Hello, Dolly! Opens At MCCC’s Kelsey Theatre 4/8-10

One of America's most enduring musicals, "Hello, Dolly!" makes its way to Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre in April. Playful Theatre Productions presents this award-winning musical comedy Fridays, April 8 and 15 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, April 9 and 16 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, April 10 and 17 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening performance on April 8.

Irrepressible matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi is on the scene doing what she does best - meddling in everyone's business. Hired to arrange a marriage for the miserly half-millionaire Horace Vandergelder, she finds him the perfect mate - for herself! The task at hand: winning the heart of her unsuspecting "husband to be" before he becomes hitched to somebody else. "Hello Dolly!"is filled with toe-tapping tunes such as the rousing title song, "Hello Dolly," "Put on Your Sunday Clothes," and "It Only Takes a Moment."

Based on a 1938 farcical play by Thornton Wilder, "Hello, Dolly!" was first produced on Broadway by David Merrick in 1964, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical, along with nine other Tonys. A 1969 film adaptation starring Barbara Streisand and Walter Matthau was nominated for seven Academy Awards.

Featured in this production's leading roles are Jeb Barkenbush, of West Windsor, as Horace Vandergelder, and Pam Jorgensen, of Franklin Park, as Dolly Gallagher Levi. Also featured are: Allwyn Baskin of Lambertville as Rudolph; Thomas Coppolecchia of Marlton as Ambrose; Jessica Corriveau of Plainsboro as Irene Malloy; Justin Derry, of Langhorne, Pa., as Cornelius; Donna Reed of Hamilton as Ernestina; Dominick Sannelli of Levittown, Pa., as Barnaby; Jeff Scharf of Yardley, Pa., as the Judge; Victoria Scialfa of Robbinsville as Ermendarde; and Danielle Shinder of Holland, Pa., as Minnie Fay.

Ensemble members include: Carolyn Anzuini, Brooke Calderone of Yardley, Pa., Kaitlynn Ely of Hightstown, Danielle Grosso of Hamilton Square, Alissa Julius of West Windsor, Jonathan Martin of East Windsor, Jaimie McMillin of Bordentown, Nikema Missouri of Trenton, Shantell Missouri of Trenton, Abby Oliver of Hamilton, Jack Petzko of Cranbury, Mollie Rubinstein of West Windsor, John Russell of Mercerville, Benjamin Sills of Plainsboro, and Prita Sinha of Hamilton.

Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors, and $12 for students and children. Free parking is available next to the theater. Tickets may be purchased online at www.kelseytheatre.net or by calling the Kelsey Box Office at 609-570-3333. Kelsey Theatre is wheelchair accessible. For a complete listing of adult and children's events, visit the Kelsey website.