A perfect match: 'Hello Dolly' opens Thursday in Millbrook

Looking for nights full of music, singing, dancing and laughter? Starting Thursday, Millbrook Community Players have the perfect match for you with “Hello Dolly.” 

It’s a big show with more than 30 in the cast, who are mostly newcomers to Millbrook Theater. Angie Mitchell, the show's musical director, said they’ve come together like a family. “It was like they dropped from heaven like a gift from God,” Mitchell said.

The production has a live orchestra directed by Jeremy Pyles, the director of music ministries at First United Methodist Church in Prattville and musical director of the Prattville Community Chorus. The orchestra be set up behind the audience in the back of the theater. 

"Hello Dolly" is being held over two weekends at the Millbrook Theater, 5720 Main St. Tickets are $12, and are available at millbrooktheater.com. Performances will be held on June 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday 2 p.m. matinees on June 23 and 30. 

Directed by Brady Walker and choreographed by Catherine Barlow, this production is set in 1890s New York. It’s from the book by Michael Sewart, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. It was based on the stage play “The Matchmaker” by Thornton Wilder.

“Our Dolly is Erika Hogge. She should step on stage on Broadway and not miss a beat,” Mitchell said. “She is amazing.” 

Dolly Levi is a widowed matchmaker, who has decided it’s time to marry again. She has an eye for feed store owner Horace Vandergelder (played by Lee Bridges), but goes after him in a roundabout way as a matchmaker. She introduces him to some odd choices. There’s Irene Molloy (played by Martha Wingfield), a hat store owner who hates hats. There’s also wealthy heiress Ernestina Money (played by Carol Majors). 

“But in the back of (Dolly’s) mind, she’s planning to marry Horrace herself,” Mitchell said. 

Dolly’s not the only one with matrimony on the mind. There’s several others who face their own obstacles on the way to wedded bliss. 

“It is so much fun, and I have been so impressed with this cast,” Mitchell said. 

In addition to her musical role, Mitchell stepped in to help with costuming. “Oh, my goodness. I didn’t know I was going to be sewing so much,” she said. 

Hello Dolly Cast

Erika Hogge - Dolly Levi - Erika is thrilled to be making her MCP debut! An avid fan of community theater, Erika’s past credits include: Cinderella, The Music Man, Sweeney Todd, The Sound of Music, Robert and Elizabeth, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and more. Although performing is her passion, nothing comes close to getting hugs from her babies – Ethan, Ashton, Megan, Owen, and the love of her life, Brian. BEEAMO FOREVER! 

Lee Bridges – Horace Vandergelder - Lee is making his second appearance in a production of Hello, Dolly!, having played Cornelius Hackl in 2004. Lee has performed in more than 100 productions at several theatres throughout the tri-county area. On the Millbrook stage, he played Joey in Sister Act and Marcellus in The Music Man. Some of his favorite roles are Adams in 1776, the Baker in Into the Woods, Garry in Noises Off and Will in Oklahoma!

Peyton Flournoy – Cornelius Hackl - Peyton has been active with theater for the past three years. He is excited to be in his first show with Millbrook Community Players. He is a sophomore at Huntingdon College, pursuing a Music Education Degree with a focus in Choral Directing.

Will Walker – Barnaby Tucker - Will is performing his first show with the Millbrook Community Players. He has been studying music for 7 years and musical theatre for 2 years.

Martha Wingfield - Irene Molloy – Martha is from Muscatine, FL. She has a bachelor's in vocal performance. She has traveled the world with her husband, Ben (with the US Airforce). She currently works at Faulkner University, instructs Jazzercise, and attends Hunter Hills church. Martha thanks her husband, Ben, for his support.

Laurel Bacon – Minnie Fay - Laurel is a rising senior at Stanhope Elmore High School.  This is her first production with the Millbrook Community Players and she is so excited to be part of the cast. Earlier this year she was in HONK! Jr at SEHS.  Laurel is a varsity cheerleader and loves to listen to music and spend time with her friends and at her church, Millbrook First UMC.

Connor Carraway - Ambrose Kemper - Connor was bitten by the acting bug as an infant. He has been in numerous productions with his favorite being The Narrator/Old Man in Alabama Christian Academy’s Into the Woods. A graduate of the University of Alabama where he played Tuba in the Million Dollar Band. Locally Connor has acted in several Alabama Dance Theatre and ASF’s Broadway South Productions.

Betsy Ellis - Ermengarde - Betsy’s from Bryant, AR. She and her husband moved here in January 2017. She works as a nurse practitioner in Montgomery. She is excited to be participating in hello Dolly as her first community theater experience.

Carol Majors - Ernestina\Chorus - Carol graduated from this school, Robinson Springs School. Her first big event on this stage was her 5-year-old dance recital. Carol has been dancing/singing/acting for 35 years in the tri county area. A retired Flight Attendant, she has more time for performing.

Leigh Bacon – Mrs. Rose\Chorus - Leigh lives with her family; husband Will, son William and daughter Laurel in Deatsville. She is performing for the first time in a long time and is excited to be in the cast with her daughter. Leigh works as a meteorologist for the State of AL-DEM and her family attends church at Millbrook First UMC. 

Michael Proper –Rudolph Reisenweber - Michael is excited to be on the Millbrook Community Players stage again. A couple of his recent roles have been in The Diary of Anne Frank and The Music Man. He would like to thank Brady for giving him this opportunity. He would also like to thank his wife Robyn and his family for their support.

Powell Franklin - Stanley\Chorus - Powell is a 6th grader at Millbrook Middle School and is extremely proud to be joining the cast of Hello Dolly! He has played several small roles in productions for his church and was last seen in It’s a Wonderful Life. 

Hudson Lee - Fritz\Chorus - Hudson's credits include: A Charlie Brown's Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life.

Nate Greenawalt - Harry\Chorus - Nate Greenawalt (Chorus) is participating in his 10th production here at MCP. A recent high school graduate, he works a full-time job at Tricord International.

Maggie Kervin - Louie\Chorus – Maggie is an 8th grader at Prattville Christian Academy. Some of her recent Theatre experiences: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Mulan, Cinderella, Alice in Winterland, Peter/Wendy, Willy Wonka, and Seussical. Maggie would like to thank Brady, Angie and Catherine for this amazing opportunity and Daniel Harms for helping her find her voice. 1 Corinthians 13:1-4

Vicki Moses- Danny\Chorus - Vicki Lives in Prattville and enjoys spending time with her family, especially her 5 grandchildren. She has performed with the MCP since 2011- South Pacific, Dixie Swim Club, Sister Act, Mama Won’t Fly and Bad Seed.

Amy Siwierka - Manny\Chorus - 

Amanda Obenauf - First Cook\Chorus - Amanda is a senior at SEHS, was also in the 2016 Millbrook Theatre performance of Lil Abner, and they starred as the main villain in Honk! Jr at the Stanhope Elmore High School Drama Club.

Bridget Wilson – Second Cook\Chorus- This is in Bridget’s first show ever here on the MCP stage! She lives in Millbrook and works at Stanhope Elmore High School.

Greg Fanning - Judge\Chorus - Greg's credits include- Harvey, Clue the Musical, Annie Warbucks, Li’L Abner, The Music Man, Diary of Anne Frank, You Can’t Take it with You, Sister Act and It’s a Wonderful Life.

Tammy H. Lee - Policeman\Chorus - Tammy is a mother to two sons, a step-son, and a great niece. She enjoys sewing, gardening, cooking, and camping with her family and friends. This is Tammy's first play.

Connie Morrow – Court Clerk\Recorder\Chorus - Connie loves to sing; and does so every chance she gets. She sings in her church choir and with The Montgomery Chorale. She also plays Trombone with a number of local groups, and is an Alumni of The Million Dollar Band. As a local lawyer & animal protection/rescue Mother, her favorite musical is Wicked. 

Caitlyn Whisnant - Paper Hanger\Chorus - Caitlyn is a Senior at PHS. Her credits include: Edith in Blithe Spirit, A Country Christmas Carol, Music Man, Sister Act, It’s a Wonderful Life & Makeup for Diary of Anne Frank.

Aimee Liles - Chorus - Aimee is a Prattville native who has dabbled in the performing arts for many years. She has been in numerous musicals and plays to include Little Shop of Horrors, Frankenstein, To Kill a Mockingbird, and It’s a Wonderful Life. She is a married mother of two grown children and enjoys reading, sewing, crafting, drawing, painting and spending time with family.

Lavonne Hart - Chorus - - Lavonne's credits include Sound of Music, Annie Warbucks, Li'l Abner, Music Man, Harvey, and Dixie Swim Club, and Sister Act.  Lavonne enjoys theatre but mostly identifies as a bibliophile, linguaphile and lifelong learner.

Lynn Fanning - Chorus -– Lynn has helped her husband behind the scenes many times. This is her second time on stage. Sister Act was her first.

Jennifer Whisnant - Chorus - Jennifer started doing plays with her daughter to be able to spend more time with her. Credits include: A Country Christmas Carol, Sister Act, It’s a Wonderful Life, Stage manager for Diary of Anne Frank & House manager for Music Man.

Madison Grimmer - Chorus - Madison loves to sing, but musicals are new to her, Hello Dolly being her first. She sends her regards towards Mr. Walker, the lovely director and an outstanding man, Jonee, the partner of Madison who plays her aunt and a woman of pure excellency, and her new family that supported her through all Hello Dolly Rehearsals.

Shannon Dukes - Chorus - Shannon is 19 years old and a 2018 graduate from Stanhope. She was in the advanced choir throughout high school. The plays she has been in include Cinderella, Charlie Brown Christmas, and The Music Man.

Ginger Collum – Chorus - Ginger’s first performance at MCP was in M*A*S*H. Other credits include: The Importance of Being Earnest, A Bad Year for Tomatoes, South Pacific, Father Knows Best, Miracle on 34th Street, Lil Abner, Sister Act, It’s A Wonderful Life and Independence Day at Happy Meadows. 

Joannie Deneve - Chorus - Joan is a wife, grandmother, teacher and author.  Joan has performed in MCP’s production of Arsenic and Old Lace and is thrilled to be back on stage as part of the chorus of Hello Dolly. 

Brett Ellis - Chorus - Brett is a transplant from Tennessee. He’s the youth and associate minister at Hunter Hills Church in Prattville… This is his first foray into community theater & has loved every minute!

Orchestra

Jeremy Pyles (orchestral director) - Jeremy is the Director of Music Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Prattville and Musical Director of the Prattville Community Chorus. He is excited to be making his debut with the Millbrook Theater.

Laura Bell (viola) - Laura has been assistant section leader of the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra for the past 14 seasons. Based in the Auburn area, she also a freelances playing violin and viola.

Julie Gunn (flute & piccolo) - Julie has been a member of the Prattville Pops for the past 12 years.  She is the secretary for the PHS Band.  This is her sixth time playing in the orchestra for the Millbrook Theater.

Steve Beck (clarinet) - Steve has played with several community music groups and church choirs. He is a Board Member of the Prattville Pops and this is his first musical with the Millbrook Theater.

Pam Smith (clarinet) - Graduated Stanhope 1980, 47 years playing clarinet, currently in Prattville Pops. Volunteers with exotic education animals at zoo & home. Lucky to have ten fingers.

Mikal Webb (alto saxophone) - This is the first show Mikal has played for with the Millbrook Theater. He is a recent graduate of Huntingdon College, and has been playing saxophone for 10 years. 

Bill Ficken (tenor saxophone) - Montgomery resident, retired, married to my sweetheart 58 years, 4 sons, 11 grands, 1 great, play alto/tenor sax with Upbeats and Capitol Sounds. 

David Bowen (trumpet) - Brass player with the Capitol Sounds, Prattville Pops and Snead State Community Bands.  Guitarist for the Up Beats jazz and big band group.

Eric Cleckler (trumpet) - Eric is performing his fifth musical with the Millbrook Theatre. Previous performances include South Pacific, Annie Warbucks, and The Music Man.

David Simpson (trumpet) - Second musical performance, the first for Millbrook.  Army Band solo trumpet player for over 20 years.  A member of the Prattville Pops.

Kenneth Cochran (trombone) - Hello Dolly marks Ken's 6th orchestra appearance with MCP, starting with South Pacific in July 2011.  He also plays in the orchestra for Frazer United Methodist Church in Montgomery.

Barbara Curry (trombone) - Barbara has been a member of the Prattville Pops for the past 11 years.  This is her third time playing in the orchestra for the Millbrook Theater.

Brian Davis (trombone) – Brian is a member of the Prattville Pops.  He is playing in his second musical with the Millbrook Theater.  Previous performance was The Music Man. 

Wade Hill (trombone) - Wade is a member of the Prattville Pops and plays in his church orchestra.  He played in the previous Millbrook Theater performances of State Fair and The Music Man.

Allen Goodwine (electric bass) - Allen recently relocated to our area from Birmingham, where he played in numerous musicals and other genres of music.  His wife, Deana, is also a musician and is the Director of the Autauga County Technology Center.

Marian Woodman (banjo & guitar) - Marian is a native of Wetumpka and has lived in the Millbrook area for almost 40 years. This is her first time playing in the orchestra for the Millbrook Theatre. 

Crew

Director: Brady Walker

Stage Manager: Alice Majors

Asst. Stage Manager: Tracey Maggard

Choreographer: Catherine Barlow

Set Design: Brady Walker

Music Director: Angie Mitchell

Conductor: Jeremy Plyes

Marketing: Jennifer Whisnant

Lights/Sound: Andrew Thayer

Construction: Dewayne Walker

Costuming: Angie Mitchell, Tara Fenn, Wanda Grant Harms, Barbara Cooper, Tammy Lee, Kimberly Griffin Kervin, and cast.