Hello, Dolly! is a popular American musical comedy. The show opened on Broadway in New York City in 1964 and ran for 2,844 performances. Jerry Herman composed the music and lyrics, and Michael Stewart wrote the dialogue. Gower Champion directed the show and created the dances.
Hello, Dolly! is based on the comedy The Matchmaker (1954) by the American playwright Thornton Wilder. The central character is the widow Dolly Gallagher Levi, a matchmaker and genial busybody. The action takes place in Yonkers, New York, and New York City in the 1890’s. The main plot follows Dolly’s attempts to become the wife of Horace Vandergelder, a wealthy and blustery grain merchant in Yonkers. A subplot deals with the attempts of Vandergelder’s two young clerks to win sweethearts.
Jerry Herman’s score featured the title song, which became one of the biggest hits in the history of American popular music. Other notable songs include “Ribbons Down My Back,” “It Only Takes a Moment,” and “So Long, Dearie.”
Carol Channing was already a stage and motion-picture star when she took the part of Dolly, but the role gained her international fame. The character of Dolly attracted many well-known actresses who starred in the show on Broadway, in touring productions, and in versions in other countries. In 2017, the show won a Tony Award as best musical revival of the season, and the star of the production, Bette Midler, won the award for best actress in a musical.
Barbra Streisand played Dolly in the 1969 motion-picture version. The film also featured an appearance by jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong singing the title song. Armstrong’s recording of the song became a huge hit.
