Tony nominee Jodi Benson, who famously voiced the role of Ariel in the animated Disney film The Little Mermaid, stars in the Encore Performing Arts production of Jerry Herman's Hello, Dolly!, which began performances June 21 in Florida. See photos from the production in the gallery below.
Benson, a Tony nominee for her performance in the Gershwin musical Crazy for You, is playing matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi for three performances through June 22 in Steinmetz Hall at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando.
Natalie Hightower in Hello, Dolly!
Oakley Thacker, Solmarie Cruz, Natalie Hightower, and Adam Paul in Hello, Dolly!
Jodi Benson and company of Hello, Dolly!
Christopher Schmidt and company of Hello, Dolly!
Christopher Schmidt and Jodi Benson in Hello, Dolly!
Oakley Thacker and Adam Paul in Hello, Dolly!
Jodi Benson and company of Hello, Dolly!
Natalie Hightower in Hello, Dolly!
Jodi benson in Hello, Dolly!
Thomas Bradford and company of Hello, Dolly!
Jodi Benson and company of Hello, Dolly!
Jodi Benson and company of Hello, Dolly!
Jodi Benson and company of Hello, Dolly!
This Dolly! is directed by Kristen Sheola with choreography by Trase Milburn and Olivia Milburn, costume design by Wesley Schaffer, wig design by Justin Lore, music direction by Clay Price, scenic design by Cliff Price, lighting design by Holly Wheldon Carpenter, and props design by Autumn Maynard.
Benson, who stars opposite the Horace of Christopher Schmidt, has also been seen on Broadway in Marilyn, Smile, and Welcome to the Club. The principal cast also includes Natalie Hightower as Irene Malloy, Adam Paul as Cornelius Hackl, Solmarie Cruz as Minnie Fay, Oakley Thacker as Barnaby Tucker, Victoria Pagan as Ermengarde, Michael Angelini as Ambrose Kemper, Kathryn Nash as Ernestina, and Thomas Bradford as Rudolph.
Hello, Dolly! features a book by Michael Stewart with music and lyrics by Herman. The original Broadway production won 10 1964 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for Carol Channing.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Give Kids the World Village, a nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides critically ill children and their families with magical week-long wish vacations at no cost.
Visit DrPhillipsCenter.org.
