The Friday before Thanksgiving break, as tradition follows, KO students were presented with the exciting news that the 2024-2025 winter musical is “Hello Dolly!”
“Hello Dolly!” is about a widow and matchmaker, Dolly Levi, and the story of her journey to finding love and marriage with half a millionaire, Horace Vandergelder, while matchmaking other characters and taking New York City by storm.
The movie which came out in 1969 starred actors such as Barbara Streisand and Walter Mathau. The 2017 Broadway revival featured stars such as Bette Midler, Gavin Creel, Beanie Feldstein, and Kate Baldwin who has come to perform at KO in recent years.
Director of Theatre Kyle Reynolds says that “Hello Dolly!” is near and dear to his heart. Not only has he performed in this show multiple times, but this is his first time directing it, a responsibility he is greatly looking forward to! “It’s a story about bringing two people together who see differently, and I think that’s just such a great message, and something that we need more of in 2024,” Mr. Reynolds said. “I thought for a long time that we’d never have the resources to do it, but I’m sure now that we have the cast, the costumes and the set!”
After the announcement of this year’s winter musical, students and faculty had amazingly positive reactions. This show highlights extraordinary dancing, music and acting, and the students cannot wait to make this show come to life. “All the reactions were very warm and excited,” Mr. Reynolds said. “When you say something like ‘Sweet Charity,’ most people don’t know what that is, but when you say ‘Hello Dolly!’ I think it comes with a certain name recognition.”
Mr. Reynolds is extremely proud of the accomplishments that the theatre department has achieved over the years. “We’re doing really hard things,” he said. “We’re succeeding by overcoming lots of challenges. You cannot do a ‘Sweet Charity,’ ‘A Chorus Line, a ‘Hello Dolly!’ without a great program. And so what’s fantastic is the foundation that we’re standing on.”
With rehearsals having already begun, this production is looking to be a huge success due to the time and commitment that students put into it. “We are remarkable in our work ethic and our devotion to our craft. It is a whole lot of work. It is a whole lot of time, but I think if you asked any musical kid who was in the musical last year, if the intensity of the experience paid off, I think every single one of them would say yes,” Mr. Reynolds shared.
Mr. Reynolds and the students participating in musical theatre cannot wait to see where this show takes them and the opportunities and performers that join them along this process!
