SWEET, CHARMING, AND BRIMMING WITH LIFE,
HELLO, DOLLY! IS MUSICAL COMEDY HEAVEN

It’s always extraordinary to hear a live orchestra in a musical these days — a rare and exhilarating luxury that immediately elevates the experience. Under the crisp and buoyant baton of Dennis Castellano, Musical Theatre West’s Hello, Dolly! fills the Carpenter Performing Arts Center with a sound so rich and vibrant it’s practically its own character. Jerry Herman’s songs — joyous, witty, perfectly rhymed, and utterly unimprovable — burst forth with the kind of color and warmth that remind you why this classic endures.

At its core, Hello, Dolly! follows Dolly Gallagher Levi, the indomitable matchmaker determined to fix everyone else’s love life while arranging her own. Tami Tappan Damiano (Dolly) and David Engel (the handsomest Horace Vandergelder I’ve ever seen), both seasoned MTW veterans, bring undeniable professionalism and polish to their roles. Unfortunately, neither creates a particularly distinctive character; their performances are straightforward and pleasant but lack the spark that might have made librettist Michael Stewart’s already funny book even funnier. Still, they move the story along with style and poise, and boy can Damiano belt!

The production itself is a confection. Bruce Brockman‘s sets — more candy-coated than big Broadway — give the show a charming, storybook feel, particularly during “Put On Your Sunday Clothes,” complete with a delightfully dancing horse. And the use of giant backdrops elicit a feel of Vaudeville, which was going strong during Dolly’s era. Dixon Reynold‘s costumes, as pretty as they are individually, look rented rather than custom-built, and sometimes it’s just a riot of mismatched pastels that at times clash more than they coordinate, but that hardly matters when the ensemble wearing them radiates such spirit.

Hello, Dolly! has always been life-affirming, but this staging leans into that spirit. When Cornelius echoes Irene’s line that the world is full of wonderful things, it lands like a gentle reminder from Our Town’s Thornton Wilder, whose The Matchmaker inspired this musical: in times like these, it’s easy to dwell on what’s wrong instead of recognizing the beauty we still have. More than once, the simplicity of that message — along with the production’s sincerity — proved unexpectedly moving.

The supporting couples are perfectly cast. Robert Pieranunzi (Cornelius) and Anna Mintzer (Irene) have effortless chemistry; their duet “It Only Takes a Moment” glows with tender authenticity. Mintzer’s melancholic rendition of “Ribbons Down My Back” is quietly heartbreaking. Benjamin Raanan (Barnaby) and Natalie Holt MacDonald (Minnie Fay) are pure delight, bringing youthful energy and comedic charm to every scene. The quartet’s “We’ve Got Elegance,” which opens Act Two, is an explosion of joy that sets the tone for the second half.

Choreographed by Cheryl Baxter, “When You’re Dancing” provides one of the most magical surprises of the night, as local young thespians join the cast for a carousel-like swirl of motion so transporting you’ll want to pack your bags and move to Yonkers permanently (circa 1890, of course). And in the Harmonia Gardens sequence, the famous dancing waiters perform their Gallop with such exuberant precision that it practically raises the roof.

Director Cynthia Ferrer keeps the production moving briskly, balancing its humor and heart with genuine affection for the material. Before the performance, longtime Artistic Director Paul Garman noted that when he began producing for MTW, a full show cost about $2,500; Hello, Dolly! now rings like Horace’s cash register at roughly $850,000. It’s a staggering figure — and a reminder of both how expensive and how essential live theatre has become. Judging by the nearly full house last Sunday, audiences are still eager to support it.

Musical Theatre West’s Hello, Dolly! is a confectionary delight — sweet, sincere, and brimming with the kind of optimism we all need right now. See it before this parade of love passes you by.

photos courtesy of MTW

Hello, Dolly!
Musical Theatre West
Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St. in Long Beach
ends on November 2, 2025
for tickets, visit visit Musical

for more shows, visit Theatre in LA