Bette Midler-led Hello, Dolly! begins previews tonight

The eagerly anticipated Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly!, starring Tony Award, three-time Emmy, and three-time Golden Globe winner and two-time Oscar nominee Bette Midler begins previews at the Shubert Theatre tonight. An official opening is scheduled for April 20.

Hello, Dolly! features a book by Michael Stewart, and music & lyrics by Jerry Herman.

Directed by four-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks, this production features choreography by Tony winner Warren Carlyle, based on the original work by Gower Champion.

Synopsis: "At the turn of the 20th century, all of New York City is excited because widowed but brassy Dolly Gallagher Levi (Midler) is in town. Dolly makes a living primarily through matchmaking and is currently seeking a wife for grumpy Horace Vandergelder, the well-known half-a-millionaire, but it becomes clear that Dolly intends to marry Horace herself."

Joining Ms. Midler (as Dolly Gallagher Levi) are Tony and four-time Emmy winner David Hyde Pierce (Horace Vandergelder), two-time Tony nominee Gavin Creel (Cornelius Hackl), Tony nominee Kate Baldwin (Irene Molloy), Taylor Trensch (Barnaby Tucker), Will Burton (Ambrose Kemper), Melanie Moore (Ermengarde), and Tony nominee Jennifer Simard (Ernestina).

The 27-strong ensemble features Cameron Adams, Phillip Attmore, Giuseppe Bausilio, Justin Bowen, Elizabeth Earley, Taeler Elyse Cyrus, Leslie Donna Flesner, Jenifer Foote, Jessica Lee Goldyn, Blake Hammond, Stephen Hanna, Michael Hartung, Robert Hartwell, Amanda LaMotte, Analisa Leaming, Jess LeProtto, Ian Liberto, Kevin Ligon, Nathan Madden, Linda Mugleston, Hayley Podschun, Jessica Sheridan, Michaeljon Slinger, Christian Dante White, Branch Woodman, Ryan Worsing, and Richard Riaz Yoder.

The creative team behind Hello, Dolly! features scenic & costume design by three-time Tony winner Santo Loquasto, lighting design by five-time Tony winner Natasha Katz, sound design by Tony winner Scott Lehrer, music direction by Andy Einhorn, orchestrations by Tony winner Larry Hochman, vocal arrangements by Tony winner Don Pippin, and dance arrangements by Glen Kelly.

Hello, Dolly! first premiered on Broadway at the St James Theatre in 1964, picking up a grand total of 10 Tony Awards, including "Best Musical." It has since been revived three times - 1975 at the Minskoff Theatre, and 1978 and 1995 both at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. A film adaptation was released in 1969, directed by Gene Kelly and starring Barbra Streisand.