HELLO, DOLLY! Comes To The Historic Corona Civic Center Theater

This spring, Off Broadway Corona Theater (OBCT) is proud to present the Tony Award winning show, Hello, Dolly! for one week only at the Corona Civic Center, located near City Hall in downtown Corona.

For more than 15 years, OBCT has produced Broadway quality theater for the Inland Empire, highlighting local talent and professional artists. "As a non-profit organization serving the city of Corona and the Inland Empire, OBCT provides master classes for local artists and produces high-quality musicals for everyone to enjoy," said Amanda Kalkanis, Artistic Director of OBCT and director of Hello, Dolly!. "We are excited to have taken up residence in the beautiful Historic Corona Civic Center, where we have been producing shows for the last two years. Hello Dolly! is one you won't want to miss."

Hello Dolly! is a classic piece of American Musical Theater. Since it first debuted on Broadway in 1964, it has been performed across the United States and around the world - earning more than 29 Tony Awards in various productions. Most recently, Hello Dolly! was revived on Broadway where it won a 2017 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival and Bette Midler won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

Hello Dolly recounts the tale of Dolly Gallagher Levi, a refined matchmaker who has been hired to arrange yet another marriage in 1890's New York. But this time, she's in business for herself attempting to win over her unsuspecting husband-to-be. It's an irresistible story about the joy of living, glittering with happy songs, shining with loving scenes, and alive with the personality of one of the most fabulous characters on the musical stage, Dolly Levi.

Taking the lead role of Dolly Levi in OBCT's production is Rachel McLaughlan. Rachel hails from Santa Rosa, California and moved to Southern California after performing throughout the United States in the National tour of Sesame Street Live. She has performed regionally for several years in countless productions including CATS, Damn Yankees, 9-to-5, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, among others. This is her second production with OBCT, most recently taking on the role of the Witch in Into the Woods. "I am excited to join the cast of Hello, Dolly! and look forward to bringing this iconic character to life with OBCT," said Ms. McLaughlan.

Dolly Levi's love interest is the cranky, millionaire Horace Vandergelder, being played by Robert Hoyt. Robert is a European trained Opera Singer who has set up residence in SoCal, recently seen on stage in the opera, Alive in Wonderland, at the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. He has been a past performer with the Utah Opera, Orlando Opera, and performed at the Lincoln Center in New York City. Regionally, he has performed at Candlelight Pavilion, the Lewis Family Playhouse, and the Welk Resorts. This is his second production with OBCT, where he was last seen as the Pirate King in the 2017 production of Pirates of Penzance.

Joining Ms. McLaughlan and Mr. Hoyt in Hello, Dolly! this spring are Emilie Helvey (Irene Molloy), Jaylen Baham (Cornelius Hackl), Patrick McIyer (Branaby Tucker), Sarah Christensen (Minnie Fay), Payne Fraser (Ambrose Kemper), Elise Burt (Ermengarde), and Gina Montes (Ernestina Money).

Hello, Dolly! runs April 19 - 22nd at the Corona Civic Center located at 815 West Sixth Street in Corona. Tickets prices range from $20 - $30. Group discounts are available. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.obctheater.com or call the box office at (951) 264-5794.

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