Stories" album of show tunes, which represents a new phase for the singer who has sold 11 million albums of Christian pop and gospel music. Patty told Playbill.com that singing pop music and show tunes won't replace Christian music in her career — it will be an additional part of her repertoire. "It wouldn't be 'instead of,' certainly, but it certainly could be 'in addition to' — if that makes sense," she said.
Inspired by Thornton Wilder's comedy The Matchmaker, Hello, Dolly! has music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart. In 1954, it won the Tony Award as Best Musical, plus nine other Tonys. This concert stage adaptation is by David Levy.
Patty previously told Playbill.com that the concert will also include music from the show's film version, including the song "Love Is Only Love," which Patty sings on her new album. "[I acted in musicals] in high school and college," Patty told Playbill.com. "So, I am terrifyingly excited about [Hello, Dolly!], and looking forward to see what might develop from it. Everybody has a wish list, and one of the things that's been on my wish list for a while would be to do something on Broadway."
Beach plays the irascible Yonkers half-a-millionaire Horace Vandergelder, who hires matchmaker Dolly Levi to find him a wife. She schemes to become his bride, all the while making matches for his niece, his chief clerk and others in 1880s New York City. The famous Tony Award-winning score includes "Before the Parade Passes By," "Put On Your Sunday Clothes," "Dancing," "It Takes a Woman," "So Long, Dearie," "Elegance" and the title tune.
Patty, who raised her family in Indiana, is a favorite with Indianapolis audiences, where her holiday pops concerts have been popular. Read Playbill.com's fall 2011 interview with Patty.
For more information, visit www.indianapolissymphony.org. For more information about the work of Sandi Patty, visit www.sandipatty.com.
