Hello, Creatives!
Southern Light reveal Hello, Dolly! creative team
The creative team behind Southern Light’s March 2018 production of Hello, Dolly! at the Edinburgh King’s has been revealed with Crawford Moyes taking over as Musical Director.
Andy Johnston will be returning to direct the company for the ninth time – and his 25th time directing a show at the King’s. Also returning is SLO’s long-standing choreographer Louise Williamson who will be providing the moves for the company for the 14th time.
Crawford Moyes has been involved in the musical theatre scene in Edinburgh since 1991 when he joined the Edinburgh Gang Show. He has provided musical direction for theatre companies across the country, orchestrations for the Edinburgh Gang Show and acted as a conductor and arranger for big bands and comedy and variety acts.
Hello, Dolly! opened on Broadway in 1964 wining a record-breaking ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical. It opened in London’s West End the following year, while the 1969 film adaptation was directed by Gene Kelly with Barbara Streisand staring as Dolly Levi, a meddlesome matchmaker in New York at the end of the 19th century.
The musical concerns the machinations of Dolly who is supposed to be finding a match for half-millionare Horace Vandergelder, but is intent on putting herself in the position. Along the way she succeeds in making a succession of other matches and ends up getting her man – and his money.
In a show which is bouncing with romance and energetic dancing, Jerry Herman’s music and lyrics include Call On Dolly, Put On Your Sunday Clothes, Before the Parade Passes By, and the show-stopping title number.
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Andy Johnston said: “Over the last few years, the company has tackled some hugely challenging shows and has grown and developed into a very exciting place to be.
“I’m equally delighted that next year’s show is one of the all-time classics – Jerry Herman’s Hello, Dolly!. The most recent revival, starring Bette Midler and David Hyde Pierce, is currently one of the hottest tickets on Broadway and has been nominated for ten Tony awards.
“This success shows there is still an appetite for these classic shows and I’m looking forward immensely to bringing some good old Broadway magic to The King’s!”
Choreographer Louise Williamson regards Hello, Dolly! as a favourite show and says she is very excited about getting the company dancing and moving in ways they never thought possible.
Williamson has worked extensively with Andy Johnston both with SLO and on the Edinburgh Gang Show. Coincidentally, it was in a production of Hello Dolly in Dunbar that she and Johnston first worked together.
Full details of auditions for the show will be announced at a later date.
Listing and Links
Hello, Dolly!
King’s Theatre, 2 Leven Street EH3 9LQ.
Tuesday 6 – Saturday 10 March 2018
Evenings: 7.30 pm; Matinee Sat: 2.30 pm.
Tickets and details: www.edtheatres.com/hellodolly.
Southern Light website: www.southernlightopera.co.uk
Southern Light Twitter: @SLO_Edinburgh
Southern Light Facebook: SouthernLightOpera.
ENDS
