Carolee Carmello will replace departing lead Betty Buckley in the national tour of Hello, Dolly!. The three-time Tony nominee, who was most recently seen on the New York stage in Off-Broadway's Sweeney Todd, will join the production as Dolly Gallagher Levi September 24 at the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri.
Buckley has been starring in the Jerry Zaks-helmed touring production since its launch in New York in 2018.
Carmello's expansive Broadway résumé includes Tony-nominated turns in Scandalous, Lestat, and Parade, as well as performances in Tuck Everlasting, Finding Neverland, Sister Act, The Addams Family, Mamma Mia!, Urinetown, Kiss Me, Kate, The Scarlet Pimpernel, 1776, Falsettos, and City of Angels.
Led by four-time Tony-winning director Zaks and choreographed by Tony winner Warren Carlyle, the entire creative team of the Broadway production of Hello, Dolly! reprises their work for the tour, including Santo Loquasto (scenic and costume design), Natasha Katz (lighting design), Scott Lehrer (sound design), Andy Einhorn (music supervisor), Larry Hochman (orchestrations), Don Pippin (vocal arrangements), David Chase (dance arrangements), and Telsey + Company (casting).
The Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! was the winner of four 2017 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and Actress in a Musical, going to the show's star Bette Midler. Donna Murphy and Bernadette Peters also performed the title role on Broadway.
Carolee Carmello (center) and company of 1776
Carolee Carmello prepares to take the stage in Bad Cinderella
