MUSE MACHINE PREPS ‘HELLO, DOLLY!’
An abundance of feel-good musical comedy vibes will be delivered by 170 students from across the Miami Valley as the Muse Machine presents composer Jerry Herman and librettist Michael Stewart’s 1964 Tony Award-winning classic “Hello, Dolly!” beginning Thursday, Jan. 11, at the Victoria Theatre.
“Hello, Dolly!,” the arts education organization’s 34th annual student musical, is based on Thornton Wilder’s “The Matchmaker” and set in 1880s New York. This hilarious, upbeat and tuneful tale tells the engaging story of widow Dolly Gallagher Levi, who is staunchly determined to win the stubborn heart of prominent Yonkers businessman Horace Vandergelder. Dolly uses her crafty, instinctive matchmaking skills to ultimately secure her own future while bringing happiness to those around her with the goal of reclaiming life before it’s too late.
“It’s been an honor to play Dolly and have a chance to explore such a complex, challenging, larger-than-life, and ionic character,” said 15-yearold Sara LiBrandi, an Alter High School sophomore. “Dolly rediscovers herself throughout the show. This is a story about her realizing she wants more for herself and she’s ready to rejoin humanity. She wants to find the joy in every moment of her life again and that’s a story which can resonate with so many people.
“It’s such a relevant journey. It really has been amazing to be able to work with a fantastic cast and creative team as well. The Muse environment is the best in the world. It’s an environment of love and acceptance but also professionalism. The expectations are high but they’re not impossible.”
“Due to the style and time period of this show, we’re teaching a whole new language before we’re teaching dance,” added New Orleansbased choreographer and co-director Lula Elzy. “How did men and women look during this time? There are waltzes and polkas as well. We’re essentially teaching dance history. But this show particularly reminded me of an MGM musical with a big soundstage. So, I began to wonder how big could we make this show? How many designs could be on the stage? How many kids could be on the stage?”
During a recent rehearsal in the Muse studios inside the Metropolitan Arts Center downtown, the pieces of the “Dolly!” puzzle connected with spirit and precision as overseen by Elzy, co-director Joe Deer, producer Douglas Merk, and music director Sean Michael Flowers. Among the highlights were LiBrandi’s fast-talking wit and sparkling confidence which displayed a maturity beyond her years, Springboro High School senior Jake Jones firmly embodying Vandergelder’s curmudgeon authoritativeness, a cute assortment of enthusiastic kids accenting “Before the Parade Passes By,” and Stivers School for the Arts senior Kiama Wa-Tenza’s beautifully delicate rendition of “Ribbons Down My Back,” a lovely ballad given to millinery shop owner Irene Molloy.
“I’m used to playing more animated characters but Irene is a breath of fresh air for me as an actress,” Wa-Tenza noted. “Irene is very pure. She’s looking for love and romance.”
“Even though I’m playing a role that’s essentially my age it’s very different because of the time period,” echoed Beavercreek High School senior Tommy Cole, who portrays Barnaby Tucker, one of Vandergelder’s faithful employees. “Barnaby is very innocent and optimistic. He’s a lot of fun to play and Joe Deer really helped me to distinguish playing a character and playing the truth. At first, I thought I had to play Barnaby dorky but I realized the importance of playing him as the kid he is who is having fun on an adventure with his best friend.”
The principal cast includes Ben Kneblik as Ambrose Kemper, Charlotte Kunesh as Ermengarde, Steven Greenwalt as Cornelius Hackl, Ana Smith as Minnie Fay, Melanie Dodson as Mrs. Rose, Diane Isom as Ernestina, David Shockey as Rudolph, Fischer Barnett as Head Chef, Michael Taylor as Judge, and Darian Watson as Court Reporter. Last year, Smith and Barnett were knockouts respectively as Penny Pingleton and Edna Turnblad in the Muse’s “Hairspray.”
“There are different shows I think of as perfect musicals for different reasons,” said Deer, who is chair of Wright State University’s Department of Theatre, Dance and Motion Pictures. “This show is incredibly optimistic. It’s about people emerging from a cocoon into the world as whatever perfect butterfly they are, which for me is the underlying pleasure of the piece.
“But the score is exquisite with many great numbers including ‘Put on Your Sunday Clothes’ and ‘Before the Parade Passes By,’ both of which Lula has exceptionally staged with great storytelling,” he said. “I really think the audience is in for the most joyous treat they could ever want.”