Dolly!, which is set to begin performances June 7 at the New Jersey Theatre, will also feature Kate Baldwin as Irene Molloy, Jonathan Rayson as Cornelius Hackl, Brian Sears as Barnaby Tucker and Jessica-Snow Wilson as Minnie Fay. The ensemble comprises Jennifer Allen, Brian Barry, Nova Bergeron, Ryan Patrick Binder, Heather Carino, Nigel Columbus, Marisa Joy Ganz, Andrew Gehling, Ben Hartley, Margot LaBarre, Denis Lambert, Lauren Marcus, Leisa Mather, Anna McNeely, Christopher T. Noffke, Dennis O'Bannion, Benjie Randall, Roger Preston Smith, William Solo, Brandon Tyler, Lael Van Keuren Mindy Wallace and Ryan Thomas Worsing.
Directed by Mark S. Hoebee with choreography by Mia Michaels, Hello, Dolly! will officially open at the Paper Mill June 10, and the limited engagement will play through July 23. The creative team will also include Michael Anania (set design), James Schuette (costume design), Charlie Morrison (lighting design), Randy Hanson (sound design), Bettie Rogers (hair, wigs and make-up design) and Tom Helm (musical director).
Hello, Dolly!, suggested by Thornton Wilder's "The Matchmaker," features a score by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart. Directed and choreographed by Gower Champion, the original production opened in January 1964 at the St. James Theatre, playing 2,844 performances before closing Dec. 27, 1970. The original cast featured Carol Channing, Eileen Brennan, David Burns, Jerry Dodge, Alice Playten, Charles Nelson Reilly and Ken Ayers. The musical won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical (Channing).
Walter Charles' Broadway credits include The Woman in White; Big River; The Boys from Syracuse; Kiss Me, Kate; Aspects of Love; Me and My Girl; La Cage aux Folles; Cats; Sweeney Todd; 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue; and Grease.
The Paper Mill Playhouse is located on Brookside Drive in Millburn, NJ. Tickets, priced $19-$68, are available by calling (973) 376-4343 or by visiting www.papermill.org.