As the curtain closed on the final performance of LuHi’s 2023 musical, Cinderella, members of the production team took time to reflect and celebrate another musical in the books. It didn’t take long, though, for the conversation to shift to the inevitable question, “So what are we going to do next year?”
As is the case in most years, lots of discussion surfaces from directors, students, parents and the community on what they would like to see. But how do you decide on the one?
Finding the one is not always easy. A lot needs to be considered, such as, what show would be the right fit for this year’s cast and crew? What would be a good fit for the LuHi and Parker community? What would give the students a new challenge? What would be a good contrast to the magic and wonder of Cinderella?
As the production team discussed each possibility, it became apparent that Hello, Dolly! was the winner. The question remained, though. Would we be able to get the community excited about a show that in many ways, is not as well known as a show like Cinderella or Annie?
Well, if you’re one of those people who is not convinced that you’ll enjoy a show that you’ve never seen or heard of before, here are four reasons why you should come and see LuHi’s production of Hello, Dolly!
1) The Story
I think what makes Hello, Dolly! so fun is that it's a story without a traditional protagonist. The protagonist is really just time and situations. Hello, Dolly! is a light-hearted, charming, and heart-warming story of Dolly Levi, a larger-than-life widow who has taken to matchmaking as her primary means of earning a living. The musical follows her journey of not only setting up others but also her journey back to love after years of mourning her late husband. It’s a story that is fun for the whole family and will have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face.
2) The Costumes
Hello, Dolly! takes place in the 1890’s so the costuming for this show is dynamic, bright, and sophisticated. You’ll see sharp suits, colorful dresses, parasols, and amazing hats to top it all off. This year, in addition to our adult costume team, we have two students helping with the design, creation, and alteration of the entire costume collection.
3) The Set
For many years, with the challenges of construction and storage of a musical set, we rented a set for our productions. This year though, the entire set is being constructed by members of the LuHi community. Students that are part of the construction crew have been spending their weekends “in the shop” constructing the massive set pieces needed for this show. There will be a full-sized hay and feed store that has to move on and off of stage, a dress shop that flies in and out, a platform with a grand staircase, and other pieces that come on and off throughout the show. When you see the different set pieces, you can know that each was specifically designed for this show by members of the LuHi community.
4) The Accolades
Believe it or not, Hello, Dolly! is one of the most successful musicals of all time. It is the winner of 14 Tony awards and was nominated for an additional 13 Tonys. When it premiered on Broadway in 1964 (50 years ago!), it won 10 of the 11 Tonys that it was nominated for. In addition to the Tonys that this musical has won, it was the winner of three Academy Awards, was nominated for four more, and was even the winner of a Grammy for its Original Cast Album. It set the record for longest-running Broadway musical at that time with a total of 2844 performances when it first premiered, and to top it all off, it was even featured in the Pixar film WALL-E. Audiences have been entertained for 50 years now by Hello, Dolly! and we’re confident that you will love it too!
Hello, Dolly! runs March 8th-10th and 15th-17th at the PACE Center in Parker, CO. Tickets are available at Parker Arts - click here to get yours today!
