Full Cast Set for Dr. Dolittle Tour, Starring Tommy Tune

Dee Hoty will join Tommy Tune in the new national tour of Dr. Dolittle, which will begin on January 17 at the Hobby Center in Houston, Texas. Dates in Los Angeles, Cleveland, St. Louis, Chicago, and other cities have already been confirmed. A previous tour of the show was aborted after a two-month run; it starred Tom Hewitt in the title role, which will now be played by Tune, and Nancy Anderson as Emma Fairfax, the part that will now be played by Hoty.

Tune is also directing the show, which will feature choreography by Patti Colombo, costumes by Ann Hould-Ward and Dona Granata, set design by Kenneth Foy, lighting design by Ken Billington, and puppet designs by Michael Curry. The cast includes Joel Blum, Amanda Braddock, Jessica Leigh Brown, Aaron Burr, Kristin Dawn Calgaro, Matthew Crowle, Sandi DeGeorge, Jack Doyle, Mike Erickson, Joe Jackson, Lesley M. Klose, Scott Leindecker, Allan Mangasser, Amanda Rose, Jonathan Sandler, Sarah Stiles, Sally Ann Swarm, Elisa Van Duyne, David F.M. Vaughn, Erin Webley, Steven Wenslawski, and Jessica Wu. Adam Cates and Denise Payne are the swings.

Based on the stories by Hugh Lofting and the 1967 film that starred Rex Harrison, Dr. Dolittle has a book, music, and lyrics by Oscar winner Leslie Bricusse. The score includes the hit song “Talk to the Animals.”

Tune has won nine Tony Awards for acting, direction, and choreography. Among his Broadway credits are Seesaw, Nine, My One and Only, The Will Rogers Follies, and Grand Hotel. He is also the recipient of the National Medal of the Arts, eight Drama Desk Awards, two Obie Awards, and two Fred Astaire Awards. Hoty received Tony Award nominations for her work in The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public, The Will Rogers Follies, and Footloose. She has also starred on Broadway in City of Angels, Me and My Girl, and Mamma Mia!