Hello, Dolly! to star Imelda Staunton and run at the Adelphi Theatre

## Imelda Staunton to headline *Hello, Dolly!* showing at the Adelphi Theatre! Following recent news that **Imelda Staunton** would be starring in series 5 and 6 of ***The Crown*** on Netflix, the former ***Harry Potter*** actress has now been confirmed to be starring in the West End revival of *Hello, Dolly!.* The production is to be directed by **Dominic Cooke** and **opens on 11** August at the [**Adelphi Theatre in London**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/3/adelphi-theatre.aspx) where it will run for a 30-week season** until 6 March 2021**. (Press night is scheduled for Thursday, 27 August 2020). Joining Staunton in the London cast of *Hello, Dolly!* will be **Jenna Russell** ([***The Bridges of Madison County***](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/news/the-bridges-of-madison-county-cast-joining-jenna-russell-announced), *Fun Home*). The musical features choreography by **Bill Deamer**, musical supervision by **Nick Skillbeck**, and design by **Rae Smith**. On being cast for the role of Dolly, Imelda Staunton said: “*Well, I’m delighted and daunted in equal measure to be doing a new production of Hello, Dolly! in London next year. I am so excited to be working again with Dominic Cooke, Michael Harrison and David Ian, and we all can’t wait to bring Hello, Dolly! *—* which is a truly joyous show* —* back to the West End after all these years."* The new production of *[**Hello, Dolly! The Musical**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/4111/hello-dolly-tickets.aspx) *will not only reunite Staunton with Dominic Cooke (*Follies*), but also with producers **David Ian** and **Michael Harrison**. The trio last collaborated on the [**Savoy Theatre**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/73/savoy-theatre.aspx) production of *Gypsy, *which notably won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival as well as Best Actress In A Musical for Staunton's performance in the role of Momma Rose. Further *Hello, Dolly! *casting will be announced in due course. ### Spotlight on Imelda Staunton **Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton, CBE **is a highly-prolific, London-born actress who began her career in repertory theatre before branching out into major West End productions, film, and television. Her most notable stage credits include* A Chorus of Disapproval *(1985), *Entertaining Mr Sloane* (2009), *Good People* (2014), *Guys and Dolls* (1996), *Gypsy* (2016), *Into the Woods* (1991), *Sweeney Todd* (2013), *The Beggar's Opera* (1982), *The Corn is Green* (1985), *The Wizard of Oz* (1987), and [***Uncle Vanya***](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/4343/uncle-vanya-tickets.aspx) (1988). Staunton's most notable film credits include the voice of Bunty in *Chicken Run* (2000), her multi-award-nominated performance in the lead role for *Vera Drake* (2004), and her role opposite **Hilary Swank** in *Freedom Writers *(2007), in which she played Margaret Campbell, an evil education department chair at a troubled school in Los Angeles. Her portrayal of the character in *Freedom Writers *greatly mirrored her performance in the role of Dolores Umbridge in *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix* (2007), as both characters were in positions of educational power and largely hated by the protagonists in their respective stories. Other film credits of Imelda Staunton's include Mrs Joan Blatherwick in *Nanny McPhee* (2005), the voices of Tall Flower Faces in *Alice in Wonderland* (2010), and Knotgrass in *Maleficent: Mistress of Evil* (2019) while her most notable TV credits include Alma Hitchcock in* The Girl* (2012), an episode of *Doctor Who *(2011), and, most recently, six episodes of* A Confession* (2019). ### About *Hello, Dolly! The Musical* *Hello, Dolly!* was adapted from** Thornton Wilder**'s play *The Matchmaker *and received its world premiere on Broadway over 50 years ago. It tells the story of a matchmaker and socialite named Dolly Gallagher Levi who travels to Yonkers to find a suitor for the penny-pinching Horace Vandergelder — her toughest client yet. That is, until she decides to find a match for herself! Featuring a book by **Michael Stewart **and** **timeless music and lyrics by **Jerry Herman**, *Hello, Dolly!* includes such classic earworms as "Put On Your Sunday Clothes", "Ribbons Down My Back", "Before the Parade Passes By", "Elegance", "Hello Dolly" and "It Only Takes A Moment" that will have you humming for days. ### Hello, Dolly! tickets on sale 27 November 2019! Don't miss out on the star-studded production of *Hello, Dolly!* at [**The Adelphi**](https://www.londontheatredirect.com/venue/3/adelphi-theatre.aspx) next summer!

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