Broadway star returns to the Mid-South, graces Orpheum stage in ‘Hello, Dolly!’

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Whether it’s the storyline, hilarious script or intricate costumes, The Broadway Musical ‘Hello, Dolly!’ is sure to turn heads.

“Its two hours of just joy and fun, and who doesn’t need that right now,” said Analisa Leaming, actress.

The show centers around Dolly Levi, a strong-willed, widowed matchmaker who travels from New York City to Yonkers to find a wife for a wealthy store clerk Horace Vandergelder.

Leaming plays Irene Molloy -- one of the women Dolly tries to match with Vandergelder.

"She's not some woman that's letting people decide her fate, she's in charge, she's feisty and playful and really wants to have an adventure,” Leaming said.

The show's Memphis stop is extra special for Leaming who studied vocal arts at the University of Memphis.

“I saw Les Miserables here twice when I was in college, so to now be on the stage is really cool."

Something else that’s cool -- the hats in Hello, Dolly!

Leaming's character is a hat maker, and she gave WMC Action News 5’s Arianna Poindexter a behind the scenes look at some of the intricate designs.

"In this time period hats were a status symbol, so the more things you had on your hat, the wealthier of a woman that you are."

The hats are big, bright, and decked out with everything from ribbons and flowers to feathers and even birds.

Emily Baldwin, Assistant Wardrobe Supervisor for the musical, says there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes to make sure costumes are both functional and reflective of the period.

"This change is about 90 seconds so getting into that, we have the buttons on the front that make it look like it's time period so we can get that on her really quickly,” Baldwin said.

Leaming says she hopes everyone comes to see the show and walks away with a renewed prospective.

"To not let the parade pass you by, and get out there and have an adventure, rejoin the human race.”

Hello, Dolly! runs through Sunday, Dec. 22 at the Orpheum Theatre.

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