HELLO, DOLLY!, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Michael Stewart from February 2 to 27, 1982 at the S.G.I.O. Theatre, Brisbane for the Queensland Theatre Company.
Directed by Alan Edwards; Musical Direction by Brian Stacey; Choreography by Hugh Munro; Set Design by James Ridewood; Costume Design by Peter Cooke; Lighting Design by James Henson; Assistant to the Director: Gregory Gesch; Stage Managed by Sussanne Humphries and Assistant Stage Managed by Jan Levi & Toby Simkin; Sound Operated by Les Alberts; Lighting Operated by David Malacari; Followspot by Christine Platzer; Repetiteur Philip Robertson; Assistant Choreography and Dance Captain Paul Atthow.
Starring Sheila Bradley (Dolly Gallagher Levi), Karen Crone (Ernestina), Stephen Haddan (Ambrose Kemper), Billy Forsythe (Horse, Band, Waiter, Polka Dancer), Terry Walduck (Horse, Band, Waiter, Polka Dancer), Paul Atthow (Coachman, Band, Polka Dancer), Rachel Crompton (Child), Danny Havas (Child), Jeff Ahern (Band,Waiter), Chris Maver (Band, Waiter, Polka Dancer), Dale Pengelly (Band, Shop Mover, Waiter, Policeman), David Clendinning (Horace Vandergelder), Barbara Fawcett (Ermengarde), Duncan Wass (Cornelius Hackl), Hugh Munro (Barnaby Tucker), Kevin Hides (Customer, Passer By, Stanley, Paper Hanger), Darien Sticklen (Customer, Passer By, Cook, The Judge), Anthony McGill (Instant Glee Club, Cook, Policeman), Peter Noble (Instant Glee Club, Head Waiter Rudolph), Mark Penman (Instant Glee Club, Cook, The Court Recorder), Sean Riordan (Instant Glee Club, Cook, Policeman), Christine O’Connor (Minnie Fay), Vicki Burns (Passer By), Margery Forde (Passer By, Polka Dancer), Petah Burns (Irene Molloy), Eugene Gilfedder (Shop Mover, Policeman), Kate Richter (Mrs Rose & Opera Guild Lady), Lesley Blanning (Polka Dancer), Sally Robertson (Polka Dancer), and Phyllis Wass (Polka Dancer).
Understudies included Karen Crone (Dolly Gallagher Levi), Darien Sticklen (Horace Vandergelder), Eugene Gilfedder (Cornelius Hackl), Chris Maver (Barnaby Tucker), Margery Forde (Irene Molloy), Vicki Burns (All other women’s roles) and David Napier (All other men’s roles).
Orchestra conducted by Brian Stacey, and included Ken Poggioli (Bass), Charles Bromley & Peter Done (Reeds), Malcolm Liddell (Trumpet), Tom Coyle (Trombone), Paul Pallister (Guitar/Banjo) and Geoff Proud (Drums).
And for the Queensland Theatre Company:
(collectively over my tenure)
Executive Staff: Alan Edwards, AM MBE (Founding Artistic Director); Joe MacColum / John Krummel OAM / Gregory Gesch (Resident Director); Peter Duncan* (Assistant Director); Arthur Frame AM (Production Manager); Gillian Coar (Executive Officer); Christine Walsh / Ken Kennett OAM (Public Relations & Publicity Officer); June Craw OAM (Finance and Business Officer); Lewis Savage (Ticketing & Subscriptions Officer); Helen Mayes (Clerical Assistant); Lloyd Nickson (Director, Theatre in Education); Richard Magnus (Fundraising Chairman); Diane Leith (Administration) and Susan Bonning / Jennie Lewis (Receptionist).
Production Staff: Graham Maclean / James Ridewood (Resident Designer); Bill Shannon / Beverley Hill (Design Assistant); Caroline Gyucha (Scenic Artist); James Henson (Lighting Designer); David Lees (Electrician); Michael Wormald / Gary Cameron / Paul Parkinson / David Palm (Properties); Howard Steele (Head Carpenter); Des Dougan / Peter Vosiliunas (Carpenter); Cornelis Boogaart* (Apprentice Carpenter); Marie Perry-Watson / Lexi Wright / Jay Mansfield-Askew / Cynthia Bowen (Wardrobe Supervisor); Ken Bushby / Thelma Cope / Meredith Fogg / Margaret Reeves / Danny Healy / Arlie McGill / Anne Long / Kerry Yates (Wardrobe); Ellen Kennedy / David McCrudden / Kit Oldfield / Patrick Whelan / Kristin Reuter / Jan Levi / Victor Ashelford / Colin Wilson / Barry Melville / Toby Simkin / Brian Barnes / Vito Arena / Peter Reeve± / Sussanne Humphries / Julianne White (Stage Management); Vicki Birch / Yvette (Capt) O’Brien (Production Secretary); Dawn Grieg (Wardrobe Hire) and Ivan/Gloria Pierce, Gregory Gesch & Derrick George (Photographers).
Representation: Yolande Bird / Diana Franklin (London Representative); Michael Menzies / Stuart Thompson (New York Representative) and John Krummel OAM (Sydney Casting & Repertoire Consultant).
S.G.I.O. Theatre Staff: Jim Wright (Manager); Alban Riley / Don Fergusson (Assistant Manager); Peter Petrovich / Ray Calcutt (Head Mechanist); Patrick (Paddy) Teuma / David Malacari (Head Electrician) and Dallas Black / Kay Fifas (Booking Office)
Albert Park Theatre Staff: Wayne McKenna (House Manager); Margo Morris (Box Office)
Associate Artists: Bille Brown AM; Carol Burns; Reginald Cameron OAM, Ivar Kants; Joe MacColum; Warren Mitchell; James Ridewood, Cliff Simcox; Babette Stephens AM MBE and Geraldine Turner OAM.
QTC Guild: Magda Wollner (Coordinator); Alice Beacroft, Joan Chamberlain, Bobbie Glyn Evans, Maureen Fallon, Sonja Farmer, Beryl Foote, Neil Fulwood, Dolores Garland, Elaine Heath, Edna Heathwood, Margaret Hill, Ena Huppert, June Jamieson, Eva Klug, Irene Lefman, Patrick Mellick, Hillary Mosten, Maureen Mortensen, Barbara Nielsen, Joyce Nixon Smith, Gloria Phillips, Vivienne Reddy, Marea Reed, Melina Reed, Margaret Robinson, Grace Reynolds, June Sheedy, Ann Shevill, Toby Simkin, Sybil Simpson, Elaine Skinner, Anne Smith and Jess Yeowart (Volunteers)
* Salaries were assisted by a special grant from the Theatre Board of the Australia Council, a statutory body of the Commonwealth Government.
± Services were provided by the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
^ Services were provided courtesy of the Queensland Theatre Orchestra
The Queensland Theatre Company acknowledged the financial assistance of the Queensland State Government and the Commonwealth Government through the Theatre Board of the Australia Council without which the continued operation of the Company would not have been possible. The Queensland Theatre Company was a founding member of CAPPA (Confederation of Australia Professional Performing Arts)
This golden era show has special meaning to me. My very first musical theatre experience was at the Kennedy Centre with Pearl Bailey in Hello, Dolly! After this QTC production, I went on to present the Broadway touring production in Vancouver of Hello, Dolly! starring Carol Channing. My friend Betty Buckley starred in the 2018/2019 Broadway tour of Hello, Dolly!, and it’s composer Jerry Herman, became a friend after conferring me with the title of China’s Drag Mame in 2004, which moniker lives on to this day.