Directed by Dave Saxe

     Musical Director: tbd

     Choreographer:

                  Cheri Lindell

      Stage Manager: tbd

Auditions have been concluded and the Cast has been selected and announced!

   (see cast list under "Hello Dolly" tab at left)

Monday May 6

    at Coconut Cove Recreation Center

                  at 6pm

Thursday May 9

          at Paradise Recreation Center

                   at 6m

Callbacks and

       other auditions if necessary:

Monday May 13

     at Coconut Cove Recreation Center

            scheduled beginning at 6 pm

         until 9 pm

PLEASE DOWNLOAD, FILL OUT, AND BRING THE ATTACHED FORM TO AUDITIONS:

Announcing the

     Fantastic Opportunity

          to put on your Sunday clothes!

  To those of us who grew up in the 1950s into the 1960s, we remember a simpler life without
the Internet, etc… One happy reflection on those times was the celebrated Hello Dolly! one of
the most iconic Broadway shows of all-time. We are pleased to invite you to join us in recreating the marvelous world of Yonkers, New York at the turn into the 20th century.

THE DIRECTOR’S VISION
      In casting this signature-Broadway show, I need you to take a happy journey with me… to the
small-town town of Yonkers, a typical idyllic American place, set near the bustling and rapidly
growing metropolis of New York City. I envision this Yonkers to be very similar to our own 21st
century, Villages, a place often referred to as, “America’s friendliest hometown”; a place of beautiful homes, clean tree-lined streets, green lawns and tidy yards… a place where its citizens have gathered to enjoy life to its fullest… and, in a charming way, have come to recapture and relive their lives of an earlier time, apart from the angry world, in a timeless bubble of sorts.
 

   While this musical is based on Thornton Wilder’s play The Matchmaker, our show revives memories of TV’s Ozzie and Harriet, My Three Sons, and Leave it to Beaver, whose happy episodes set the flavor for Hello Dolly! However, not everything in our Yonkers is at it appears…
 

     In a nutshell, our story begins with a very contented but gruff, Horace Vandergelder, proprietor of the local Hay & Feed store. Recently widowed, Horace calls on a Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi, an irascible match-making widow with a strikingly dramatic appearance, whose specialty is "arranging things” for her clients. Once this seemingly incompatible pair is introduced by
tuneful music and clever lyrics, our warm-hearted story begins…
 

     Hello Dolly! is one of those “take us back to” shows, designed to lovingly escort audiences into
a happy place, to bring us into a world that calls to us, that we like, that perhaps we long for...
 

ABOUT OUR DOLLY CHARACTERS
 

   The characters. In presenting the show, there are 10 principal roles (5 females/5 males), with
some 6-8 other speaking/singing roles…. The greatest need in casting Dolly is filling our stage with a host of memorable and marvelous characters from the townspeople of Yonkers to those of New York City… local band members and feed store customers, dinner guests at the swanky Harmonia Gardens, Polka Contest contestants and dancing waiters, and a beautiful ensemble for the 14th Street Parade finale… I would envision casting 25-35 people.
    Given our wealth of local talents, in celebrating the spirit of “showcasing” as many of TV’s actors and actresses, we may find it desirable to double-cast some or several roles.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
    There are several theatre clubs in The Villages that offer many opportunities to work in plays and/or musicals. While we welcome and encourage these many opportunities, if cast in Dolly, in courtesy to your fellow company members, the director, staff, and the CRAFT of
acting/singing/dancing, no one will be permitted to work other theatre or musical shows while rehearsing and performing Hello Dolly! To be clear, if you accept a role in another play or musical, please go and enjoy that opportunity; but if you are cast in Hello Dolly! we expect that you are committed to Hello Dolly!

   This Director’s vision is meant to have a happy effect on ALL theatre groups by expanding the opportunity for more residents to participate.
  

    A pre-production schedule may begin this summer with select musical and dance workshops; not all cast members will be called.

    Regular blocking rehearsals for ALL shall begin September 19, 2024. We shall take a “Holiday break” from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day (November 18 through January 9), resuming rehearsals January 10 to production, March 12-13-14, 2025.

CHARACTERS DESCRIPTIONS FOR HELLO DOLLY!:
 

Dolly Levi: Matchmaker, widow, meddler, opportunist, life-loving, commanding, strong stage
presence. Vocal range: alto-soprano. Some dance ability.
 

Horace Vandergelder: Well-known half-a-millionaire, widower, owns the Feed Store, gruff, set
in his ways, authoritative. Vocal range: baritone. Some dance ability.
 

Cornelius Hackl: Head clerk at the Feed Store, energetic, enthusiastic, and adventurous. Vocal
range: baritone. Dance ability: strong.
 

Barnaby Tucker: Assistant to Cornelius at the Feed Store, naïve, energized, follower. Vocal
range: baritone. Dance ability: strong.
 

Irene Molloy: Owns the Hat Shop, widow, beautiful, smart, fun-loving. Vocal range: soprano.
Dance ability: strong.
 

Minnie Fay: Irene’s assistant, naïve, strait-laced, fresh, follower. Stage age: Vocal range: mezzo-
soprano. Dance ability: strong.
 

Ambrose Kemper: Struggling artist, good-natured, accommodating, wants to marry Ermengarde. Vocal range: tenor. Dance ability: strong.
 

Ermengarde: Horace’s niece, whining, high-strung, wants to marry Ambrose. Vocal range: any.
Dance ability: strong.
 

Ernestina: Accommodating, good-time girl. Vocal range: any. Dance ability: none.
 

Rudy: Maitre’d of the Harmonia Gardens, proper, commanding. Vocal range: bass. Dance
ability: some.
 

Mrs. Rose: Street vendor. Dance ability: none.
 

Coachman: Character role: no dancing required
 

Horse… yes, a horse, TWO people… head and a… backside… ☺ No Vocals required!
 

Stanley, Fritz, Harry, Louie, Danny, Manny, and Hank:    Waiters - Vocal range: tenors/basses.
Dance ability: mid to strong.
 

First Cook: With a German accent/Second Cook: With a Swedish accent.
 

Judge: Of New York City’s night court.
 

Policemen: New York City Police Officers
 

Court Recorder:
 

Paper hanger: Walk-on role.
 

8-12 Male/Female Ensemble: Vocal range: even split of sopranos and altos. Dance ability: Good
to strong.
 

3-5 Children: Vocal range: melody. Dance ability: strong.
 

PRIMARY REHEARSAL VENUES/TIMES FOR (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):
 

     Mondays, Coconut Cove, 6:00pm to 9:30pm
     Thursdays, Paradise/Chula Vista,

        6:00pm to 9:30pm  

           (Venue is subject to change)
      Fridays, Canal, 9:00am to 12:00pm

ADDITIONAL VENUES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):
      Tuesdays, Aviary, 6:00pm to 8:50pm
      2nd and 4th Sundays, Ezell, 6:00pm to 8:50pm
 

  We will do our best to use your time wisely for rehearsals, however, you should be prepared to
attend rehearsals at these recreation centers and times.
 

YOUR AUDITION:
 

   Following Recreation Department rules, auditions are by OPEN CALL for any TV resident, NO roles are pre-cast, and ALL roles will be filled according to in-room auditions only.

   ALL will be asked to sing, dance and read… together in groups, and/or individually in an open room while
everyone is present.
   We will start the audition process as a group… In order to thoroughly observe every single person, sing-read-dance, a group of some 30-40 people will need some 3 to 4 hours to process.
    If you arrive late, you may join the in-process group or be asked to hold until the next audition…
    You are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate in multiple auditions.
    We are not intending ANY private auditions.
 

INITIAL PROCESS
 

   There is no need to sing any individual pre-prepared audition pieces…

  everyone will sing “Hello Dolly,” “Put on Your Sunday Clothes,” and/or “It Takes a Woman.”

    Some of you may be asked to sing, “It Only Takes a Moment,” “So Long Dearie,” “Before the Parade Passes By,” and/or “Ribbons Down My Back,”
 

    READINGS:
This is a COLD READ. You will be given a prepared side from the show for reading…
You will have the chance to “practice” your lines with a small group before auditioning…everyone shall read from these.
    DANCE:
There will be a general “moving audition” just to see how you move in rhythm and follow
directions… You may be asked to participate in a “dance audition” that demonstrates a more
advanced skill level and ability to follow specific moves and instructions.
 

LAST WORDS:

       Have FUN and BELIEVE!
Excited for this ALL-RESIDENTS-VILLAGERS-                   COMMUNITY opportunity!
So, are you ready to

         put on Your Sunday Clothes?!?

Questions? Please TEXT me only

          at 814-404-1825

     
Dave Saxe, Director