Lyrics and music by Jerry Herman
Book by Michael Stewart
Based on Thornton Wilder's 1938 The Merchant of Yonkers, later revised and retitled The Matchmaker in 1954.
- Dolly Gallagher Levi, a strong-willed matchmaker, who travels to Yonkers, New York to find a match for the "miserly well-known unmarried half-a-millionaire," Horace Vandergelder -
Debuted at the Fisher Theater in Detroit, Michigan on November 18, 1963 ... Starred Carol Channing as Dolly ... Moved to Broadway in 1964
10 Tony Awards - Including Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical
The award wins set a record, which was held for 37 years. (This record was broken in 2001 by The Producers, which won 12 Tony Awards.)
Hello, Dolly! An Original Cast Recording - Grammy Hall of Fame, 2002 ... No. 1 on Billboard in June 1964 (replaced shortly after by Louis Armstrong's album, Hello, Dolly!)
Broadway revivals in 1975, 1978, 1995, & 2017 (Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, 2017)
In the 1968 Broadway revival, Pearl Bailey played the part of Dolly Gallagher Levi as part of an all-Black cast.*
In the 2017 Broadway revival, Bette Midler played the part of Dolly Gallagher Levi.
1969 film Hello, Dolly! - 3 Academy Awards, including Best Score of a Musical Picture ... 4 Academy Award Nominations ... Barbra Streisand played the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi.
Hello, Dolly! was a successful revival internationally, including in Australia, New Zealand, London, Israel, Mexico, Cuba, Canada, Argentina, and France.
- Original Broadway Production Honors -
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award Win - Best Musical, Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart (1964)
Tony Awards (1964)
Win - Best Book of a Musical, Michael Stewart
Nomination - Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical, Charles Nelson Reilly
Win - Best Original Score, Jerry Herman
Win - Best Producer of a Musical, David Merrick
Wins - Best Direction of a Musical & Best Choreography, Gower Champion
Win - Best Conductor and Musical Director, Shepard Coleman
Win - Best Scenic Design, Oliver Smith
Win - Best Costume Design, Freddy Wittop
Drama Desk Award Win - Outstanding Performance, Ethel Merman (1970)
- 1978 Broadway Revival Honor -
Tony Award Nomination - Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, Eddie Bracken
- 1979 West End Revival Honor -
Olivier Award Nomination - Best Actress in a Musical, Carol Channing
- 1995 Broadway Revival Honor -
Tony Award Nomination - Best Revival of a Musical
- 2017 Broadway Revival Honors -
- Tony Awards Wins -
Best Revival of a Musical, Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Bette Midler) - Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical - Best Costume Design
- Tony Award Nominations -
Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (David Hyde Pierce) - Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical - Best Direction of a Musical (Jerry Zaks) - Best Scenic Design - Best Lighting Design - Best Orchestrations
- Drama Desk Award Wins -
Outstanding Revival of a Musical - Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Bette Midler) - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
- Drama Desk Award Nominations -
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Outstanding Director of a Musical (Jerry Zaks) - Outstanding Choreographer - Outstanding Set Design - Outstanding Costume Design - Outstanding Sound Design - Outstanding Wig and Hair Design
Drama League Awards - 1 Nomination & 1 Win
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 5 Nominations & 5 Wins
Chita Rivera Awards - 2 Nominations
Other - Grammy Award Nomination, Best Musical Theater Album (2018)
- 2024 West End Revival Honors -
Laurence Olivier Award - 2 Nominations & 1 Win
*Saturdays in the month of January 2026 are dedicated to Pearl Bailey as Set List Recommended. While this entry is based more on highlights of the musical itself with mention to Pearl, the weekly theme remains consistent.
If you have not guessed by now, I have a deep love for the theater. My first experience was in 1989. I was very young and made my family nervous for how I would react to sitting still for a prolonged period of time. I surprised them as I was captivated by the performance. As I grew up, the treat of dressing up, a fancy dinner, and an evening performance became a tradition. I have not only seen several Broadway musicals on tour but also one-man performances and iconic plays. My last experience was 12 Angry Men (first on stage, then the film).
My first passion with the theater is exploring, from outside, the orchestra pit and taking in the electrical buzz of the instruments being tuned as would be the cue to draw the curtains.
I have only had a box seat once but generally on the aisle. I could be on the ceiling and not care because the magic of stage theater is the focal draw.
I have attended concerts ranging from Duran Duran to independent jazz musician performances (not in a club). While these were intriguing (and loud), my heart for live entertainment rests with Broadway and off-Broadway. I learn so much about pop, social, and political culture depending on the year the actors performed.
Huge sidetrack. Saturdays in this month of January 2026 are devoted to Pearl Bailey. Her star performance in the 1968 revival of Hello, Dolly! is a note here but proving that the point is she is recommended this month on Set List.
Whew!
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