‘It’s a tribute to when musical theater was bold, spectacular and deeply moving’
LINWOOD — The Mainland Drama Club is presenting “Hello, Dolly!” — a show so timeless and captivating that Broadway keeps reviving it.
“There is something irresistible about a quick-witted, determined matchmaker who refuses to take ‘no’ for an answer,” Director Phil Pallitto said.
The play is set to be staged March 20-22 at Mainland Regional High School.
Since its Broadway debut in 1964, “Hello, Dolly!” has solidified its place as one of the most cherished musicals of all time, and is often referred to as Broadway’s “Greatest Musical” — winning 10 Tony Awards (including Best Musical) and becoming a landmark in theater history, Pallitto said.
“With legendary performers such as Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey, Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters stepping into the role of Dolly Levi, the character has come to represent confidence, wit and the occasional perfectly timed dramatic exit,” he said.
The show’s enduring popularity speaks to its universal themes of reinvention, resilience and the sheer joy of living — “ideas that feel just as relevant today as they did nearly six decades ago,” Pallitto said.
The director said the musical offers everything a great production should — memorable music, iconic characters and a story that reminds viewers that life is too short not to make a grand entrance.
“In a world where we juggle endless responsibilities, notifications and the occasional existential crisis, Dolly Levi strides in to remind us that sometimes we need to take charge of our own destiny — ideally with a full orchestra underscoring our every move,” he said.
“Bringing a ‘Golden Age’ classic like ‘Hello, Dolly!’ to the Mainland stage is about more than nostalgia — it’s a tribute to an era when musical theater was bold, spectacular and deeply moving, complete with dancing waiters, soaring ballads and, of course, a grand staircase,” Pallitto said. “Our production embraces that tradition while adding our own unique touch, proving that classic theater doesn’t just endure — it flourishes.”
Costume designer Julie Jackson took on the challenge of dressing the characters in clothing reminiscent of the 1890s in Yonkers, N.Y., where lead character Horace Vandergelder (Sam Goldstein) has his market and Dolly Levi (Kate Michel/Kira Finnegan) tries to set him up with a bride.
“I grew up with ‘Hello, Dolly!’ My mother had the LP and we had the music on in our home all the time. My sisters and I just fell in love with it way, way back after Carol Channing did it on Broadway and they did the movie with Barbra Streisand in the early ’60s. We just love the music, love the story and love the costumes,” Jackson said.
She said the time period is important because it was amid the women’s suffrage movement and women were starting to “embrace a different kind of life.”
“As a daughter of a very independent mother and grandmother — very strong women in my family — I like that independence, that spunk and that I-can-do-anything attitude, and the way she pivoted and moved through the story,” Jackson said.
“Costumer Julie Jackson, she really knows her stuff. She’s absolutely incredible and she makes sure everybody looks great and no matter what the individual pieces look like, the whole masterpiece of it all is always perfection. She knocks it out of the park every time,” Michel said.
Pallitto, who had never before been part of a production of the musical, said it was the perfect choice.
“We always try to give the kids different shows over their four years — they’ve done a modern show and done something that was more classic. This year is really a Golden Age musical and we really thought it was important for them to experience the spectacle and the big orchestra and the big costumes and the big sets, and really experience being part of a show like ‘Hello, Dolly!’,” he said, noting there are 40 on-stage actors, 15 students in the stage crew and another four or five in the orchestra.
“There are parts for kids who really can’t sing, a lot of dancing. There’s kind of a part for everyone and it lends itself to a big show,” Pallitto said.
He is extremely excited for the live orchestra.
“I think that adds so much to it. Being able to have a full orchestra is just amazing. It’s just the finishing touch to the show, and this music is so iconic and so beautiful, to hear it played by the full orchestra is incredible,” Pallitto said.
“We like the spectacle of it, we like the production of it. We have been working feverishly for months. We really wanted to do this musically, choreographically. We have this really amazing team,” Jackson said.
Goldstein is taking on the challenge of the male lead in all four shows.
“I like being the principal role for all four shows,” he said, noting he has to memorize only one role and does not have to scramble around on his off night to figure out where he’s supposed to be. “There are definitely challenges because I don’t have someone I can go to and ask for help, because they don’t understand the role I’m in.”
He said it “adds a fun challenge.”
Goldstein said his character evolves throughout the play, much like he has done through his four years at Mainland.
He started as a bear in “Shrek,” moved on to Eli Whitney in ‘Anything Goes’ and then to his favorite role last year, Kenickie in “Grease.”
“I’m lucky that my journey has taken me from the ensemble to more of a supporting character to somewhat of a lead role to a lead role, and I have been able to see all of the parts that go into putting a production together,” Goldstein said.
He feels one of the major themes is that “people are too focused on being seven steps ahead when they should be focused on what’s right in front of them.”
Michel said she was initially shocked by the choice of musical.
“It’s really been a great experience this whole time. It being my senior show, at first I was nervous because I didn’t know ‘Hello, Dolly!’ and I just was overwhelmed and ecstatic with excitement because Dolly is such a fun character to play,” Michel said. “What a great way to go out.”
Finnegan, a sophomore from Northfield, said playing Dolly was definitely a challenging experience.
“I love the way Barbra Streisand did it but I liked the way Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters played Dolly. When you have a voice like Bernadette, it’s hard to find your own voice for Dolly. I think that was definitely the biggest struggle I had to overcome,” she said.
Senior Mason Naman, who plays chief clerk Cornelius Hackl, was feeling bittersweet about his final production.
“It’s definitely one that I really want to go out with a bang for. You always want to do your best on stage, but for this one, this is it,” Naman said.
He plans to pursue a BFA in acting or musical theater. So, the show may go on for Naman, who despite playing Danny in “Grease” said his favorite role was Billy Crocker in “Anything Goes.”
One cast will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday and 1 p.m. Saturday and the other at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
‘Hello, Dolly!’ cast
Dolly Gallagher Levi: Kira Finnegan/Kate Michel
Horace Vandergelder: Sam Goldstein
Cornelius Hackl: Cenzi Caruso/Mason Naman
Barnaby Tucker: Yullian Pereira/Alex Piergiovanni
Irene Molloy: Mia Patermo/Jules Brummett
Minnie Fay: Madison McKnight/Isa Perez
Ambrose Kempner: Skylar Lauback/Jack Traa
Ermengarde: Julia Plamantouras/Haylee Cass
Ernestina Money: Cecilia Foreman/Audrey Hope Gill
Rudolph Reisenweber: Alex Piergiovanni/Yullian Pereira
Mrs. Rose: Asha Patel/Olivia Crede
Judge: Sage Brimm
Featured dancers: Charlotte Gerber, Adrian Sykes, Lucy Tabasso, Adie Donovan, Sofia Valerio, Lily Edge, Callie Collins, Evelynn Smith, Kate Michel, Ashley Welsay, Hailey Rhodes, Audrey Hope Gill, Alex Piergiovanni, Yullian Pereira
Ensemble: Alyssa Nannola, Olivia Wrigley, Anna Sturgis, Belle Colombo, Rowynn Shevlin, Sadie Gorbig, Janessa Perez, Kiley Johnson, Mya Mazuk, Evangelina Economou, Sage Brimm, Ava DiPasquale, Olivia Crede, Kate Michael, Kira Finnegan, Mason Naman, Cenzi Caruso, Alex Piergiovanni, Yullian Pereira, Jules Brummett, Mia Patermo, Isa Perez, Madison McKnight, Jack Traa, Skylar Laubauch, Haylee Cass, Julia Plamantouras, Ashe Patel, Cecelia Foreman
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
