‘Hello, Dolly!’ to take Quincy High School stage from Wednesday through Sunday

QUINCY — The golden age musical hit “Hello, Dolly!” will soon take the stage at Quincy High School at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6-9 and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 10.

Originating at first as a play in 1954, Thorton Wilder created the storyline and characters in a comedy entitled “The Matchmaker.” The play opened in Scotland at the Edinburgh Festival as a performance for the troupes, then moved to London’s West End. With David Merrick as the producer, the play opened on Broadway in 1955, taking home several Tony Awards.

With Wilder’s uproarious farce about love and money, the busy-body character of Mrs. Dolly Levi soon became the inspiration for the musical, “Hello, Dolly!” Created by Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart, audiences fell in love with the simpler times of the American people. The musical immediately achieved success, winning 10 Tony Awards. The infamous part of Dolly Levi has become a star-studded role over the years.

The story follows the effervescent widow, Dolly Gallagher Levi, played by junior Caleigh Twaddle, and her quest to find a second husband. While matchmaking is her main profession, Dolly has taken an interest in one of her clients, the crotchety half-a-millionaire Horace Vandergelder, played by senior Richard Coleman. While supposedly setting Vandergelder up with a hat shop owner in the city, Dolly meddles with the love life of his niece Ermengarde, played by senior Adelaide Teefey, and her beau Ambrose, played by junior Nathaniel Greving.

Tired of watching everyone else go on adventures, Vandergelder’s employees Cornelius and Barnaby, played by junior Gavin Ginos and senior Miller Robertson, decide to go on an adventure of their own all the way to New York City. The young men stumble up on a hat shop and make acquaintances with the owner Irene Molloy, played by senior Gabby Hanchett, and her employee Minnie Fay, played by senior Keyarri Holder.

With the entire group in the same city, someone is bound to be caught by Mr. Vandergelder. Dolly arranges a secret plan in the fancy Harmonia Gardens restaurant with the hopes of getting herself a husband, solving Ermengarde’s love life, and hopefully showing a new way of life for Barnaby and Cornelius.

The musical is sure to take the audience on a journey of knowing it is never too late for happiness, all while entertaining the crowd with witty dialog and show stopping dance numbers. See classic numbers like “Before the Parade Passes By,” “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” and “Hello, Dolly.”

QHS students will be showcased as cast members, pit musicians and technical crew members. Other main roles include Charly Nicholson and Conall Wolfmeyer. The entire cast is made up of 55 students.

The production is under the direction of Meghan Buckley with vocal direction by Paul Shelor. Bethany Otte will serve as the orchestra pit director. Dave Buckley is the technical director, while Ben Dombroski serves as the production choreographer.

Tickets are on sale at $20 for students, $22 for seniors, and $25 for adults. To reserve tickets, call the QHS music office at 217-224 3774 or visit www.qps.org/music to order online.