On Friday, March 15, the Walsh Jesuit CenterStage Theater opens with the hit Broadway musical “Hello, Dolly!” With its lighthearted and often rousing musical numbers along with some witty dialogue, it is guaranteed to bring smiles to the audience.

The show, which first appeared on Broadway in 1964, still appeals to younger audiences. Junior Connor Cline, who plays Barnaby, a silly young man who is extremely shy around girls, noted, “Although some ideas with the show may be a bit outdated, I still find the humor to be funny. Lots of the dramatic, intimate scenes continue to be meaningful, even 50 years after its Broadway debut.”

Starring in the title role as Dolly Gallagher Levi, Jackie Ward, ’19, has been with CenterStage Theater for four years. Jackie stated, “The role of Dolly is so fun to play! She is a meddler who loves to know people’s secrets and stick her nose into others business. Dolly has a soft spot for Horace Vandergelder, whom she ‘loves’ [mostly for his money], but shows her love by playing hard to get. I’m nothing like Dolly, which makes it such a fun role to play.”

Charlie Kadair, ’20, plays Cornelius, a young man from Yonkers, New York, who works in the hay and feed store of Horace Vandergelder. The extremely poor Cornelius does not go out much, so he decides to take himself and his coworker, Barnaby, on a trip to New York City, vowing to never come home until they have each kissed a girl.

Charlie said, “The meaning of [the show] is what makes me truly enjoy acting in it. Today’s society revolves largely around money and materialistic things, and that’s exactly what this musical is about.”

Rehearsals started in early December and continue until the final show. With each rehearsal either focused on choreography, acting, or costumes, cast members participate in an array of activities during every practice.

Senior AJ Corsino explained, “To put on a show of this size takes a lot of work. [The cast and crew] have many hours of rehearsal each day after school, along with two weeks of shows. The process is stressful, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Connor hopes “everyone comes and sees the show. It would mean a lot to the cast and crew, and you won’t regret it!”

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit the Performing Arts page today.