“HELLO, DOLLY!” TOUR ANNOUNCES COMPLETE CAST FOR SECOND YEAR
National Press Contact:
DKC/O&M
Rick Miramontez / Marie Bshara
rick@omdkc.com / marie@omdkc.com
212 695 7400
Tour Press Contact:
Allied Touring
Marya Peters / Janie Dickerson
Mpeters@alliedglobalmarketing.com / jdickerson@alliedglobalmarketing.com
FOR RELEASE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF THE NATIONAL TOUR OF THE TONY AWARD-WINNING BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL “HELLO, DOLLY!”
PERFORMANCES BEGIN SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
IN KANSAS CITY, MO
New York, NY (September 4, 2019) – Producer Scott Rudin announced today the cast for the second year of the national tour of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival of Hello, Dolly!, starring Carolee Carmello in the iconic title role. This new cast of Hello, Dolly! begins performances September 25, 2019 at the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, MO. Additional tour stops include St. Louis, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Toronto, and many more cities across America.
Joining the previously announced Carmello will be John Bolton (Horace Vandergelder), Daniel Beeman (Cornelius Hackl), Analisa Leaming (reprising her role as Irene Molloy), Sean Burns (Barnaby Tucker), Chelsea Cree Groen (Minnie Fay), Colin LeMoine (Ambrose Kemper), Laura Sky Herman (Ermengarde), Jane Brockman (Ernestina), and Blake Hammond (Rudolph).
The ensemble will feature Colin Bradbury, Alec Cohen, Julian DeGuzman, Karen Elliott, Christopher Faison, Jenny Hickman, Laura Irion, Madison Johnson, Julie Kavanagh, Nathan Keen, Ben Lanham, Marty Lauter, Ian Liberto, Hillary Porter, Steffany Pratt, Kyle Samuel, Scott Shedenhelm, Timothy Shew, Maria Cristina Slye, Cassie Austin Taylor, Cayel Tregeagle, Davis Wayne, and Brandon L. Whitmore.
Led by four-time Tony Award-winning director Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Tony Award winner Warren Carlyle, the entire creative team of the Broadway production reprises their roles for the national tour of Hello, Dolly!, including four-time Tony Award winner Santo Loquasto (Scenic & Costume Design), six-time Tony Award winner Natasha Katz (Lighting Design), Tony Award winner Scott Lehrer (Sound Design), Andy Einhorn (Music Supervision), Ben Whiteley (Music Direction), Tony Award winner Larry Hochman (Orchestrations), Tony Award winner Don Pippin (Vocal Arrangements), David Chase (Dance Arrangements), and Telsey + Company (Casting).
Hello, Dolly! began performances on Broadway on March 15, 2017, and officially opened on April 20, 2017. Having broken the record for best first day of ticket sales in Broadway history, the box office record at the Shubert Theatre twelve times, and shattering The Shubert Organization’s all-time record ten times, that production ended its historic Broadway run on August 25, 2018.
A complete list of cities and dates for the national tour of Hello, Dolly! can be found at www.hellodollyonbroadway.com.
BIOGRAPHIES
Carolee Carmello (Dolly Gallagher Levi) has appeared in 14 Broadway musicals and is a three-time Tony Award-nominee for her performances in Parade, Lestat and Scandalous. She recently completed a year-long run as Mrs. Lovett in the critically acclaimed Sweeney Todd at New York’s Barrow Street Theatre. Additional Broadway roles include Mae Tuck in Tuck Everlasting; Mrs. du Maurier in Finding Neverland (Drama Desk Award nomination); Mother Superior in Sister Act; Alice Beineke in The Addams Family (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations); Donna in Mamma Mia!; Ms. Pennywise in Urinetown; Kate in Kiss Me, Kate; Marguerite in The Scarlet Pimpernel; Abigail Adams in 1776; Cordelia in Falsettos; and Oolie in City of Angels. Off-Broadway credits include John & Jen, Das Barbecü, I Can Get It for You Wholesale, Hello Again (Obie Award), A Class Act, The Vagina Monologues and Elegies. Television credits include “The Deuce,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Good Fight,” “Madam Secretary,” “Smash,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Frasier,” “Ed” and “Remember W.E.N.N.” (SAG Award nomination). Ms. Carmello was nominated for an Indie Series Award for Best Supporting Actress in the award-winning webseries “Indoor Boys.” Her concert appearances have taken her across America and Europe, including engagements at Lincoln Center, Town Hall and Carnegie Hall.
John Bolton (Horace Vandergelder) recently completed a two-year run starring as Vlad in Broadway’s Anastasia. His additional Broadway credits include Dames at Sea, A Christmas Story: The Musical, Curtains and How to Succeed…. Mr. Bolton was in the original cast of the Tony Award-winning Best Musicals Spamalot, Contact, and Titanic. He made his Broadway debut alongside Jerry Lewis in Damn Yankees. Nominated for Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Astaire, Rivera and Lortel Awards, Mr. Bolton headlined four sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall and performed as a soloist with the NY Philharmonic at Lincoln Center. He plays U.S. Attorney General Hank Nolan on CBS’ “Madam Secretary” and spent four seasons as Bruce on “Gossip Girl.” He has guest-starred on “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Elementary,” “Blue Bloods,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “The Good Wife” and “Law & Order,” and is featured in the film Mapplethorpe.
Daniel Beeman (Cornelius Hackl). National tour: Something Rotten!. Regional: Sunday in the Park with George, HAIR, The Diary of Anne Frank (Kansas City Repertory Theatre), Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music (Kansas City Starlight), Music Theatre Wichita, Ogunquit Playhouse, Spinning Tree Theatre. B.A. University of Missouri—Kansas City.
Analisa Leaming (Irene Molloy). Broadway: School of Rock (Rosalie Mullins); The King and I (Anna); Hello, Dolly!; On the Twentieth Century. New York: Pipe Dream, Where’s Charley? (Encores!); The Mikado (Carnegie Hall). National/international tours: Annie, The Sound of Music. Regional: The Muny, Kansas City Starlight Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, Magic Theatre, Geva Theatre Center, Infinity Theatre Company, Barrington Stage Company. Leaming is a Lotte Lenya Competition winner. Creator of “A Balancing Act” podcast. B.M. Eastman School of Music.
Sean Burns (Barnaby Tucker). National tours: Jersey Boys, Peter Pan 360 (Michael Darling). Regional: Jersey Boys (Joe Pesci, Ogunquit Playhouse), Titanic (Signature Theatre), Elmer Gantry (Signature Theatre), Defiant Requiem (The Kennedy Center). Bachelor of Music Catholic University of America.
Chelsea Cree Groen (Minnie Fay). National tour debut. Off-Broadway/New York: Fiorello! (Dora), Pete(HER) Pan with Alice Ripley (Tinkerbell). Regional: The Music Man (Zaneeta, Theatre By The Sea), Les Misérables (Cosette, Theatre Aspen), Fiorello! (Dora, Berkshire Theatre Group), The Muny, Ogunquit Playhouse, Phoenix Theatre, Arizona Broadway. AEA’s Roger Sturtevant Award Winner. B.F.A. University of Michigan.
Colin LeMoine (Ambrose Kemper). National tour debut. Regional: Newsies, Guys and Dolls, Pippin (Music Theatre Wichita), Annie (Axelrod Performing Arts Center). B.F.A. Musical Theater Indiana University. Jacob’s Pillow Musical Theatre Dance alum.
Laura Sky Herman (Ermengarde). National tour debut. Off-Broadway: The Little Dancer (Marie van Goethem). Favorite regional: Crazy for You, Brigadoon (New London Barn Playhouse); North Shore Music Theater; Reagle Music Theater; Miami City Ballet. Training: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, B.F.A. Musical Theater Texas State. Current undergrad at Harvard University (Hasty Pudding Theatricals, first woman cast in 171 years).
Jane Brockman (Ernestina, u/s Dolly Gallagher Levi). Broadway: Wicked, A Christmas Carol. New York: Live from Lincoln Center Camelot (Lady Anne), Show Boat, Kristina (Carnegie Hall), Kismet (Widow/Ayah, Encores!), The Kid (The New Group). National tours: Wicked, The Light in the Piazza, The Sound of Music (Berta). Film: Bad Education, The Producers. Television: “The Americans,” “Law & Order: SVU.” Proud Equity member.
Blake Hammond (Rudolph, u/s Horace Vandergelder). Broadway: Living on Love; First Date; Sister Act; Elf; Billy Elliot; The Lion King; Hairspray; The Music Man; Kiss Me, Kate; On the Town. Eight national tours, including Something Rotten!, Cinderella, The Addams Family. Recipient of Carbonell Award, Chicago After Dark Award, LA Drama Critics Circle Award, and Indie Soap Award.
Colin Bradbury (Ensemble, u/s Ambrose Kemper). Broadway/tours: Carousel, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Come Fly Away, The Book of Mormon, A Chorus Line, White Christmas, 42nd Street. Other favorites: Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Lovin’ The Bogin, Heatwave: The Jack Cole Project. “Television: “Fosse/Verdon.” Film: Hail Caesar!
Alec Cohen (Ensemble). National tour debut. Regional: Music Theater Wichita, Bucks County Playhouse, Maine State Music Theater, Fulton Theater, Westchester Broadway Theater, Music Theater West. B.F.A. University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music.
Julian Deguzman (Ensemble, u/s Barnaby Tucker). Broadway: Newsies; Miss Saigon; Hello, Dolly!. National tour: Newsies. Regional: I Only Have Eyes for You, West Side Story, The King and I. B.F.A. Dance and B.A. Sociology, University of California, Irvine.
Karen Elliott (Mrs. Rose, Ensemble, u/s Dolly Gallagher Levi, Ernestina). Broadway: Les Misérables (original cast and revival). National tours: Les Misérables, Sister Act. Regional: Kiss Me, Kate; Sweeney Todd; Evita; The Nerd. Playwright, author, educator, coach, proud member of Actors’ Equity Association.
Christopher Faison (Court Clerk, Ensemble, u/s Cornelius Hackl). Broadway: My Fair Lady. Television: “Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” “72nd Annual Tony Awards.” National tour: The Book of Mormon. Regional credits include Songs for a New World, Jesus Christ Superstar, Smokey Joe’s Cafe.
Jenny Hickman (Ensemble, u/s Irene Molloy, Ernestina). National tour debut. Regional: The Witches of Eastwick (Ogunquit Playhouse), Mary Poppins (West Virginia Public Theater). Television: “Law & Order: SVU.” Co-founder/Co-artistic Director of New Wave Theater Collective, a New York City-based theater company focused on developing new work. Proud graduate of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Laura Irion (Swing). Broadway: Sunday in the Park with George, Cinderella (original cast, Charlotte replacement). National tours: West Side Story, Cinderella. Regional: The Muny, North Shore Music Theatre, New York Stage and Film. B.F.A. University of Michigan.
Madison Johnson (Ensemble, u/s Minnie Fay). Regional: Mary Poppins (Paper Mill Playhouse); A Chorus Line, Grease, Meet Me in St. Louis, 42nd Street, Beauty and the Beast, The Addams Family, Shrek (The Muny). B.F.A. Musical Theater Elon University.
Julie Kavanagh (Ensemble). National tour: La Cage aux Folles. Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse, The Old Globe, Sacramento Music Circus, The Muny, Theatre Under The Stars, Stages St. Louis. Hairspray, In Concert!. Artistic Director of Broadway Method Academy. B.F.A. University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Nathan Keen (Assistant Dance Captain, Swing). Broadway: Hello, Dolly!; Les Misérables. National tours: Finding Neverland, Chicago, We Will Rock You, West Side Story, Ragtime, Les Misérables, Beauty and the Beast. International/regional: West Side Story (Centennial International Tour); Kiss Me, Kate (Roundabout Theatre Company benefit concert); Spring Spectacular (Radio City Music Hall).
Ben Lanham (Ensemble). National tours: An American in Paris, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, West Side Story. Regional: The Muny, North Carolina Theatre, Music Theatre Wichita, Lyric Theatre Oklahoma, Wick Theatre. B.F.A. Oklahoma City University.
Marty Lauter (Ensemble, u/s Ambrose Kemper). National tour debut. Broadway: Kinky Boots. Regional: Guys and Dolls (The Guthrie); Evita, Fiddler on the Roof, Mamma Mia!, Newsies (Maine State Music Theater); Newsies (The Fulton). B.F.A. Musical Theatrer The Boston Conservatory.
Ian Liberto (Dance Captain, Swing, u/s Cornelius Hackl). Broadway: Hello, Dolly!; How to Succeed…; Promises, Promises; Billy Elliot; Chaplin. National tours: The Book of Mormon, Evita, A Chorus Line (Bobby). Regional: The Hollywood Bowl, Paper Mill Playhouse, Theatre Under the Stars, Sacramento Music Circus, Marriott Lincolnshire, Ravinia. B.F.A. Millikin University.
Hillary Porter (Swing, u/s Ermengarde, u/s Minnie Fay). Broadway/New York: A Bronx Tale, Thoroughly Modern Millie. National tours: Cats (Rumpleteazer), Elf. Regional: Once (Girl, Pioneer Theatre), A Chorus Line (Diana Morales, Cape Playhouse), Jersey Boys (Lorraine, Ogunquit Playhouse), Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (Rosalia, The Muny).
Steffany Pratt (Ensemble, u/s Ermengarde). Credits: A Chorus Line (Tricia), Mamma Mia! (Ali), Cabaret (Lulu), Anything Goes (Purity), Spamalot (Ensemble), Joseph… (Mrs. Potiphar) and West Side Story (Anybodys). B.F.A. Musical Theatre Montclair State University.
Kyle Samuel (Ensemble). National tour debut. Regional: Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (The Muny), Newsies (The Fulton and Maine State Music Theatre), A Chorus Line (Mike, directed by Baayork Lee). B.F.A. Musical Theater Pace University.
Scott Shedenhelm (Stanley, Ensemble, u/s Barnaby Tucker). Regional: Newsies (Paper Mill Playhouse), West Side Story (Riverside Theatre/Westchester Broadway Theatre/John W. Engeman Theater), A Chorus Line (Riverside Theatre), The Little Mermaid (North Shore Music Theatre).
Timothy Shew (Judge, u/s Horace Vandergelder). Eleven Broadway shows, including Les Misérables (Jean Valjean), Guys and Dolls, Bye Bye Birdie, The Visit. National tours: The Light in the Piazza, Les Misérables. Films: Tangled, Chicago, Shaggy Dog. Television: “Madam Secretary,” “Law & Order.” Proud AEA member for 40 years.
Maria Cristina Slye (Ensemble). National tours: The Bodyguard, Ghost, Elf. Regional: West Side Story (Anita, Virginia Repertory Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar (The Muny), The Bodyguard (Paper Mill Playhouse), A Chorus Line (Diana Morales, Engeman Theater), Seven Brides… (Dorcas, Ogunquit Playhouse), In the Heights (Carla, Hanger Theatre), Cats (Rumpleteazer, Cortland Repertory Theatre).
Cassie Austin Taylor (Ensemble, u/s Irene Molloy). National tour debut. Regional: Nice Work if You Can Get It (Eileen Evergreen), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Miss Dorothy), Newsies (Music Theatre Wichita), Singin’ in the Rain (The Muny). B.F.A. Musical Theater Brigham Young University.
Cayel Tregeagle (Ensemble). National tour debut. Regional: Sacramento Music Circus, The Muny, Music Theatre Wichita, Walt Disney World. B.F.A. Musical Theater Brigham Young University.
Davis Wayne (Ensemble). National tour debut. Regional: Jerome Robbins’ Broadway (Riff, The Muny), Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz (world premiere), Pittsburgh CLO, Pioneer Theatre Company, North Shore Music Theatre, Theatre By The Sea. B.F.A. Musical Theater Pace University.
Brandon L. Whitmore (Ensemble). National tour debut. Regional: The Muny, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, North Carolina Theatre, Fireside Dinner Theatre. B.F.A. Dance Performance The University of the Arts.
CRITICAL PRAISE FOR “HELLO, DOLLY!”
“★★★★★”
It is, in a word, perfection.”
Time Out New York
“The best show of the year. ‘Hello, Dolly!’ must not be missed.”
NPR
“‘Hello, Dolly!’ is back on Broadway, and it looks so fresh, you want to pinch its cheek.”
Variety
“A palpable bonding festival of hot-ticket excitement, contentment, and raucous joy.”
Newsday
“This ‘Dolly!’ is classic Broadway at its best.”
Entertainment Weekly
“It delivers on exactly what’s craved by lovers of old-school musicals from the era when giants like Merman roamed the earth. ‘Hello, Dolly!’ is making people crazy happy.”
The Washington Post
“So surpassingly beautiful, propelled by such glorious razzle-dazzle, and crafted with such joy and intelligence that it deserves to be studied, emulated and above all celebrated.”
The New Jersey Star-Ledger
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