For the first time since 2019, Hollis Brookline High School will be presenting an in-person full feature musical, Hello, Dolly! The show is a classic upbeat and lighthearted comedy musical featuring main character Ms. Dolly Levi. Played by HBHS Senior Victoria Madsen, Dolly is an esteemed socialite who has a knack for matchmaking. After the death of her husband, she becomes determined to find the right match for herself and meets some interesting people along the way.

The 1964 show is set in an old-timey small town where everyone knows each other. Sound familiar? The show was specifically chosen for its resemblance to our own local community. Meant to be an uplifter after the past two years of lockdowns and restrictions, the show will remind you that there really is no place like home.

Hello, Dolly! will be HBHS graduate Dylan Silcox’s directorial debut. Influenced by his own background of joining theater in his junior year at HBHS, he was inspired to “give other people this experience and the opportunity to express themselves,” something that he so appreciated when he was a student. His favorite part of directing the play this year was being able to create an atmosphere that allowed students to relax, do theater, and ultimately have fun.

Mr. Silcox has encouraged and challenged the general production crew to direct their own work in smaller, more individual groups. From his own experiences, he knows that “theater is a great way to learn a bit of everything.” Tech crew are exposed to tools, electricity, and audio, and actors read and become immersed in different texts. 

While the actors up on stage may grab the crowd’s attention, the backstage crew is what makes all of it possible. They are assigned to crews for makeup, paint, set and stage work, tech, sound, and more. An incredible amount of time and effort is required behind the scenes to bring a show like this to life.

But make no mistake, the actors are coming in for rehearsals three times a week for up to 2½ hours a day. By the time “tech week” hits, the week leading up to the play in which the production rehearsal kicks into overdrive, students are rehearsing four to five hours each day, five days a week. Even though it is quite a lot of work, one student says, “It’s amazing to be back on stage after almost two years of having to do theater in Zoom.”   

Show times are as followed:

Fri Apr 1 at 7 PM

Sat Apr 2, at 7 PM

The theater will be at half capacity and the gym will be used as a second theater where the show will be live-streamed. Masks are optional. Ticket costs are $16 for adult/general, $12 for student/staff, and $20 for a Ghost Light supporter ticket (standard + a small donation that will go directly to the HBHS theater department).

Purchase tickets at https://hbhs.booktix.com/index.php