The Annie Russell Theatre at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, concludes its 83rd season with the iconic Hello, Dolly! by Michael Stewart and Jerry Herman. Set in the 1890s, Hello Dolly! transports us to the era of Annie Russell’s heyday, and the time period is not the only similarity to be found between Ms. Russell and the beloved matchmaker Dolly Levi.

Annie Russell, sweetheart of the British and American stage, spent the later part of the 19th century splitting her time between London and a blossoming New York City. She would have spent time roaming streets much like the scenic reproductions currently being built on her stage, and, like Dolly Levi (played by Jessica Raspolich ’18), Ms. Russell was an advocate for women’s independence and issues of class. “Dolly is a force!” says Jessica Raspolich, the second-year student who won the hallowed role after a competitive audition process.

Jennifer Cavenaugh, the Chair of Theatre and the Interim Dean of Arts and Sciences at Rollins, directs the classic. She says, “Hello, Dolly! is based on the Thornton Wilder play, The Matchmaker, and The Matchmaker itself harkens back to earlier plays, including Moliere’s comedy, The Miser. So the musical is an accumulation of different plays through different times that became a classic in its own right. It’s the kind of play I think Annie would have liked. It has a strong central female character, and takes on issues of class, women’s independence, and a woman’s ability to choose who she would marry and when she would marry.”

The talented faculty designers at the Annie Russell Theatre are charged with bringing the world of 1890s New York to life. “We’re having a blast with the time period,” says Costume Designer Seth Schrager. “For women, that meant the ‘S’ curve of the corset, bun pad, and bustle.” And of course, hats. Graduating senior Angelica Trombo is designing and fabricating the ornate hats required for the production. “Millinery is a lost art,” she says. “I wanted to add something unique to my skill set.”

Set Designer Lauren Cushman pored over images of late 19th century New York City to design the many elements that compose Dolly’s world, including two immense hand-painted drops. “Hello, Dolly! is a dance,” says Cushman. “There’s a real flow to the script and the music. This massive set, spanning many locations, had to follow suit. Transitions will be exposed, but seamless. For example, as the train station comes in, you’ll be able to see the feed store going out through the windows.”

The production, opening April 15 and running through April 23, is the first official co-production between Rollins’ Department of Music and the Department of Theatre and Dance. And certainly it’s the classic songs that bring patrons back to this title time and again: “Before the Parade Passes By,” “Put On Your Sunday Clothes,” “Ribbons Down My Back,” and the unforgettable title song … “Hello Dolly.”

The Annie Russell Theatre, expertly preserved and restored to its 1932 brilliance, was built by Mary Louise Curtis Bok Zimbalist, of the philanthropic family behind Bok Tower Gardens. Ms. Bok and Ms. Russell were great friends, and Annie moved to Central Florida to head Rollins’ fledgling theatre department at Ms. Bok’s suggestion. She was wooed by both the promise of sunshine and the opportunity to select her own roles. Annie often shared that she was not a fan of plays for “the tired businessman.” Cavenaugh explains: “By ‘tired businessman,’ Annie meant someone who comes to the theatre obligatorily and who wasn’t being asked to think much. Annie loved ‘thinking plays.’”

"One of the things that might surprise people about Dolly is her monologue in the final moments of the play," says Cavanaugh. "There’s a lot of depth there.”  In those final moments, Dolly shares a piece of advice with the wealthy Horace Vandergelder (played by James Blaisdell ’17): “Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around, encouraging young things to grow.”

With only eight performances of this classic Broadway Musical, please call 407.646.2145 or visit rollins.edu/annierussell to secure your seat. Tickets are $20, with discounts for students and seniors. 

Chelsea Hilend, Guest Reporter, Florida Arts