According to the festival, "this is the first time the musical has been reconceived from the original Broadway version in any professional production." The production is directed by Susan H. Schulman (represented on Broadway by Little Women) and designed by Patrick Clark, whose set "is inspired by Victorian train travel and Tiffany glass." The lighting designer is Kevin Fraser, the sound designer is Peter McBoyle and the fight director is John Stead.

The cast is headed by the Dolly Gallagher Levi of Lucy Peacock and the Horace Vandergelder of Peter Donaldson. Also in the cast are Thom Allison as Rudolph Reisenweber, Kyle Blair as Ambrose Kemper, Keith Dinicol as the Court Clerk, Bruce Dow as Stanley, Barbara Fulton as Ernestina, Christina Gordon as Mrs. Rose, Lawrence Haegert as Barnaby Tucker, Nigel Hamer as a Policeman, Robin Hutton as Irene Molloy, David Kirby as a Policeman, Laird Mackintosh as Cornelius Hackl, Dayna Tekatch as Ermengarde, Amy Walsh as Minnie Fay and Barrie Wood as the Cook/Judge.

Rounding out the ensemble are Marion Adler, Barbara Dunn-Prosser, Michel Faigaux, Michael Falcucci, Stephanie Graham, Kirk Hansen, Mark Huculak, Adele MacKenzie, Chad McFadden, Jodi Lynn McFadden, Ayanna Sealey, Mike Tracz, Jennifer Waiser, Jesse Weafer, Cindy Willems, Heather E. Wilson and Gabriel Wolinsky.

Hello, Dolly! officially opens on May 31 and plays in repertory until Nov. 6.

Tickets are available at (800) 567-1600 or through www.stratfordfestival.ca.