Hello Dolly! opened on Broadway on January 16, 1964

Hello, Dolly! (musical) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hello Dolly! Starring Carol Channing as Dolly Levi, opened on Broadway on January 16, 1964 at the St. James Theatre located at 246 W. 44th St. The Hello, Dolly! Musical, lyrics, and music are by Jerry Herman. The musical was based on book by Michael Stewart, which was based on Thornton Wilder‘s The Matchmaker in 1955. This show was produced by David Merrick. The show closed on December 27, 1970, after 2,844 performances.

The story is about a widow, Dolly Gallagher Levi who is looking to marry again. She sets her sights on Horace Vandergelder, a half-a-millionaire interested in making money and marrying an Irene Malloy. Dolly meddles in Horace’s daughter’s life, Ermengarde as well as his employees in order to help each of them get a little of what they want. They all have obstacles to overcome.

The original cast
Carol Channing -Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi
Eileen Brennan -Irene Molloy
David Burns- Horace Vandergelder
Jerry Dodge -Barnaby Tucker
Alice Playten -Ermengarde
Charles Nelson- Reilly Cornelius Hackl
Ken Ayers- Court Clerk

The show was Directed and Choreographed by Gower Champion

They received countless awards in 1964 the show including a Tony Award and a New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Show. Jerry Herman received a Tony Award for Best Original Score, and David Merrick received an award for Best Musical Direction.

References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._James_Theatre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello,_Dolly!_(musical)
http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=2810

Cassandra

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A Streetcar Named Desire

A Streetcar Named Desire opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theater on December 3, 1947 starring none other Marlon Brandon as Stanley Kowalski and Jessica Tandy as Blanche Du Bois. Before  making it to could be seen at the Shubert Theater in New Haven, Connecticut.   Harold Clurman directed the cast while they were on tour, and when they hit Broadway changes needed to made as they always do and Elia Kazan took over.

Blanche Dubois (Vivien Leigh) and Stanley Kowalski (Marlon Brando) in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

As rough as these characters are because they go after their desires makes the story all the more maddening because they are so willing to hurt each other despite the fact that Stella cares for her sister Blanche so. Blanche looked at Stella’s husband and saw a beautiful man that she couldn’t resist.  There can only be trouble.If only there were ‘selfie’s then?

Trouble comes before the holidays. As we are decorating our homes and planning for parties. Our trouble can only be better trouble than that of Blanche, Stella and Stanley’s.

Cassandra