Interview with Hello, Dolly! star Victor Garber

Yesterday four-time Tony Award nominee Victor Garber, currently starring as Horace Vandergelder in the acclaimed Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! at the Shubert Theatre, received the highest honor at The 74th Annual Theatre World Awards - the John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement. We were fortunate to catch up with the stage and screen veteran before the ceremony...

Mr. Garber made his off-Broadway debut in the Roundabout Theatre Company's 1973 production of Ghosts, earning his Theatre World Award that same year. His Broadway debut followed in 1977, launching a prolific Broadway career with celebrated performances in Deathtrap, Sweeney Todd, Little Me, Noises Off, You Never Can Tell, Lend Me a Tenor, Damn Yankees, Art, and Present Laughter to name just a few.

His career on screen has been equally lauded with a total of six Emmy Award nominations and memorable roles in the likes of "Argo," "Titanic," "Alias," "The First Wives Club," "Legally Blonde," "Sleepless in Seattle," and, most recently, as Simon Stern in "Power" and as Dr. Martin Stein in "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" and "The Flash".

Mr. Garber continues in his current role in Hello, Dolly! through to July 15, before handing the reigns back over to original cast member David Hyde Pierce from July 17 through to the end of the Broadway run on August on August 25, 2018.

Congratulations on receiving the "John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre," Mr Garber. You must feel extremely honored?

Well, it feels wonderful! It's certainly felt like a lifetime and I do feel old, but I'm very happy to be here.

Considering you career that spans 46 years on the Broadway stage, how would you say your current role of Horace Vandergelder in Hello, Dolly! opposite Bernadette Peters compares to the rest of your career?

This has been a true highlight for me. It's been a gift. It was unexpected and it's as good as it can possibly get.

What's the one thing you take away personally from the experience of performing in Hello, Dolly! each night at the Shubert Theatre?

Joy! Just pure joy! I feel it every night and I know the cast does and I think the audience does too.

After receiving a lifetime achievement award, it always begs the question - is there anything left for you to do on the stage? Are there any dream roles you would still like to tackle?

I hope there's still work for me to do on stage. I've never had a dream role though. I wait for someone to say: "You should do this." And then I think: "Oh, that's a good idea!" or "That's not a good idea." I lived my whole life that way. I've never ever thought: "Oh, I must do that role," and it's worked out so far.

As a comic book fan, I feel you're greatly missed on "DC's Legend of Tomorrow"...

Oh, thank you, thank you. I miss all those guys! I'm hoping to see a few of them soon. I've seen a couple of them recently, but I miss them too.

It's not been unheard of for characters to come back from the dead or from alternate universes in those programmes, would you be up for a return as Professor Martin Stein?

Sure! Yes, no one's called me, but I'll be available after July 15!

Hello Dolly Tickets are available now for performances through to August 25, 2018.