Hello, Dolly drops full cast led by Imelda Staunton for West End run

Following news of Olivier winner Imelda Staunton's casting as the lead, the musical has now released its full cast and crew list. It premieres on July 6 and opens on July 18, booking through 14 September.

The musical is based on Thornton Wilder's farcical comedy The Merchant of Yonkers (1938). It was adapted into a book by Michael Stewart with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. The original West End production of Hello, Dolly!, starring Mary Martin, premiered at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in 1965. Its enduring popularity has seen it revived several times on West End, with the latest production at the London Palladium being the third revival.

Put on your Sunday clothes

Hello, Dolly! follows the titular matchmaker on her quest to find a suitable match for the miserly "half-millionnaire" Horace Vandergelder. Staunton is set to star as Dolly Gallagher Levi while Vandergelder will play Andy Nyman. The full cast includes fellow Olivier winners Jenna Russell and Tyrone Huntley as Irene Molloy and Barnaby Tucker, respectively. Harry Hepple also stars as Cornelius Hackl and Emily Lane takes on the role of Minnie Fay. The Tony-winning musical has tapped Dominic Cooke to direct.

The musical is a classic and a fan-favorite, evidenced by how beloved it is among critics and audiences. It has seen success in every format, including on both Broadway and West End stages, a Louis Armstrong album, and a Gene Kelly-directed and Barbra Streisand-led film. With a strong crew at its helm and an equally gifted cast at the forefront, the latest production is sure to be a hit.

Stay tuned for tickets to Hello, Dolly!, premiering on West End this July.