Gavin Creel returns to Hello, Dolly! on Broadway

Creel returns to his Tony Award-winning role of Cornelius Hackl in the smash hit Broadway revival.

Gavin Creel returns to his Tony Award-winning role of Cornelius Hackl in the smash hit Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! at the Shubert Theatre tonight. Mr. Creel returns following a leave of absence from the production to recover from back surgery. Tony Award nominee Santino Fontana stepped in to cover the role in the interim period.

Mr. Creel commented: "I'm excited to be back on the Shubert Theatre stage with my Hello, Dolly! family and I'm so grateful to Santino for stepping in while I was recovering." 

Gavin Creel won his Tony Award for Hello, Dolly! at last year's ceremony and had been previously nominated for his turns in Hair in 2009 and Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2002. His other Broadway credits include She Loves Me, The Book of Mormon, and La Cage aux Folles.

As previously reported, Bette Midler will also be returning to her Tony Award-winning role of Dolly Levi Gallagher in the acclaimed revival for the final six weeks of its Tony Award-winning Broadway run. Two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters will conclude her celebrated engagement in the title role on July 15, with Ms. Midler reprising the role from July 17 through to the show's final performance on August 25, 2018. In addition, original cast member and Tony Award winner David Hyde Pierce will also rejoin Ms. Midler on stage as Horace Vandergelder from July 17, with four-time Tony Award nominee Victor Garber concluding his run in the musical on July 15.

The principal cast of Hello, Dolly! currently includes two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters (as Dolly Levi Gallagher), four-time Tony Award nominee Victor Garber (as Horace Vandergelder), Tony Award winner Gavin Creel (as Cornelius Hackl), Olivier Award nominee Charlie Stemp (as Barnaby Tucker), Tony Award nominee Kate Baldwin (as Irene Molloy), Molly Griggs (as Minnie Fay), Will Burton (as Ambrose Kemper), Melanie Moore (as Ermengarde), and Alli Mauzey (as Ernestina).

The Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! began previews on March 15, 2017, and officially opened on April 20.

The classic musical features a book by Michael Stewart, with music & lyrics by Jerry Herman.

Directed by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks, this production features choreography by Tony Award 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 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."

The creative team features scenic & costume design by Santo Loquasto, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Scott Lehrer, music direction by Andy Einhorn, orchestrations by Larry Hochman, vocal arrangements by Don Pippin, and dance arrangements by Glen Kelly.

At the 71st Annual Tony Awards, the production took home the trophy for "Best Revival of a Musical," as well as "Best Costume Design of a Musical," "Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical" (for Gavin Creel) and "Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical" (for Bette Midler).

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.

A National Tour, starring Tony Award-winning legend Betty Buckley, launches at the Connor Palace at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 2, 2018.

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