Loyola Academy Presents: "Hello, Dolly!"

4/14/2025

Loyola Academy Department of Performing Arts and Thespian Troupe 4729 performed the musical Hello, Dolly! to a delighted audience on April 11–13. Set in the 1890s, Hello, Dolly! follows the spirited and resourceful matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi as she embarks on her most ambitious undertaking yet: securing a suitable wife for the wealthy and cantankerous Horace Vandergelder—while secretly planning to marry him herself. As Dolly makes her way from Yonkers to New York City, she leaves a trail of romantic mischief in her wake, influencing the lives of Horace’s clerks, a hopeful milliner, her assistant, and a pair of young sweethearts. Filled with charm, wit, and vibrant musical numbers, Hello, Dolly! is a heartwarming celebration of love, second chances, and the transformational power of one remarkable woman.

Jaqueline Willer '26, who starred as the titular character in Loyola's production, shared a bit about how she prepared for her role. "Although I questioned what parallels a teenage girl and a woman in her 50s could have, I slowly discovered that Dolly celebrates her womanhood through her struggles," she said. Jacqueline found a connection between Dolly's character arc and the lives of her own grandmothers, both of whom, like Dolly, are widowed. "I took the independence of my grandmothers and channeled that into my version of Dolly."

Congratulations to the cast, crew, and production staff who worked tirelessly to bring this wonderful story to the Loyola Academy community! View the full program here.

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