Hello Dolly - Notes from the Producer
This is our ninth fully staged Broadway Musical production, and we have done a wide variety of shows. Several have turned out to be quite timely. Last year we staged In the Heights by Lin Manuel-Miranda just after he opened his second show, Hamilton, one of the biggest sensations to hit Broadway. As it turns out, one of the most talked about shows opening in the current Broadway season is a new production of Hello Dolly.
Hello Dolly is a classic musical comedyabout a matchmaker (Dolly Levi) who ends up making a match for herself. It was the winner of 10 Tony Awards in 1964 including Best Musical. It turned Carol Channing into a star and linked her forever to the show. At the time, it became the longest running show on Broadway. Famously, in 1967, an all black cast replaced the white cast, including Pearl Bailey, who received a special Tony Award for her performance of Dolly. There is also a popular movie version starring Barbra Streisand with Louis Armstrong singing the title song (“Hello Dolly”), which became one of his biggest hits.
What you may not know is that Ms. Butala, the president of our school, was also known for singing the title song as a schoolgirl. In honor of her 20 years at Providence St Mel, and for constantly working to raise the bar and bringing our school to such a high level of achievement and recognition, we present this production of Hello Dolly in her honor. We love you Ms. Butala and thank you for the opportunities you give our students for future success. Thanks to you, “the parade will not pass us by.”
I need to say a huge thank you to our directors. George Meier has been the leader of this production. Your passion for musicals is contagious. Brian Ward kept us in time. The amount of time and talent you put into our productions is amazing. Meredith Stevenson, is a real trooper, even in rough times. Ms. Mamroth thanks for all your artistic vision. Jim Rojahn and John Hansen, thanks for jumping in to fill the needs with our changing staff. Kathryn Dillon, you were a lifesaver by coordinating all our costumes. Please say you will do it again. Finally I’d like to thank our new choreographer from the Joffrey Ballet, Erica Edwards. Thank you for pushing our students to be better dancers and better people.
Finally, I need to say once again that our students are great. I know that I could not have done all that you do when I was a student. Thank you for all your time and hard work. I hope these memories of your school days, and these musicals, will be fond ones.
Dr. David Baar
