Olney Theatre Center Presents the Classic Musical Hello, Dolly!

The holiday season at Olney Theatre Center will sparkle a little brighter this year when the beloved musical Hello, Dolly! takes over the Roberts Mainstage from November 6 through January 4. The Tony-winning classic will feature two-time Helen Hayes Award-winner Nova Y. Payton as the irrepressible Dolly Gallagher Levi in a spectacular new production directed by Kevin S. McAllister, with choreography by Eamon Foley and music direction by Christopher Youstra.

Hello, Dolly! at Olney Theatre Center

A fixture of the American musical theatre canon, Hello, Dolly! tells the story of Dolly Levi, a spirited widow with a knack for matchmaking, meddling, and making things happen. From fixing marriages to finding jobs to orchestrating second chances, Dolly is a woman who can do it all—and she's determined to land herself a husband while she's at it. The show overflows with humor, romance, and dazzling musical numbers that have delighted audiences for decades. As Olney's Senior Associate Artistic Director Hallie Gordon notes, "Hello, Dolly! is a true classic of American musical theater that everyone should experience. Director Kevin McAllister, Music Director Chris Youstra, and Choreographer Eamon Foley are creating a vibrant production that honors the timeless story. While the show evokes a 'simpler' time when women were often relegated to being wives and homemakers, Dolly is a force of nature—she's out of this world. In the end, she gets exactly what she wants, spreading love and wealth as she goes."

Joining Payton is Moses Villarama (Here Lies Love), making his Olney debut as the curmudgeonly half-millionaire Horace Vandergelder. Michael Perrie Jr. (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and Rick DeVon Hall (Disney's Frozen) portray Cornelius and Barnaby, Vandergelder's bumbling clerks who head for adventure in New York City. Caitlin Brooke (Sister Act) and Alex De Bard (Frozen) take on the roles of hat shop owner Irene Molloy and her assistant Minnie Fay. The cast also includes Wood Van Meter, Anna Maria C. Ferrari, Montel B. Butler, and Karen Vincent, alongside a large ensemble of local and regional talent.

To make the show accessible for families, Olney Theatre has adjusted its curtain times—7:00 pm for evening performances and 1:00 pm for matinees. The production promises all the spectacle and joy that audiences have come to expect from Olney's holiday offerings, complete with lavish costumes, exuberant choreography, and a full orchestra bringing Jerry Herman's iconic score to life.

The creative team features Riw Rakkulchon (scenic design), Paris Francesca and Julie Cray-Leong (costumes), Rueben D. Echoles (wigs), Christina Watanabe (lighting), and Matthew Rowe (sound). The production is stage-managed by Ben Walsh with Fior Tat and Kate Kilbane as assistant stage managers.

Founded in 1938, Olney Theatre Center has evolved from a summer playhouse into one of the region's leading year-round producing theaters. With Hello, Dolly! headlining its holiday season, the company continues its tradition of creating unforgettable, family-friendly entertainment that brings the community together through the magic of live performance.

Performances run November 6, 2025 - January 4, 2026, at the Roberts Mainstage, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD. Tickets range from $27-$112. To see all the show time go to the Hello, Dolly! page.