Children's Theatre of Winnetka Announces Auditions for Hello, Dolly!

Children’s Theatre of Winnetka Announces Auditions for Hello, Dolly!

WINNETKA, IL— After the final curtain closed on the beloved Annie Jr., Children’s Theatre of Winnetka’s volunteer producers and directors stepped into action to begin planning their next big show—the spring 2017 musical, Hello, Dolly! Making its return to Matz Hall at the Winnetka Community House, Hello, Dolly! will delight audiences April 27 through April 30, 2017, as Children’s Theatre of Winnetka continues its legacy of providing musical theatre experiences for young performers on the North Shore.

Auditions for Hello, Dolly! will be held at the Winnetka Community House on Tuesday, January 17 or Wednesday, January 18 at 4:00 pm for fourth-graders and fifth-graders, and 5:00 pm for sixth-graders through eighth-graders. Children can choose either day to audition, but must attend the time slot for their current grade. Callbacks are scheduled for Friday, January 20 and Saturday, January 21. Children in fourth grade through eighth grade residing or attending school in New Trier Township are eligible to audition for Children’s Theatre of Winnetka. Audition materials are available at childrenstheatrewinnetka.com.

According to Children’s Theatre of Winnetka co-founder, Barbara Weldon, Hello, Dolly! features plenty of great roles for children. “This musical is a true classic with big production numbers, so we are preparing for more than 80 young performers in two different casts to dance, sing and act their way into our hearts,” said Weldon, who also is one of the show’s directors—a role she has held for a remarkable 42 years.

Based on Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker, Hello, Dolly! was written by Michael Stewart, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. The story takes place in New York City at the end of the 19th century when Dolly Levi—a matchmaker, widow and professional meddler receives her toughest challenge with a rich grump named Horace Vandergelder who seeks a suitable wife. Dolly successfully matches many others in the city, including Horace’s niece and two clerks, but everything seems to go wrong when Dolly realizes she’d like to marry Horace, only if her late husband will send her a sign, and if Horace himself will have her. Hello, Dolly! features memorable songs such as “Before the Parade Passes By,” “It Only Takes a Moment,” “Put on Your Sunday Clothes,” and the smash hit, “Hello, Dolly!”

Hello, Dolly! premiered on Broadway in 1964, starring Carol Channing in the title role and won a record ten Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, a record held for 37 years. Hello, Dolly! enjoyed three Broadway revivals, international success and was made into the Academy Award®-winning film starring Barbara Streisand. Music icon Bette Midler is scheduled to take the Broadway stage in the newest mounting of the classic show, also set for spring 2017.

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Founded in 1974, Children’s Theatre of Winnetka is a not-for-profit volunteer organization dedicated to promoting theatrical experiences for children in fourth through eighth grade. Children participate both onstage and backstage in two productions held in the fall and spring each year. Children’s Theatre of Winnetka operates under the auspices of the Winnetka Community House, a not-for-profit organization.