Village Theatre KIDSTAGE

Performance Preview Guide for Hello, Dolly!

Performances: In Issaquah: Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front Street North, Issaquah May 10-June 25, 2006 Selected Tuesdays & Wednesday-Saturday evenings: 8:00 PM Sundays and selected Saturday matinees: 2:00 PM Selected Sunday evenings: 7:00 PM

In Everett: Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett June 30-July 16, 2006 Wednesday-Saturday evenings: 8:00 PM Saturday and Sunday matinees: 2:00 PM Selected Sunday evenings: 7:00 PM

Patrons have different ideas of what material or themes are appropriate for them or their families. For this reason, we provide the following information:

The Production  Hello, Dolly! explores the nature of love and relationships, with taste and humor.

Versions available to preview: The well known movie version (1969) features Barbara Streisand and Walter Matthau. The musical is based on the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder. There is a film version of the play (1958) featuring Anthony Perkins and Shirley MacLaine. A script is also available at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre and the Everett Performing Arts Center Box Offices for you to read.

Production length: Approximately two-hours, with a one 15-minute intermission. Exact length to be determined.

Synopsis: Hello, Dolly! opens in 1890s New York City with Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi, a well- known widowed matchmaker, making her way through town to catch a train to Yonkers to attend to one of her clients, Mr. Horace Vandergelder, a successful miser in the hay and feed business. Horace, however, is dealing with other love issues, as he tries to keep his niece, Ermengarde, from marrying her love, artist Ambrose Kemper. Dolly, the constant meddler, promises Ambrose that she will help bring the two sweethearts together.

Meanwhile, we also meet Horace’s employees, Cornelius and Barnaby. Determined to escape Horace’s store, the two decide (with encouragement by Dolly, of course) to treat themselves to a day in New York City. In their first journey to the big city, Cornelius and Barnaby are shocked to find Horace also in New York and quickly duck into a hat shop to hide. While in the shop they the meet the owner, Irene Molloy, and her lovely assistant, Minnie Fay, and the pairs are immediately smitten.

Romance abounds and mad-cap fun ensues as Cornelius and Barnaby try to hide from Horace while courting Irene and Minnie. In the meantime, Dolly craftily works her way into Horace’s heart, while Emengarde and Ambrose try to prove their love to her uncle. Culminating in a wild adventure at the famed Harmonia Gardens, Dolly eventually brings everyone magnificently together!

Themes: As the key character is a matchmaker, the nature of male and female relationships and how one finds love are explored in a comedic format.

Script Content Details Please note: the following information contains plot spoilers.

Violence: There is no violence in Hello, Dolly! However, a minor argument erupts at a restaurant.

Sexual content: As the story centers on Dolly Levi and her matchmaking schemes, coy references to kisses and love are throughout the play. Other than the line "she wanted to do the hootchy kootchy!", no overt sexual content is in the musical.

Language: Some minor exclamations such as “damn” and “hell” are used sparingly throughout the musical.

Substances:  Alcohol: Champagne is served at Harmonia Gardens  Drugs: No drugs are used in Hello, Dolly!