Hello, Dolly ! ( Musical ) - wikipedia Hello, Dolly ! ( Musical ) Hello, Dolly ! 1964 Broadway poster Music Jerry Herman Lyrics Jerry Herman Book Michael Stewart Basis Play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder Productions 1964 Broadway 1965 West End 1967 All black Broadway cast 1969 Film 1975 All - black Broadway revival 1978 Broadway revival 1995 Broadway revival 1996 Mexico City 2001 Madrid 2009 West End revival 2017 Broadway revival Awards Tony Award for Best Musical Tony for Composer and Lyricist Tony Award for Best Book Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical Hello, Dolly ! is a 1964 musical with lyrics and music by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart, based on Thornton Wilder 's 1938 farce The Merchant of Yonkers, which Wilder revised and retitled The Matchmaker in 1955. The musical follows the story of Dolly Levi ( a strong - willed matchmaker ), as she travels to Yonkers, New York, to find a match for the miserly `` well - known unmarried half - a-millionaire '' Horace Vandergelder. In doing so she convinces his niece, his niece 's intended, and Horace 's two clerks to travel to New York City. Hello, Dolly ! was first produced on Broadway by David Merrick in 1964, winning a record - tying ( tied with South Pacific ) 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, a record held for 37 years. The show album Hello, Dolly ! An Original Cast Recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. The album reached number one on the Billboard album chart on June 6, 1964 and was replaced the next week by Louis Armstrong 's album Hello, Dolly ! The show has become one of the most enduring musical theatre hits, with four Broadway revivals and international success. It was also made into the 1969 film Hello Dolly ! that was nominated for seven Academy Awards, and won three. Contents 1 History 2 Synopsis 2.1 Act I 2.2 Act II 3 Characters 4 Characters and original cast 5 Musical numbers 6 Productions 6.1 Original Broadway production 6.2 Original London production 6.3 Revivals 6.4 2017 Broadway revival 6.5 International productions 6.6 Tours 7 Critical reception 8 Awards and nominations 8.1 Original Broadway production 8.2 1978 Broadway revival 8.3 1979 West End revival 8.4 1995 Broadway revival 8.5 2009 Open Air Theatre revival 8.6 2017 Broadway revival 9 Recordings 10 Cultural influence 11 Footnotes 12 References 13 External links History The plot of Hello, Dolly ! originated in an 1835 English play, A Day Well Spent by John Oxenford, which Johann Nestroy adapted into the farce Einen Jux will er sich machen ( He Will Go on a Spree or He 'll Have Himself a Good Time ). Thornton Wilder adapted Nestroy 's play into his 1938 farcical play The Merchant of Yonkers, a flop which he revised and retitled The Matchmaker in 1955, expanding the role of Dolly, played by Ruth Gordon. The Matchmaker became a hit and was much revived and made into a 1958 film of the same name starring Shirley Booth. The story of a meddlesome widow who strives to bring romance to several couples and herself in a big city restaurant also features prominently in the 1891 hit musical A Trip to Chinatown. The role of Dolly Levi in the musical was originally written for Ethel Merman, but Merman turned it down, as did Mary Martin ( although each eventually played it ). Merrick then auditioned Nancy Walker. Eventually, he hired Carol Channing, who then created in Dolly her signature role. Director Gower Champion was not the producer 's first choice, as Hal Prince and others ( among them Jerome Robbins and Joe Layton ) all turned down the job of directing the musical. Hello, Dolly ! had rocky out - of - town tryouts in Detroit and Washington, D.C. After receiving the reviews, the creators made major changes to the script and score, including the addition of the song `` Before the Parade Passes By ''. The show was originally entitled Dolly, A Damned Exasperating Woman and Call on Dolly but Merrick changed the title immediately upon hearing Louis Armstrong 's version of `` Hello, Dolly ''. The show became one of the most iconic Broadway shows of its era, the latter half of the 1960s, running for 2,844 performances, and was for a time the longest - running musical in Broadway history. During that decade, ten `` blockbuster '' musicals played over 1,000 performances and three played over 2,000, helping to redefine `` success '' for the Broadway musical genre. Synopsis Sources : Tams - Witmark Guide to Musical Theatre Masterworks Broadway Act I As the 19th becomes the 20th century, all of New York City is excited because widowed but brassy Dolly Gallagher Levi is in town ( `` Call On Dolly '' ). Dolly makes a living through what she calls `` meddling '' -- matchmaking and numerous sidelines, including dance instruction and mandolin lessons ( `` I Put My Hand In '' ). She 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. Ambrose Kemper, a young artist, wants to marry Horace 's weepy niece Ermengarde, but Horace opposes this because Ambrose 's vocation does not guarantee a steady living. Ambrose enlists Dolly 's help, and they travel to Yonkers, New York to visit Horace, who is a prominent citizen there and owns Vandergelder 's Hay and Feed. Horace explains to his two clerks, Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker, that he is going to get married because `` It Takes a Woman '' to cheerfully do all the household chores. He plans to travel with Dolly to New York City to march in the Fourteenth Street Association Parade and propose to the widow Irene Molloy, who owns a hat shop there. Dolly arrives in Yonkers and `` accidentally '' mentions that Irene 's first husband might not have died of natural causes, and also mentions that she knows an heiress, Ernestina Money, who may be interested in Horace. Horace leaves for New York and leaves Cornelius and Barnaby to run the store. Cornelius decides that he and Barnaby need to get out of Yonkers. They 'll go to New York, have a good meal, spend all their money, see the stuffed whale in Barnum 's museum, almost get arrested, and each kiss a girl ! They blow up some tomato cans to create a terrible stench and a good alibi to close the store. Dolly mentions that she knows two ladies in New York they should call on : Irene Molloy and her shop assistant, Minnie Fay. She tells Ermengarde and Ambrose that she 'll enter them in the polka competition at the upscale Harmonia Gardens Restaurant in New York City so Ambrose can demonstrate his ability to be a breadwinner to Horace. Cornelius, Barnaby, Ambrose, Ermengarde and Dolly take the train to New York ( `` Put On Your Sunday Clothes '' ). Irene and Minnie open their hat shop for the afternoon. Irene wants a husband, but does not love Horace Vandergelder. She declares that she will wear an elaborate hat to impress a gentleman ( `` Ribbons Down My Back '' ). Cornelius and Barnaby arrive at the shop and pretend to be rich. Horace and Dolly arrive at the shop, and Cornelius and Barnaby hide from him. Irene inadvertently mentions that she knows Cornelius Hackl, and Dolly tells her and Horace that even though Cornelius is Horace 's clerk by day, he 's a New York playboy by night ; he 's one of the Hackls. Minnie screams when she finds Cornelius hiding in the armoire. Horace is about to open the armoire himself, but Dolly, Irene and Minnie distract him with patriotic sentiments related to subjects like Betsy Ross and The Battle of the Alamo shown in the famous lyrics `` Alamo, remember the Alamo ! '' ( `` Motherhood March '' ). Cornelius sneezes, and Horace storms out, realizing there are men hiding in the shop, but not knowing they are his clerks. Dolly arranges for Cornelius and Barnaby, who are still pretending to be rich, to take the ladies out to dinner to the Harmonia Gardens restaurant to make up for their humiliation. She teaches Cornelius and Barnaby how to dance since they always have dancing at such establishments ( `` Dancing '' ). Soon, Cornelius, Irene, Barnaby, and Minnie are happily dancing. They go to watch the great 14th Street Association Parade together. Alone, Dolly decides to put her dear departed husband Ephram behind her and to move on with life `` Before the Parade Passes By ''. She asks Ephram 's permission to marry Horace, requesting a sign from him. Dolly catches up with the annoyed Vandergelder, who has missed the whole parade, and she convinces him to give her matchmaking one more chance. She tells him that Ernestina Money would be perfect for him and asks him to meet her at the swanky Harmonia Gardens that evening. Act ii Cornelius is determined to get a kiss before the night is over, but Barnaby is n't so sure. As the clerks have no money for a carriage, they tell the girls that walking to the restaurant shows that they 've got `` Elegance ''. At the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant, Rudolph, the head waiter, prepares his service crew for Dolly Levi 's return : their usual lightning service, he tells them, must be `` twice as lightning '' ( `` The Waiters ' Gallop '' ). Horace arrives with his date, but she proves neither as rich nor as elegant as Dolly had implied ; furthermore she is soon bored by Horace and leaves, as Dolly had planned she would. Cornelius, Barnaby, and their dates arrive, unaware that Horace is also dining at the restaurant. Irene and Minnie, inspired by the restaurant 's opulence, order the menu 's most expensive items. Cornelius and Barnaby grow increasingly anxious as they discover they have little more than a dollar left. Dolly makes her triumphant return to the Harmonia Gardens and is greeted in style by the staff ( `` Hello, Dolly ! '' ) She sits in the now - empty seat at Horace 's table and proceeds to eat a large, expensive dinner, telling the exasperated Horace that no matter what he says, she will not marry him. Barnaby and Horace hail waiters at the same time, and in the ensuing confusion each drops his wallet and inadvertently picks up the other 's. Barnaby is delighted that he can now pay the restaurant bill, while Horace finds only a little spare change. Barnaby and Cornelius realize that the wallet must belong to Horace. Cornelius, Irene, Barnaby and Minnie try to sneak out during `` The Polka Contest '', but Horace recognizes them and spots Ermengarde and Ambrose as well. The ensuing free - for - all culminates in a trip to night court. Cornelius and Barnaby confess that they have no money and have never been to New York before. Cornelius declares that even if he has to dig ditches the rest of his life, he 'll never forget the day because he had met Irene. Cornelius, Barnaby, and Ambrose then each profess their love for their companion ( `` It Only Takes A Moment '' ). Dolly convinces the judge that their only crime was being in love. The judge finds everyone innocent and cleared of all charges, but Horace is declared guilty and forced to pay damages. Dolly mentions marriage again, and Horace declares that he would n't marry her if she were the last woman in the world. Dolly angrily bids him `` So Long, Dearie '', telling him that while he 's bored and lonely, she 'll be living the high life. The next morning, back at the hay and feed store, Cornelius and Irene, Barnaby and Minnie, and Ambrose and Ermengarde each set out on new life 's paths. A chastened Horace Vandergelder finally admits that he needs Dolly in his life, but Dolly is unsure about the marriage until her late husband sends her a sign. Vandergelder spontaneously repeats a saying of Ephram 's : `` Money is like manure. It 's not worth a thing unless it 's spread about, encouraging young things to grow. '' Horace tells Dolly life would be dull without her, and she promises in return that she 'll `` never go away again '' ( `` Hello, Dolly '' ( reprise ) ). Characters Dolly Levi : A widow in her middle years who has decided to begin her life again. She is a matchmaker, meddler, opportunist, and a life - loving woman. Horace Vandergelder : The proprietor of a Hay & Feed store and a client of Dolly Levi. A well - known half - a-millionaire, he is a widower, gruff, authoritative, and set in his ways. Cornelius Hackl : Vandergelder 's chief clerk who yearns for one exciting day in NYC. Energetic, enthusiastic, and adventurous young man who has a sweet innocence about him. Barnaby Tucker : An assistant to Cornelius at Vandergelder 's Hay & Feed store. He is sweet, naïve, energetic, and a follower. Irene Molloy : A widow and a beautiful, smart, fun - loving milliner with a hat shop in New York. Dolly has introduced her to Horace Vandergelder but she yearns for romance. Minnie Fay : A young girl who works in Irene 's hat shop. Irene 's assistant, she is a naïve, strait - laced, fresh, and a follower. Ambrose Kemper : A young and explosive struggling artist seeking to marry Ermengarde. Ermengarde : The young niece of Horace Vandergelder. She cries often and wants her independence and wants to marry Ambrose. Ernestina Money : An eccentric - looking girl in need of Dolly 's matchmaker services. Rudolf Reisenweber : Maître d ' of the Harmonia Gardens restaurant. Waiters : A group of waiters at the Harmonia Gardens restaurant. Judge : A white - whiskered night court judge. Easily moved to tears by romance. Characters and original cast Character Broadway ( 1964 ) West End ( 1965 ) Broadway ( 1968 ) Broadway ( 1978 ) West End ( 1979 ) West End ( 1984 ) Broadway ( 1995 ) Paper Mill Playhouse ( 2006 ) West End ( 2009 ) Broadway ( 2017 ) Dolly Gallagher Levi Carol Channing Mary Martin Pearl Bailey Carol Channing Danny La Rue Carol Channing Tovah Feldshuh Samantha Spiro Bette Midler Horace Vandergelder David Burns Loring Smith Cab Calloway Eddie Bracken Lionel Jeffries Jay Garner Walter Charles Allan Corduner David Hyde Pierce Cornelius Hackl Charles Nelson Reilly Garrett Lewis Terrence Emanuel Lee Roy Reams Tudor Davies Michael Sadler Michael DeVries Jonathan Rayson Daniel Crossley Gavin Creel Barnaby Tucker Jerry Dodge Johnny Beecher Grenoldo Frazier Robert Lydiard Richard Drabble Mark Haddigan Cory English Brian Sears Oliver Brenin Taylor Trensch Irene Molloy Eileen Brennan Marilynn Lovell Mary Louise Florence Lacey Maureen Scott Lorna Dallas Florence Lacey Kate Baldwin Josefina Gabrielle Kate Baldwin Minnie Fay Sondra Lee Coco Ramirez Chip Fields Alexandra Korey Mandy More Pollyann Tanner Lori Ann Mahl Jessica - Snow Wilson Akiya Henry Beanie Feldstein Ambrose Kemper Igors Gavon Mark Alden Howard Porter Michael C. Booker David Ellen James Darrah Drew Gehling Mark Anderson Will Burton Ermengarde Alice Playten Beverlee Weir Karen Hubbard K.T. Baumann Sue Latimer Christine DeVito Clare Louise Connolly Melanie Moore Ernestina Mary Jo Catlett Judith Drake Bessye Ruth Scott P.J. Nelson Carol Kaye Monica M. Wemitt Jennifer Simard Musical numbers Act I Prologue ( `` Hello, Dolly ! '' ) -- Orchestra `` Call On Dolly '' -- Ensemble `` I Put My Hand In '' -- Dolly `` It Takes A Woman '' -- Horace, Cornelius, Barnaby and the Men `` It Takes A Woman ( Reprise ) '' -- Horace `` World, Take Me Back '' -- Dolly * `` Put On Your Sunday Clothes '' -- Cornelius, Barnaby, Dolly, Ambrose, Ermengarde, and Ensemble `` Ribbons Down My Back '' -- Irene `` Ribbons Down My Back ( Reprise ) '' -- Irene `` Motherhood March '' -- Dolly, Irene, Minnie, and Horace `` Dancing '' -- Dolly, Cornelius, Barnaby, Irene, Minnie, and Dancers `` Love, Look In My Window '' -- Dolly * `` Before the Parade Passes By '' -- Dolly and the Company `` Finale Act I : Before The Parade Passes By '' -- Dolly Act II `` Entr'acte '' -- Orchestra `` Elegance '' -- Cornelius, Barnaby, Irene, Minnie `` The Waiters ' Gallop '' -- Rudolph and the Waiters `` Hello, Dolly ! '' -- Dolly, Rudolph, Waiters, Cooks `` The Waiters ' Gallop ( Reprise ) '' -- Rudolph and Waiters `` The Polka Contest '' -- Orchestra * * `` It Only Takes a Moment '' -- Cornelius and Irene, Prisoners and Policeman `` So Long, Dearie '' -- Dolly `` Finale Act II : Hello, Dolly ! / Dancing / It Only Takes A Moment / Put On Your Sunday Clothes / Hello, Dolly ! '' -- The Company * Song cut before Broadway Opening, reinstated when Ethel Merman joined to play Dolly. * * Song replaced `` Come and Be My Butterfly '' during Broadway Run. Horace Vangergelder 's solo `` Penny in my Pocket '', although it received rave responses out of town, was cut prior to the Broadway opening for reasons of time. For the 2017 Broadway Revival, it was added back in as the opening of Act Two in front of the curtain. The song `` Elegance '', though credited to Herman, was written by Bob Merrill for the 1957 show New Girl in Town but deleted from the original production. Productions Original Broadway production The musical, directed and choreographed by Gower Champion and produced by David Merrick, opened on January 16, 1964, at the St. James Theatre and closed on December 27, 1970, after 2,844 performances. Carol Channing starred as Dolly, with a supporting cast that included David Burns as Horace, Charles Nelson Reilly as Cornelius, Eileen Brennan as Irene, Jerry Dodge as Barnaby, Sondra Lee as Minnie Fay, Alice Playten as Ermengarde, and Igors Gavon as Ambrose. Although facing competition from Funny Girl with Barbra Streisand, Hello, Dolly ! swept the Tony Awards that year, winning awards in ten categories ( out of eleven nominations ) that tied the musical with the previous record keeper South Pacific, a record that remained unbroken for 37 years until The Producers won twelve Tonys in 2001. Two `` Dollys '', Pearl Bailey and Carol Channing, in a 1973 television special, One More Time. After Channing left the show, Merrick employed a string of prominent actresses to play Dolly, including Ginger Rogers, Martha Raye, Betty Grable, Pearl Bailey ( in an all - black version with Cab Calloway, Mabel King, Clifton Davis, Ernestine Jackson and a young Morgan Freeman ), Phyllis Diller, and Ethel Merman after having turned down the lead at the show 's inception. Two songs cut prior to the opening -- typical Mermanesque belt style songs `` World, Take Me Back '' and `` Love, Look in My Window '' -- were restored for her run. Thelma Carpenter played Dolly at all matinees during the Pearl Bailey production and subbed more than a hundred times, at one point playing all performances for seven straight weeks. Bibi Osterwald was the standby for Dolly in the original Broadway production, subbing for all the stars, including Bailey, despite the fact that Osterwald was a blue - eyed blonde. Bailey received a Special Tony Award in 1968. The show received rave reviews, with `` praise for Carol Channing and particularly Gower Champion. '' The original production became the longest - running musical ( and third longest - running show ) in Broadway history up to that time, surpassing My Fair Lady and then being surpassed in turn by Fiddler on the Roof. The Broadway production of Hello Dolly grossed $27 million. Hello, Dolly ! and Fiddler remained the longest - running Broadway record holders for nearly ten years until Grease surpassed them. Tour and regional Dollys Dorothy Lamour, Eve Arden, Ann Sothern, Michele Lee, Edie Adams, and Yvonne De Carlo played the role on tour. Betty White appeared with the Kenley Players as Dolly in the summer of 1979. Molly Picon appeared as Dolly in a 1971 production by the North Shore Music Theatre of Beverly, Massachusetts. Lainie Kazan starred in a production at the Claridge Atlantic City. Both Tovah Feldshuh and Betsy Palmer played Dolly in productions by the Paper Mill Playhouse. Marilyn Maye also starred in several regional productions and recorded a full album of the score. Original London production Hello, Dolly ! premiered in the West End at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on December 2, 1965 and ran for 794 performances. Champion directed and choreographed, and the cast starred Mary Martin as Dolly ( after she, as well as Merman, had turned down the role for the original run of the show ), Loring Smith as Horace Vandergelder ( Smith had created the Horace role in the original production of The Matchmaker ), Johnny Beecher as Barnaby, Garrett Lewis as Cornelius, Mark Alden as Ambrose Kemper, and Marilynn Lovell as Irene Molloy. Dora Bryan replaced Martin during the run. Revivals The show has been revived four times on Broadway : November 6, 1975 -- December 28, 1975, Minskoff Theatre -- Starring Pearl Bailey and Billy Daniels in an all - black production ( 42 performances ) March 5, 1978 -- July 9, 1978, Lunt - Fontanne Theatre -- Starring Carol Channing and Eddie Bracken ( 147 performances ) October 19, 1995 -- January 28, 1996, Lunt - Fontanne Theatre -- Starring Carol Channing and Jay Garner ( 116 performances ) March 15, 2017 ( previews ), opened April 20, 2017, Shubert Theatre -- Starring Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce In the West End the show has been revived three times : 1979 -- Starring Carol Channing at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and Shaftesbury Theatre January 3, 1984 -- April 27, 1984 -- Starring female impersonator Danny La Rue as Dolly at the Prince of Wales Theatre July 30, 2009 -- September 12, 2009 -- Starring Samantha Spiro ( Dolly ) and Allan Corduner ( Horace ) at the Open Air Theatre, Regent 's Park. Spiro won the Olivier Award for her performance. In 1989, there was a UK tour of the show directed and choreographed by Paul Kerryson, starring Dora Bryan. Kerryson went on to direct the show again in 2014 at the Curve Theatre in Leicester UK, starring Janie Dee. 2017 Broadway revival 2017 Broadway revival at the Shubert Theatre. On January 19, 2016, it was announced that Bette Midler would play the title role in a Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly !. Previews began March 15, 2017, officially opening on April 20, 2017, at the Shubert Theatre. The production is produced by Scott Rudin, directed by Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Warren Carlyle. David Hyde Pierce plays Horace Vandergelder. Other principal casting for this revival includes : Kate Baldwin as Irene Molloy, Gavin Creel as Cornelius Hackl, Jennifer Simard as Ernestina Money, Taylor Trensch as Barnaby Tucker, Will Burton as Ambrose Kemper, Melanie Moore as Ermengarde, and Beanie Feldstein as Minnie Fay. Donna Murphy plays the role of Dolly at Tuesday evening performances beginning in June 2017, as well as covering Midler 's holiday dates. Midler will leave the production as of January 9, 2018. Bernadette Peters will take over the role of Dolly, officially starting on February 22, 2018 ( with previews from January 20, 2018 ), and Victor Garber will take over the role of Horace Vandergelder. Charlie Stemp will assume the role of Barnaby Tucker on January 20, 2018. International productions The original German production of Hello, Dolly !, with the title character 's surname `` Wassiljewa '' ( Vasilyeva ) rather than `` Levi, '' starred Tatjana Iwanow ( Tatyana Ivanov ). The Australian production in 1965 -- 66 starred Carole Cook, produced by JC Williamson Theatres LTD. She was the second woman to play the role. Jack Goode as Horace and Bill Millican as Cornelius also starred. The show played at Her Majesty 's Theatre, Sydney and Melbourne, and His Majesty 's Theatre, Aukland in 1966. The first production in Spanish was held in 1967 at the Teatro Nacional in Buenos Aires, starring Argentinian actress and tango singer Libertad Lamarque, who also performed it in Mexico. In 1985, Cuban diva Rosita Fornes played Dolly in a Cuban production of Hello, Dolly by the Teatro Karl Marx in Havana, Cuba. She also played the role in Camaguey City and in a television production under director Manolo Rifat. In 1989, Nonnie Griffin performed the role of Dolly for a ten - month run at Toronto 's Limelight Dinner Theatre. In 1996, Mexican cinema star Silvia Pinal starred in the Spanish language version of the musical, ¿ Qué tal Dolly ? ( `` What 's Up, Dolly ? '' ), opposite Ignacio Lopez Tarso in Mexico City. Tours Mary Martin starred in a US tour, starting in April 1965 and playing in 11 cities. The production also toured in Japan, Korea and Vietnam for a special USO performance for U.S. troops. A second US tour began in September 1965, headed by Channing, and ran for two years and nine months. Eve Arden and Dorothy Lamour were replacements. In 2008, Anita Dobson toured in the UK. Sally Struthers appeared as Dolly in the 50th anniversary tour of the musical, starting in October 2013 Critical reception Opening night reviews of the original production were generally positive, and Carol Channing 's performance as Dolly Levi was greatly acclaimed ; however, some reviewers criticized the score and the libretto, implying that Channing 's performance was responsible for the efficacy of the show. In his review of the opening night performance, The New York Times theatre critic Howard Taubman wrote `` Hello, Dolly !... has qualities of freshness and imagination that are rare in the run of our machine - made musicals. It transmutes the broadly stylized mood of a mettlesome farce into the gusto and colors of the musical stage... Mr. Herman 's songs are brisk and pointed and always tuneful... a shrewdly mischievous performance by Carol Channing... Making the necessary reservations for the unnecessary vulgar and frenzied touches, one is glad to welcome Hello, Dolly ! for its warmth, color and high spirits. '' John Chapman of the New York Daily News lauded Carol Channing 's performance, declaring her `` the most outgoing woman on the musical stage today -- big and warm, all eyes and smiles, in love with everybody in the theatre and possessing a unique voice ranging somewhat upward from a basso profundo. '' He also wrote, `` I would n't say that Jerry Herman 's score is memorable. '' New York Post critic Richard Watts, Jr., wrote, `` The fact that ( Hello, Dolly ! ) seems to me short on charm, warmth, and the intangible quality of distinction in no way alters my conviction that it will be an enormous popular success. Herman has composed a score that is always pleasant and agreeably tuneful, although the only number that comes to mind at the moment is the lively title song. His lyrics could be called serviceable. '' In the New York Herald Tribune, Walter Kerr wrote, `` Hello, Dolly ! is a musical comedy dream, with Carol Channing the girl of it... Channing opens wide her big - as - millstone eyes, spreads her white - gloved arms in ecstatic abandon, trots out on a circular runway that surrounds the orchestra, and proceeds to dance rings around the conductor... With hair like orange sea foam, a contralto like a horse 's neighing, and a confidential swagger, ( she is ) a musical comedy performer with all the blowzy glamor of the girls on the sheet music of 1916. '' Kerr perceived deficiencies in the libretto, though, stating that the `` lines are not always as funny as Miss Channing makes them ''. John McClain of the New York Journal American particularly praised the staging of the musical, saying that `` Gower Champion deserves the big gong for performance beyond the call of duty. Seldom has a corps of dancers brought so much style and excitement to a production which could easily have been pedestrian... It is difficult to describe the emotion ( the song `` Hello, Dolly ! '' ) produces. Last night the audience nearly tore up the seats as she led the parade of waiters in a series of encores over the semi-circular runway that extends around the orchestra pit out into the audience,... a tribute to the personal appeal of Miss Channing and the magical inventiveness of Mr. Champion 's staging. '' Awards and nominations Original Broadway production Year Award Category Nominee Result 1964 New York Drama Critics Circle Award Best Musical Won Tony Award Best Musical Won Best Book of a Musical Michael Stewart Won Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Carol Channing Won Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Charles Nelson Reilly Nominated Best Original Score Jerry Herman Won Best Producer of a Musical David Merrick Won Best Direction of a Musical Gower Champion Won Best Choreography Won Best Conductor and Musical Director Shepard Coleman Won Best Scenic Design Oliver Smith Won Best Costume Design Freddy Wittop Won 1968 Special Tony Award Special Award Pearl Bailey Won 1970 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance Ethel Merman Won 1978 Broadway revival Year Award Category Nominee Result 1978 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Eddie Bracken Nominated 1979 West End revival Year Award Category Nominee Result 1979 Olivier Award Best Actress in a Musical Carol Channing Nominated 1995 Broadway revival Year Award Category Nominee Result Tony Award Best Revival of a Musical Nominated 2009 Open Air Theatre revival Year Award Category Nominee Result Laurence Olivier Award Best Musical Revival Won Best Actress in a Musical Samantha Spiro Won Best Theatre Choreographer Stephen Mear Won 2017 Broadway revival Year Award Category Nominee Result 2017 Tony Award Best Revival of a Musical Won Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical David Hyde Pierce Nominated Best Actress in a Leading Role in Musical Bette Midler Won Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical Gavin Creel Won Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical Kate Baldwin Nominated Best Direction of a Musical Jerry Zaks Nominated Best Scenic Design of a Musical Santo Loquasto Nominated Best Costume Design of a Musical Won Best Lighting Design of a Musical Natasha Katz Nominated Best Orchestrations Larry Hochman Nominated Drama Desk Award Outstanding Revival of a Musical Won Outstanding Actress in a Musical Bette Midler Won Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Gavin Creel Won Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Kate Baldwin Nominated Outstanding Director of a Musical Jerry Zaks Nominated Outstanding Choreographer Warren Carlyle Nominated Outstanding Set Design Natasha Katz Nominated Outstanding Costume Design Santo Loquasto Nominated Outstanding Sound Design Scott Lehrer Nominated Outstanding Wigs and Hair Campbell Young Associates Nominated Drama League Award Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off - Broadway Musical Won Distinguished Performance David Hyde Pierce Nominated Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Revival of a Broadway Musical Won Outstanding Actor in a Musical David Hyde Pierce Nominated Outstanding Actress in a Musical Bette Midler Won Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Gavin Creel Won Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Kate Baldwin Nominated Outstanding Director of a Musical Jerry Zaks Nominated Outstanding Choreographer Warren Carlyle Won Outstanding Costume Design Santo Loquasto Nominated Outstanding Lighting Design Natasha Katz Nominated Outstanding Orchestrations Larry Hochman Won Chita Rivera Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show Nominated Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show Warren Carlyle Nominated Recordings The RCA Victor cast recording of the original Broadway production was released in 1964. It was the number - one album on the Billboard pop albums chart for seven weeks and the top album of the year on the Year - End chart. In 1965, a recording of the original London production was released. In 1967, RCA Victor released a recording of the all - black Broadway replacement cast, featuring Pearl Bailey, who also starred in the unrecorded 1975 revival. The movie soundtrack was released in 1969. On November 15, 1994, the 1994 revival cast recording was released. Cultural influence In 1964, Armstrong 's recording of the song, `` Hello, Dolly ! '', rose to number one on the Billboard pop chart, making Armstrong, at age 62, the oldest person ever to accomplish that feat. In the process, Armstrong dislodged The Beatles `` Ca n't Buy Me Love '' from the number - one position they had occupied for 14 consecutive weeks with three different songs. The title song was sung in the 1999 film Dick by actor Dan Hedaya, playing President Richard Nixon. The red satin, sequin - bedecked costume, designed by Freddy Wittop, that Channing wore during Hello, Dolly ! was donated to the Smithsonian by Channing and theatrical producer Manny Kladitis, following the thirtieth anniversary tour of the show. It is currently on display at the National Museum of American History. While Miss Channing 's Harmonia Gardens gown is in the Smithsonian, the remainder of the original Freddy Wittop costumes are now housed in the permanent collection of the Costume World Broadway Collection, a theatrical museum dedicated to Broadway costuming located in Pompano Beach, Florida. Footnotes Jump up ^ Grammy Hall of Fame Award Archived 2015 - 07 - 07 at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel. Top Pop Albums ( 2010 ), Record Research, ISBN 0 - 89820 - 183 - 7, p. 973 ^ Jump up to : `` Hello Dolly ! -- New Wimbledon Theatre '' IndieLondon, March 2008 Jump up ^ Saltzman, Simon. `` A CurtainUp Feature. Hello Dollys... They Never Say Good - Bye '' Curtain Up, 2006, retrieved March 16, 2017 ^ Jump up to : Kenrick, John. Musicals101 `` Hello, Dolly ! article '' Musicals101.com Jump up ^ Gilvey, John Anthony. Before the Parade Passes by : Gower Champion and the Glorious American Musical ( 2005 ), St. Martin 's Press, ISBN 0 - 312 - 33776 - 0, p. 117 Jump up ^ Gilvey, p. 149 Jump up ^ Bloom, p. 152. Jump up ^ Kantor, p. 302 Jump up ^ Hello, Dolly ! tamswitmark.com, accessed December 20, 2016 Jump up ^ Hello, Dolly ! guidetomusicaltheatre.com, accessed December 20, 2016 Jump up ^ Hello, Dolly ! '' masterworksbroadway.com, accessed December 20, 2016 Jump up ^ Suskin, Show Tunes, p. 263 Jump up ^ `` ' Hello, Dolly ! ' Listing '' tams-witmark.com, accessed March 29, 2012 Jump up ^ Sullivan, Dan. `` ' Rosencrantz ' and ' Hallelujah, Baby ! ' Garner Tonys : Zoe Caldwell and Balsam Capture Acting Honors '', The New York Times, April 22, 1968, p. 58 Jump up ^ Bovson article Jump up ^ Green, Stanley. Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre, Da Capo Press, 1980, ISBN 0 - 306 - 80113 - 2, p. 183 Jump up ^ `` Long Runs on Broadway '' playbill.com, retrieved July 1, 2010 Jump up ^ Bloom, Ken, and Vlastnik, Frank. Broadway Musicals : The 101 Greatest Shows of all Time, pp. 302. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, New York, 2004. ISBN 1 - 57912 - 390 - 2 Jump up ^ `` 1965 London production '' BroadwayWorld.com Jump up ^ `` ' Hello, Dolly ! ' listing '' thisistheatre.com, retrieved July 1, 2010 Jump up ^ `` ' Hello, Dolly ! ' listing '' openairtheatre.org, retrieved July 1, 2010 Jump up ^ Kennedy, Mark. `` Bette Midler to return to Broadway in ' Hello, Dolly ! ' ''. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016. Jump up ^ McPhee, Ryan. `` Get a First Look at Bette Midler in ' Hello, Dolly ! ' Playbill, March 14, 2017 Jump up ^ Soloski, Alexis ( April 21, 2017 ). `` Hello, Dolly ! review -- Bette Midler is irresistible in a riotous delight ''. The Guardian. Manchester. Jump up ^ Gans, Andrew ( May 17, 2016 ). `` David Hyde Pierce Will Join Bette Midler in Hello, Dolly ! ''. Playbill. Retrieved May 17, 2016. Jump up ^ Hetrick, Adam. `` Kate Baldwin, Gavin Creel, Jennifer Simard Join Bette Midler ' Hello, Dolly ! ' ``, Playbill, September 16, 2016 Jump up ^ Viagas, Robert. `` Broadway 's ' Hello, Dolly ! ' Casts Its Minnie Fay '', Playbill, October 18, 2016 Jump up ^ Hetrick, Adam ( October 20, 2016 ). `` Donna Murphy Will Play Matchmaker Once a Week in Broadway 's ' Hello, Dolly ! ' ''. Playbill. Jump up ^ McPhee, Ryan. `` Bernadette Peters Will Succeed Bette Midler in Broadway 's ' Hello, Dolly ! ' '' Playbill, September 5, 2017 Jump up ^ McPhee, Ryan. `` Charlie Stemp Will Make Broadway Debut in ' Hello, Dolly ! ' Alongside Bernadette Peters and Victor Garber '' Playbill, September 7, 2017 Jump up ^ `` Call on Dolly '' callondolly.com, accessed September 24, 2016 Jump up ^ `` ' Hello, Dolly ! ' Australia '' ovrtur.com, accessed September 24, 2016 Jump up ^ `` Stage set for the J.C. Williamson production of ' Hello, Dolly ! ' '' nla.gov.au, accessed September 24, 2016 Jump up ^ `` YouTube video '' Jump up ^ The Latin American Musical Comedy Stars : Silvia Pinal Jump up ^ Information about a documentary chronicling Martin 's Asian tour in Hello, Dolly ! imdb.com Jump up ^ Green, Stanley. `` Encyclopedia Of The Musical Theatre '' ( 1980 ), Da Capo Press, ISBN 0 - 306 - 80113 - 2, p. 183 Jump up ^ Edmonds, Richard. `` ' Hello Dolly ! ' review '' thestage.co.uk, 8 February 2008 Jump up ^ Hetrick, Adam. `` 50th Anniversary Tour of ' Hello, Dolly ! ', Starring Sally Struthers, Parades Across U.S. Beginning Oct. 5 '' playbill.com, October 5, 2013 Jump up ^ Taubman, Howard. `` Hello Dolly ! ''. The New York Times, 1964 ^ Jump up to : Suskin, Steven. Opening Night on Broadway : A Critical Quotebook of the Golden Era of the Musical Theatre, pp. 297 -- 301. Schirmer Books, New York, 1990. ISBN 0 - 02 - 872625 - 1 Jump up ^ `` New York Drama Critics Past Awards, 1964 '' dramacritics.org, accessed March 29, 2012 Jump up ^ `` ' Hello Dolly ' Listing, 1964 -- 1970 '' Internet Broadway Database, accessed March 29, 2012 Jump up ^ `` Tony Awards, 1964 '' broadwayworld.com, accessed March 29, 2012 Jump up ^ `` Tony Award Winners, 1964 '' infoplease.com, accessed March 29, 2012 Jump up ^ `` Tony Awards, 1968 '' broadwayworld.com, accessed March 29, 2012 Jump up ^ `` Pearl Bailey Listing, Awards and Nominations '' Internet Broadway Database, accessed March 29, 2012 Jump up ^ `` Tony Award Winners, 1968 '' infoplease.com, accessed March 29, 2012 Jump up ^ `` Drama Desk, 1969 -- 1970 '' dramadesk.org, accessed March 29, 2012 Jump up ^ Flinn, Caryl. `` Chapter 17 '' Brass Diva : The Life and Legends of Ethel Merman ( 2007 ), University of California Press, ISBN 0 - 520 - 22942 - 8, p. 376 Jump up ^ `` ' Hello, Dolly ! ' Tony Awards Listing '' broadwayworld.com, accessed March 29, 2012 Jump up ^ `` Tony Awards 1996 '' broadwayworld.com, accessed March 29, 2012 Jump up ^ Evans, Greg. `` 50th Tonys raise ' Rent ' with ' Class ' ``, Daily Variety, June 3, 1996, p. 1 Jump up ^ `` Olivier Winners 2010 '' Archived 2012 - 09 - 07 at Archive.is olivierawards.com, accessed March 29, 2012 Jump up ^ Release date of 1994 revival album Amazon.com, retrieved June 26, 2010 Jump up ^ `` ' Hello, Dolly ! ' Louis Armstrong Listing '' allmusic.com, accessed April 2, 2012 Jump up ^ Ruhlmann, William. `` Song Review '' allmusic.com, accessed April 2, 2012 Jump up ^ `` Movie / Video Review. ' Dick ' '' All-Reviews.com, accessed April 2, 2012 Jump up ^ `` '' Hello, Dolly '' Dress ``. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2008 - 06 - 19. Jump up ^ `` Broadway Collection '' costumeworld.com, accessed April 2, 2012 References Bloom, Ken ; Frank Vlastnik ( 2004 - 10 - 01 ). Broadway Musicals : The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time. New York, New York : Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. pp. 152 -- 155. ISBN 1 - 57912 - 390 - 2. Botto, Louis ( 2002 - 09 - 01 ). Robert Viagas, ed. At This Theatre. Applause Books. ISBN 1 - 55783 - 566 - 7. Bovsun, Mara. From ' Hello, Dolly ! ' : Dolly Gallagher Levi. barbra-archives.com. Retrieved on 2007 - 04 - 08. Kantor, Michael ; Laurence Maslon ( 2004 ). Broadway : the American musical. New York, New York : Bulfinch Press. ISBN 0 - 8212 - 2905 - 2. Hello, Dolly ! imagi-nation.com. Retrieved on 2007 - 04 - 08. Suskin, Steven ( 1999 - 01 - 01 ). Show Tunes. New York : Oxford University Press US. ISBN 0 - 19 - 512599 - 1. External links Internet Broadway Database listing for all productions Charles Nelson Reilly 's autobiographical film, in which he discusses Hello Dolly `` Long Runs on Broadway as of February 2017 '' TUTS study guide Synopsis, Casting, Choreography, Scenes and Settings 1964 New York Times review of original production Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical She Loves Me ( 1994 ) The King and I ( 1996 ) Chicago ( 1997 ) Cabaret ( 1998 ) You 're a Good Man, Charlie Brown ( 1999 ) Kiss Me, Kate ( 2000 ) 42nd Street ( 2001 ) Into the Woods ( 2002 ) Nine ( 2003 ) Assassins ( 2004 ) La Cage aux Folles ( 2005 ) Sweeney Todd ( 2006 ) Company ( 2007 ) South Pacific ( 2008 ) Hair ( 2009 ) La Cage aux Folles ( 2010 ) Anything Goes ( 2011 ) Follies ( 2012 ) Pippin ( 2013 ) Hedwig and the Angry Inch ( 2014 ) The King and I ( 2015 ) She Loves Me ( 2016 ) Hello, Dolly ! ( 2017 ) Tony Award for Best Musical ( 1949 -- 1975 ) Kiss Me, Kate ( 1949 ) South Pacific ( 1950 ) Guys and Dolls ( 1951 ) The King and I ( 1952 ) Wonderful Town ( 1953 ) Kismet ( 1954 ) The Pajama Game ( 1955 ) Damn Yankees ( 1956 ) My Fair Lady ( 1957 ) The Music Man ( 1958 ) Redhead ( 1959 ) The Sound of Music / Fiorello ! ( 1960 ) Bye Bye Birdie ( 1961 ) How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying ( 1962 ) A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum ( 1963 ) Hello, Dolly ! ( 1964 ) Fiddler on the Roof ( 1965 ) Man of La Mancha ( 1966 ) Cabaret ( 1967 ) Hallelujah, Baby ! ( 1968 ) 1776 ( 1969 ) Applause ( 1970 ) Company ( 1971 ) Two Gentlemen of Verona ( 1972 ) A Little Night Music ( 1973 ) Raisin ( 1974 ) The Wiz ( 1975 ) Complete list ( 1949 -- 1975 ) ( 1976 -- 2000 ) ( 2001 -- 2025 ) Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical ( 1950 -- 1975 ) South Pacific by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan ( 1950 ) Hello, Dolly ! by Michael Stewart ( 1964 ) Fiddler on the Roof by Joseph Stein ( 1965 ) Company by George Furth ( 1971 ) Two Gentlemen of Verona by John Guare and Mel Shapiro ( 1972 ) A Little Night Music by Hugh Wheeler ( 1973 ) Candide by Hugh Wheeler ( 1974 ) Shenandoah by James Lee Barrett, Peter Udell and Philip Rose ( 1975 ) Complete list ( 1950 -- 1975 ) ( 1976 -- 2000 ) ( 2001 -- 2025 ) Tony Award for Best Original Score ( 1947 -- 1975 ) Street Scene by Kurt Weill ( 1947 ) Kiss Me, Kate by Cole Porter ( 1949 ) South Pacific by Richard Rodgers ( 1950 ) Call Me Madam by Irving Berlin ( 1951 ) No Strings by Richard Rodgers ( 1962 ) Oliver ! by Lionel Bart ( 1963 ) Hello, Dolly ! by Jerry Herman ( 1964 ) Fiddler on the Roof by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick ( 1965 ) Man of La Mancha by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion ( 1966 ) Cabaret by John Kander and Fred Ebb ( 1967 ) Hallelujah, Baby ! by Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green ( 1968 ) Company by Stephen Sondheim ( 1971 ) Follies by Stephen Sondheim ( 1972 ) A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim ( 1973 ) Gigi by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner ( 1974 ) The Wiz by Charlie Smalls ( 1975 ) Complete list ( 1947 -- 1975 ) ( 1976 -- 2000 ) ( 2001 -- 2025 ) Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical Carousel ( 1994 ) Show Boat ( 1995 ) The King and I ( 1996 ) Chicago ( 1997 ) Cabaret ( 1998 ) Annie Get Your Gun ( 1999 ) Kiss Me, Kate ( 2000 ) 42nd Street ( 2001 ) Into the Woods ( 2002 ) Nine ( 2003 ) Assassins ( 2004 ) La Cage aux Folles ( 2005 ) The Pajama Game ( 2006 ) Company ( 2007 ) South Pacific ( 2008 ) Hair ( 2009 ) La Cage aux Folles ( 2010 ) Anything Goes ( 2011 ) Porgy and Bess ( 2012 ) Pippin ( 2013 ) Hedwig and the Angry Inch ( 2014 ) The King and I ( 2015 ) The Color Purple ( 2016 ) Hello, Dolly ! ( 2017 ) Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival Show Boat ( 1991 ) The Boys from Syracuse ( 1992 ) Carousel ( 1993 ) Sweeney Todd ( 1994 ) She Loves Me ( 1995 ) The Who 's Tommy ( 1997 ) Chicago ( 1998 ) Oklahoma ! ( 1999 ) Candide ( 2000 ) Singin ' in the Rain ( 2001 ) My Fair Lady ( 2002 ) Anything Goes ( 2003 ) Pacific Overtures ( 2004 ) Grand Hotel ( 2005 ) Guys and Dolls ( 2006 ) Sunday in the Park with George ( 2007 ) The Magic Flute ( 2008 ) La Cage aux Folles ( 2009 ) Hello, Dolly ! ( 2010 ) Into the Woods ( 2011 ) Crazy for You ( 2012 ) Sweeney Todd ( 2013 ) Merrily We Roll Along ( 2014 ) City of Angels ( 2015 ) Gypsy ( 2016 ) Jesus Christ Superstar ( 2017 ) Musicals by Jerry Herman Parade From A to Z Milk and Honey Madame Aphrodite Hello, Dolly ! Mame Dear World Mack and Mabel The Grand Tour La Cage aux Folles Mrs. Santa Claus Showtune Jerry 's Girls An Evening with Jerry Herman Miss Spectacular Thornton Wilder Plays The Long Christmas Dinner ( 1931 ) The Happy Journey to Trenton and Camden ( 1931 ) Our Town ( 1938 ) The Merchant of Yonkers ( 1938 ) The Skin of Our Teeth ( 1942 ) The Matchmaker ( 1954 ) Books The Bridge of San Luis Rey ( 1927 ) The Woman of Andros ( 1930 ) Ides of March ( 1948 ) The Eighth Day ( 1967 ) Theophilus North ( 1973 ) Adaptations The Bridge of San Luis Rey ( 1929 film ) Our Town ( 1940 film ) The Bridge of San Luis Rey ( 1944 film ) Our Town ( 1955 TV ) The Matchmaker ( 1958 film ) Hello, Dolly ! ( 1964 musical ) Our Town ( 2003 film ) The Bridge of San Luis Rey ( 2004 film ) Our Town ( 2006 opera ) Family Amos Wilder ( brother ) Charlotte Wilder ( sister ) Janet Wilder Dakin ( sister ) GND : 300656068 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hello,_Dolly!_(musical)&oldid=803066888 '' Categories : 1964 musicals Broadway musicals Musicals based on plays Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Plays set in the 19th century Plays set in New York City Culture of Yonkers, New York Tony Award for Best Musical Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Webarchive template archiveis links Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Català Čeština Deutsch Español Français Italiano 日本 語 Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Svenska 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 30 September 2017, at 07 : 10. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. 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Question: who played the original dolly in hello dolly
Answer: Carol Channing