Hello, Dolly!

Book by: Michael Stewart
Music & Lyrics by: Jerry Herman
Based on the play The Matchmaker by Thorton Wilder
Performed with licensing from Concord Theatrical
Performance Dates: June 22-25
Runtime: 2.5 hours
Audience: PG
Location: Carl & Glessie Young Auditorium in the Marshfield High School: 370 State Highway DD, Marshfield, MO 65706

Audition Notice

Marshfield Community Theatre is excited to produce Hello, Dolly! this summer! This show will be directed by David DePriest.

MCT will be holding auditions for Hello, Dolly! on April 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. in the MCT Rehearsal Building at 430 McNabb Road, Marshfield, MO. The show will run June 22-24 at 7 p.m. and June 25 at 3 p.m. If needed, there will be callbacks on Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m.

We’re looking for at least 20 performers of all ages. The audition will consist of a musical audition, a dance audition and cold readings from the show.

What to prepare

Everyone should prepare a memorized musical selection no longer than 1 minute in length in a similar style to the show. Please bring sheet music with you for our accompanist.

What to do before your audition

Please fill out our online audition form and then bring the following with you to your audition:

  • A list of potential conflicts for May 1-June 25
  • A headshot to be kept with your audition form
  • Clothing you can comfortably move in, with closed-toe shoes
  • A willingness to step outside of the box and try new things

Character descriptions

  • Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi — an indefatigable meddling matchmaker; a widow in her middle years
  • Mrs. Irene Molloy — a millineress with a hat shop near 14th Street in New York City
  • Minnie Fay — a young girl who works in Irene’s Shop
  • Ernestina — a single woman in need of Mrs. Levi’s services
  • Ermengarde — the 17-year-old niece of Horace Vandergelder
  • Horace Vandergelder — proprietor of a hay and feed store in Yonkers, NY and a client of Mrs. Levi’s
  • Cornelius Hackl — Vandergelder’s chief clerk, 33 years old
  • Barnaby Tucker — an assistant to Cornelius, 17 years old
  • Ambrose Kemper — a young artist seeking to marry Ermengarde
  • Mrs. Rose — sells vegetables from a street cart, a friend of Mrs. Levi’s from years before
  • Coachman — non-speaking
  • Rudolph Reisenweber — the Prussian major-domo of the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant
  • Stanley — a young waiter
  • Fritz, Harry, Louie, Danny, Manny and Hank — Harmonia Gardens waiters; non-speaking chorus/dancers
  • First Cook — Harmonia Gardens employee with a German accent
  • Second Cook — Harmonia Gardens employee
  • Judge — white-whiskered, red-nosed, New York night court
  • Policemen — several New York City officers; only one speaking
  • Court Clerk (Recorder) — male chorus member
  • Paperhanger — non-speaking
  • Townspeople of New York
  • Yonkers Band
  • Lodge Members
  • Feed Store Customers
  • Harmonia Gardens Customers
  • Polka Contest Contestants
  • 14th Street Parade Ensemble

Financial Considerations

There will be a $20 fee collected from all cast members at the first cast meeting. Cast and families will also be given the opportunity to purchase (OPTIONAL) show T-shirts.

MCT does not want finances to be an obstacle for any family. Please reach out to your production manager at the company meeting if you need to discuss financial options.

Show Synopsis

This musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder’s hit play The Matchmaker bursts with humor, romance, energetic dance and some of the greatest songs in musical theatre history. The romantic and comic exploits of Dolly Gallagher-Levi, turn-of-the-century matchmaker and “woman who arranges things,” are certain to thrill and entertain audiences again and again.

Hello, Dolly! premiered on Broadway on January 16, 1964 at the St. James Theatre. Opening with Carol Channing in the title role, the show ultimately played for 2,844 performances, making it – at the time – the longest-running Broadway musical in history. The West End production ran for 794 performances at London’s Drury Lane Theatre.The musical has been revived several times on Broadway, most recently in 2017, starring Bette Midler as Dolly Levi.