On Friday, Feb. 28, and Saturday, Mar. 1, our Wyvern artists performed an elegant rendition of “Hello Dolly!” starring sophomore Molly Palmer as Dolly Levi.
“Hello Dolly!” first hit the stage in 1964, starring Tony-winning actress Carol Channing. The show went on to win 10 Tony Awards, including best musical and best choreography, as well as record of the year for the musical’s hit number “Hello Dolly!” in 1965. The musical is set in 1890s New York and follows Dolly Levi as she navigates finding love for herself (and others), after the passing of her husband.
“‘Hello Dolly!’ is a story about resilience, hope, and the courage to embrace life’s second chances,” Director of Theater, Kyle Reynolds commented. “Dolly reminds us that no matter how uncertain the world may feel, we must keep moving forward—opening new doors, building connections, and finding joy wherever we can.”
Mr. Reynolds put a lot of thought into selecting the musical. “We are living through divided times, and ‘Hello Dolly!’ has the power to connect, unify and remind us of the importance of community,” Mr. Reynolds observed. “I love producing art that is either a mirror or, in this case, a response to current times.”
Sophomore Molly Palmer dazzled the stage while playing the confident, humorous, and strategic Dolly. “Playing Dolly has taught me to appreciate everything in life,” Molly shared. “Dolly focuses on making the most of every moment and being truly grateful for everything, no matter how small. Dolly is also unafraid of seeking happiness and teaches there is always something worth celebrating, even in challenging times. “
The cast had the amazing opportunity to work with Broadway actress Kate Baldwin and choreographer Sara Edwards. Mr. Reynolds decided he wanted Kate to work with the dancers almost immediately after picking “Hello Dolly!” as the show. “I called Kate once I knew the show was ‘Hello Dolly!’ and she was so excited to work with us again,” Mr. Reynolds detailed. “Kate and I have stayed in close contact, which I think is an important lesson for our students: building and retaining relationships is key. It’s not always easy, and it can certainly take up a lot of time, but the benefit is so worth it. When I mentioned that I thought the polka would be a challenge for us, Kate offered to bring Sara along. A Broadway choreographer—what a gift!”
Kate Baldwin starred as Irene Malloy in the 2017 Broadway revival of “Hello Dolly!” On Saturday, Jan. 11, she worked closely with the leads in the show to stage and choreograph “Motherhood March,” and the scene that comes before it. Senior Lily Temkin, who stars as Minnie Fay, got to work with both Ms. Baldwin and Ms. Edwards. “You could tell they really wanted to be here and work with us,” Lily reflected. “I think it was really special for us because she was giving us such helpful feedback but also was complimenting and encouraging us.”
Ms. Edwards is a veteran Broadway choreographer, who helped choreograph the Broadway revival of “Hello Dolly!” in 2017. Ms. Edwards worked with a group of 12 featured dancers on a challenging polka number. Polka has Polish origins, and incorporates fast-moving feet and lots of jumps. The majority of the students had no experience with the style, so Ms. Edwards worked diligently to help the dancers master the three-minute long dance. Sophomore and dance captain Matthew Habeeb worked and learned from Ms. Edwards throughout their rehearsal. “Sara Edwards brought a positive environment to her visit to Kingswood Oxford,” Matthew said. “She is kind, caring, and strong, and she has pushed me and our featured dancers to our limits. She has taught valuable lessons to take forward when learning new choreography and she has taught our dancers to be pushed to our greatest potential.”
The musical also highlighted the importance of those behind the scenes: the tech crew. While they are often overlooked, their work on the show was incredibly significant. Hello Dolly! incorporated 17 different sets, and approximately 190 different props. “The set this year is definitely unique in the amount of moving pieces there are,” junior Assistant Stage Manager Hannah Bateson noted. “We visit a variety of locations throughout the musical, and each one has its own set.”
The many different scenes added so much magic to the show, allowing the audience to really think that they are with the characters in these different places. “It lets the audience know where we are,” senior Stage Manager Els Morris said. “It literally sets the scene so the cast doesn’t have to explain to the audience where they are; it’s intuitive. The set also helps the audience suspend their disbelief for a moment. For a second you are in a train station or in the middle of a parade, living in the story that we have spent our time constructing for your enjoyment.”
Senior Zaire Ramiz expressed the important message that “Hello Dolly!” carries. “‘Hello, Dolly!’ in all of its Gilded glitz, contains powerful messages about doing good and living life to the fullest,” Zaire remarked. He mentioned Dolly’s admirable motives in marrying Horace Vandergelder. “Her goal is to help the less fortunate in her community financially with her many different services. On a personal level, Dolly realizes that even though she has lost her husband, and grown older, she can still find love and be a positively contributing member of society.”
On Friday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1, the cast put on three stunning shows for the KO community. Their weeks of hard work and love for performing truely shined through as the cast lit up the stage.
Senior Maysarah Javed was left amazed after seeing the school matinee on February 28. “I really enjoyed it,” she exmlaimed. “ It really reflected how hard the cast and crew have worked towards the muscial. Overall it came together in a really beautiful way.”
Part of the beauty of “Hello Dolly!” is the way that the themes of this older musical still have relevance to many today. “As an audience member, if you really pay attention and listen closely, you’ll notice many similarities between 1890 and 2025,” Mr. Reynolds remarked. “It makes me wonder in what ways our humanity has evolved over the past 135 years and in which ways we are cemented in facing the same core issues.”
