Harvest Christian Academy to put on 'Hello Dolly!' musical
The Harvest Christian Academy theater arts department welcomes audiences to their captivating spring musical "Hello Dolly!"
Performances will be 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 8-9, and 10 a.m. Saturday, March 11, in the Worship Center of Harvest Bible Chapel, 1000 N. Randall Road in Elgin.
Tickets may be purchase for $12 online at www.harvestchristianacademy.org/dolly or $14 at the door.
The musical is based on the life of tenacious Dolly Levi - a self-declared, professional meddler and matchmaker played by senior Paige Abbatacola. Making it clear she is determined to match herself with wealthy, "half-a-millionaire" Horace Vandergelder, played by senior Andrew Depledge, Dolly works her plan to become his wife while trying to find wives for Horace's two clerks Cornelius Hackl (junior Sam Jenkins) and Barnaby Tucker (freshman Micah Steiner) in addition to pairing his weepy niece, Ermengarde (senior Emma Green), with a struggling artist named Ambrose (freshman Noah Depledge). But compromising her plan, Horace has actually employed Dolly to help him marry New York City hat-shop owner Irene Molloy played by senior Olivia Williams.
Through a series of comedic acts with glorious singing and dancing, the audience is held in suspense as to who will end up with whom in the end. Will Dolly get Horace? Will Horace get Irene? What will happen to poor Ermengarde? A riveting tale of how one woman with an eye to connect potential mates will come to find herself entangled in the glorious mess of relationships as well.
"My favorite part about playing Dolly is being able to dig into the complexity of her character," says Abbatacola. "We see Dolly in two lights: her strength and wit but then also her tenderness and her longing for hope. The way she commands the stage and then becomes vulnerable has been so interesting and fun to explore." Freshman Micah Steiner also expresses how playing a new role has challenged him. "Playing Barnaby has been hard because I'm not a very expressive person, but it has really helped me learn about different types of characters and how to portray them."
Being a musical with complex singing and dancing, the cast has been taught by choreographer Risa Becker, and coached on vocals by HCA's music teacher Naomi Allen. Directed by HCA's theater arts Department director, Sara Yun, the musical gives her a chance to share her expertise and love of the theater with the next generation. "I have enjoyed watching the students experience and discover what an hilariously fun classic this is with great musical numbers."
With actors ranging in age from seniors in high school all the way down to fourth grade, it's a production for the whole family to come out and enjoy!