‘Hello Dolly!’ opens Friday at Welk Theatre

The classic match-making musical “Hello Dolly!” is coming the Welk Resort Theatre on Friday.

The show will run for 13 weeks and close on Sunday, Nov. 15. Performances will be 1 and 8 p.m. Thursday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets are $48; you can add a pre-show buffet lunch, brunch or dinner starting at $19 more. Tickets are available by calling 1-888-802-7469 or online at www.welkresorts.com.

“This is the classic ‘Hello Dolly!’ with all the characters everyone knows and loves,” said Ray Limon, the show’s director. “It’s basically a love story, a classic musical comedy.”

“Hello Dolly!” tells the story of match-maker Dolly Levi, who is searching for a husband for herself while matching up several other unusual couples, including a rich widow with a feed store clerk and a poor artist with the niece of rich Horace Vandergelder, the man she intends to match with herself.

The show stars Broadway veteran Cynthia Ferrer as Dolly Levi and Randy Doney, a professional dancer who has performed on the Carol Burnett Show, as Horace Vandergelder.

The cast also includes Scott Arnold as Cornelius; Andrew Koslow as Barnaby; Charlene Koepf as Molloy; Bailey Sonner as Minnie; Jeni Baker as Ermengarde; Fisher Kaake as Ambrose; and Catie Marron as Ernestine. Appearing in the ensemble are Tara Shoemaker, Stephanie Wolfe, AJ Maynes, Jacob Narcy, John Wescott, Derrick Jaques, Jan Colby and Gabriel Navarro.

Featured in “Hello Dolly!” will be all of the show’s classic hit songs, including “Put On Your Sunday Clothes,” “Before The Parade Passes By,” “It Takes A Woman” and the title song, “Hello Dolly!”

Limon praised the show’s big production values and beautiful costumes. “It’s very big and lavish,” said Limon. “That’s the only way to do (“Hello Dolly!”). Producer Josh Carr really pushed the budget. The show is going to look like a million bucks.”

Limon also praised the show’s dancing, calling it “wonderful.” “The waiter’s gallop in the restaurant is very athletic,” he said. “It’s a showstopper. There’s lots of music, a lot of singing and dancing. There isn’t much (spoken dialogue] in the show.”

“Hello Dolly!” is an all-ages show and is family-friendly. “This is a show for all ages,” said Limon. “It has a mature couple, young couples, something for everyone. If you like great singing, dancing and costumes, you’ll love this show. It’s all-ages and has nothing that will offend. It’s a fun night at the theater.”