HELLO, DOLLY! Opens Tonight at Apollo Civic Theater

"Put On Your Sunday Clothes" and come to the Harmonia Gardens this weekend as the Apollo Civic Theater in Martinsburg, West Virginia presents the classic musical Hello Dolly!

"Our director's vision is to make the audience feel as though they are in Harmonia Garden from the moment they enter the theater. I have never seen a production of Dolly where this has been done" said Dan Henderson, who plays Cornelius Hackl.

The show is directed by Andrew Baughman, assistant directed by Terri Magers, musically directed by Alison Shafer and choreographed by Shannen Banzhoff.

"This is a fun show with great musical numbers and an energetic, dedicated cast" said Michael Reed , who plays Horace Vandergelder.

Though a production of Hello Dolly! is currently running at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C., the cast is not worried about any comparisons between the simultaneous productions.

"Every time you do a show, no matter how many times you've done it, it is going to be unique. The cast is different. Each actor brings his or her own qualities to the role" added Henderson.

"The challenge[with playing this ionic character] is to show the audience a softer, nicer side to my character, to make them see what Dolly apparently sees in him. There are not really any lines in the show that show a softer side, so this is difficult. But I enjoy creating a character, especially one who is markedly different from my own personality. I have been acting for more than fifty years and particularly enjoy doing musicals like Hello Dolly! because they are fun, high energy productions" said Reed.

"Hello Dolly! is full of wonderful music, dancing and many comedic moments. Audiences should come expecting to laugh a lot" said Henderson.

The Hello Dolly! cast features Nancy Jones in the title role, Amanda Hartman Harold as Irene Molloy, Ryan Perry as Barnaby, Sari Jennings as Minnie, Brian D. James as Ambrose, Tiffany Noll Leighton as Ermengarde, Allison Banzhoff as Ernestina, Brian Terrell as Louis, Latitia Parkinson as Mrs. Rose and Paul Cabell as Rudolph, with Andrea Robinson, Caroline Parkinson, Chaste Martin, Cheyenne Kesecker, CorRay LaFleur, Delaney Herold, Emily Santy, Eric Coffinbarger, Gabrielle Tokach, Jacob Waeyaert, Jeremy Spangler, KariLee Grossnickle, Lauren Fleming, Meg Peterson, Megan West, Noah Herolf, Olivia Loy, Keith Shifflet, Sera Drevenek and Yanira Diaz in the ensemble.

Hello Dolly! runs tonight, May 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 8:00 PM and May 5 and 12 at 2:30 PM. Tickets are $15 for Friday and Saturday evening shows and $12 for Sunday matinees. Student tickets are $7 for all performances. The Apollo Civic Theater is located at 128 East Martin Street, Martinsburg, WV, 25402. For more information about Hello Dolly! and upcoming performances, please visit http://www.apollo-theatre.org/

Photo Credit: Lovely Pixels, Courtesy of Apollo Civic Theater

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