"Hello Dolly" started out as a short farce, "The Merchant of Yonkers" that focused on the male lead, cranky and rich Horace Vandergelder. The play was later rewritten by Thornton Wilder as "The Matchmaker" and switched its focus from Horace to matchmaker (or as she calls herself - "meddler") Dolly Gallagher Levi.
The musical "Hello Dolly" opened on Broadway in 1964 with Carol Channing in the role of Dolly - a role she played, off and on, till the end of her life!
A widowed Dolly returns to New York City after a long absence, and immediately sets about with her "meddling." In this case, it's for the wealthy Horace - on whom she has set her own designs.
Throw in Horace's weepy niece, a goodhearted milliner, a couple of well-intentioned shop assistants, and a few crazy mix-ups - and you've got the "Dolly" magic!
Tony Awards (1969):
Best Musical
Best Book of a Musical (Michael Stewart)
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Carol Channing)
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Charles Nelson Reilly)
Best Original Score (Jerry Herman)
Best Producer of a Musical (David Merrick)
Best Direction of a Musical (Gower Champion)
Best Choreography (Gower Champion)
Best Conductor and Musical Director (Shepard Coleman)
Best Scenic Design (Oliver Smith)
Best Costume Design (Freddy Wittop - Dolly's iconic red dress is now in the Smithsonian Museum!)
Biggest Hits:
Hello Dolly
Before the Parade Passes By
Honorable Mentions:
Elegance
So Long Dearie
Dancing
Musical Numbers:
- Overture/Prologue
- I Put My Hand In
- It Takes a Woman
- Put on Your Sunday Clothes
- Ribbons Down My Back
- Motherhood
- Dancing
- Before the Parade Passes By
- Elegance
- Hello, Dolly!
- It Only Takes a Moment
- So Long Dearie
- Finale