Theater News

Bette Midler Will Return to Broadway in Hello, Dolly!

Jerry Zaks will direct the revival of the 1964 Broadway classic.

Bette Midler will return to Broadway in a 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! directed by Jerry Zaks.
Bette Midler will return to Broadway in a 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! directed by Jerry Zaks.
(© David Gordon)

Producer Scott Rudin announced today that Bette Midler will return to Broadway in the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi in Michael Stewart's and Jerry Herman's musical Hello, Dolly! Directed by Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, the revival will begin previews on Broadway March 13, 2017, with an official opening night set for April 20, 2017.

"Many times through the years I've been asked about bringing back Hello, Dolly! — and it has always been, 'Who would be my dream Dolly?' — and though I've had literally dozens of names tossed at me, I knew that we needed more than just a wonderful singer or a wonderful actor, so I held on to the hope that she would also be a distinctly original persona," said Mr. Herman. "Who is out there that has the necessary stature, warmth, the incredible talent and ability, and especially the singular outsized personality that I was looking for in a twenty-first-century Dolly? Only one person: Bette Midler. Only Bette could bring Dolly brilliantly back to 'the lights of 14th Street!'"

"I am looking forward to portraying one of the most beloved characters in all of American musical comedy, Dolly Levi, born Gallagher, in Hello, Dolly!" said Midler. "I know I'm going to have the time of my life, and I am so glad to be under the wings of Scott Rudin as producer and Jerry Zaks as director. See you next year!"

Midler was most recently seen on Broadway in John Logan's solo play I'll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers in which she played the legendary Hollywood agent of the play's subtitle.

Based on Thornton Wilder's farce The Matchmaker, Hello, Dolly! first premiered on Broadway in 1964, starring Carol Channing in the title role. The most recent revival, in 1995, starred Channing in a return appearance. In addition to Channing, the role has been played by Pearl Bailey, Phyllis Diller, Betty Grable, Martha Raye, Ginger Rogers, Ethel Merman (in her last appearance on Broadway), and Mary Martin, who led the West End company.

Venue, ticketing information, and additional casting for the revival will be announced at a later date.

Check out fresh window art for the production below.

Production artwork for the 2017 Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler.
Window artwork for the 2017 Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler.