why I'm excited about HELLO, DOLLY! finally coming back to the West End 

Here’s one for ya, mate. I played Barnaby when I was 17 in the world tour with several Dollies, including American icons Mary Martin, Betty Grable, Eve Arden, and Phyllis Diller. I’m a big fan of your show.

The coming back that made me book a plane ticket to get back to England

I don’t remember too much about it but I remember seeing Dora Bryan playing Dolly. Imelda Staunton never disappoints so I’m looking forward to it.

I was like you-my knowledge was limited to the film. Spent the summer in NY in 2018, and got to see the revival twice, once with Bernadette Peters and the second with Bette Middler. I sobbed both times during the final chorus of "Put On Your Sunday Clothes," purely because of the magic of theatre. I'd really love to come over to the UK to see this new production ETA: that Sweeney Todd revival was what got me into Sweeney

I played Irene Molloy in my middle school production. 😂 My Cornelius Hackl was my first kiss!

One more Dolly note...Mary Martin was Dolly on the West End in 1965. The cast album from this production is wonderful.

"Just Leave Everything To Me" was the closest Jerry Herman ever wrote a lyrical patter song on the level of Sondheim.

When I saw Donna (who was a DREAM) the tears fell like a waterfall when the chorus came out in Sunday clothes. I was surprised when I read that they will use projections in London .

So looking forward to this! Great to see you at the launch!

Thrilled to see Jodie cast in this and it would be so exciting to see her as the alternate!! But as a HUGE kathy and stella fan I have to say I’m more than a teeny bit sad not to be seeing her again as Felicia, she was so iconic in that role, it was like it was made for her!!

Another great video & I'm excited as you (we also bought tickets for the production rudely disrupted by Covid!). It is a "classic show" which I performed in as a teenager in an 'amateur' production before going to drama school. Shout out to your fab outfit as I was in 'The Waiter's Gallop' (I couldn't do that routine now aged 56 😂 Having seen Imelda in Sweeney Todd & Gypsy, I'm sure she'll bring her unique take to this. (Her Mamma Rose in Gypsy was the best I've seen, out of many great performances) And a stellar supporting cast, including the fab Jenna Russel and other names you mention. So, if anyone's questioning a "classic musical revival" I'd say try it. (Mickey is right that there hasn't been one in decades, so don't miss your chance.) As an aside, the Palladium is an exciting venue choice. My husband and I had our Civil Partnership there in 2006. Coincidentally, we will spend our 33rd Anniversary at Mickey Joe Live as we got 2 of the last remaining tickets. Another thing to be excited about & hope to meet you and Aaron in person finally.

Got to see Dolly in NYC with Pearl Bailey - it was wonderful and she was amazing!

As I had bought a ticket for the production in 2020, I was excited to see it finally returning. I saw Imelda Staunton and told her that I had originally bought as ticket in 2020 and I had re-booked. She gave me a big grin and a thumbs up.

My favorite of the "old timey" musicals. I've seen it multiple times and it never gets old (even when performed my hopelessly young high schoolers). I saw Channing on her last revival in the 90s, but my favorite Dolly was, hands down, Betty Buckley in the recent national tour. It is a show that works better the older Dolly and Vandergelder are. A widow and a widower pushing their way back into life before the . . . . well, you know the song.

You look so sophisticatedly handsome in that red tuxedo! ❤️

I saw Betty Buckley on the North America Tour of "Hello, Dolly!" in Boston. Honestly, it was one of my favourite pieces of theatre I've ever seen. The train appearing on stage during "Sunday clothes" was breathtaking and a lot of tears were shed!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE this show and score!

Actually Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway appeared in Hello, Dolly! at the St. James in 1968. The company went on tour in 1969. For some strange reason this run is not included in Wikipedia. It was quite successful. The stage show wasn't a big hit until Louis Armstrong recorded the title song. That's why he makes a cameo appearance in the film.

Just wanna say, Jerry Herman is an underrated musical theater composer/lyricist.

Ive seen Hello Dolly with Carol Channing and Bette Midler, as well as Streisand on film ( believe it or not, she's third place in comparison), so i personally have a quite high standard for that musical. It requires a mego talented actress/diva to elevate the production and, honestly couldnt imagine most younger stars/divas rising to the occasion...then you said Imelda Staunton....and OMG, I immediately wanted to see this production myself!!! She is so brilliant and has a presence that this production demands! This is not just a musical, but a full star/diva vehicle that falls apart without a Dolly worthy of this grandiose diva role that also has such emotional notes. I wish i could see her in the west end!

Caroline Schermerhorn Astor (Sonna) as Dolly Levy would be something to see. I first saw Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake which was a tour de force. I would love to see Dolly bc I have only see Barbra Streisand inI the film which I loved loved loved. Huge Streisand fan here.

You’ve convinced me! I’m going!

Omg…that spitcurl!!!!!

Am really noy sure about this musical but have got tickets for Imelda Staunton. I just can't miss her. Hoping I will love it.

Just booked tickets for this in August. Also originally had tickets for its launch in September 2020 before the pandemic, was supposed to be for my mum's 60th, 4 years late is better than never!

I got to see Carol Channing on her final US tour. It was directed & costarred Leroy Reams to replicate the original staging & designs. I adored her charming performance but because of her age, they found creative ways to have her sitting down through most of the show, yet she was more energized than some younger performers on their feet.

I saw Carol Channing play Dolly on one of her last national tours.... amazing! And recently I saw Bette Midler play Dolly on Broadway.... Bette brought down the house even before she opened her mouth... also amazing!

Interesting. Thanks!

Ok, you've sold me - I was not convinced

I was fortunate enough to see Bette Midler (amazing) in the role 3 times, Donna Murphy, Bernadette Peters, Carolee Carmello (twice) and Jessica Sheridan (Betty Buckley’s understudy (also amazing) i also saw Karen Ziemba and the incredible Carol Channing. I love Imelda, excited to see what she brings to the role! ❤️ Also, our dog’s name is Dolly 😂❤

As Imelda and Tyrone are two of my favourite performers, I will definitely be seeing this x I played Irene Molloy about 10 years ago now and Elegance is such a fun number ! I would have given my right arm to see Bette Middler and Charlue Stemp on Broadway 😍

Pearl Bailey first did Dolly in 1968. It was my first Broadway show. The bar was set pretty high for me! 1975 was a revival of a revival. I saw Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters more recently. Bernadette was brilliant.

Tickets booked….hadn’t spotted the link to Kathy and Stella star which I saw at HOME in Manchester

I know “put on your Sunday clothes” and “it only takes a moment” from WALL.E and that is all I know of hello dolly

Very exciting for Mickey Jo to be taking us into the GOLDEN AGE!! It's amazing to hear a young person discover Hello Dolly!. It was so much a part of my growing up - mainly because of the film and its soundtrack. It's hard to believe I didn't see it on stage until the Regent's Park production in 2009 (Samantha Spiro), then at Leicester Curve in 2013 (Janie Dee replacing Caroline O'Connor). I hope Mickey Jo is aware of the whole Ethel Merman/Mary Martin background to the original production and can educate everyone. Are any of the additional Merman numbers going to be used at the Palladium? Will 'Penny In My Pocket' be included (it was cut before Broadway). It's also fascinating to note the origins of Thornton Wilder's play 'The Matchmaker' (1954) and the 19th Century European sources, which include an Austrian play (1842) which Tom Stoppard developed into 'On The Razzle' (National Theatre, 1981, with Felicity Kendal as the Barnaby character). I cannot wait.

i saw Bette Midler as Dolly in 2017 on Broadway......Amazing. Open your heart, I think you will love this show. Looking forward to your review.

Hopefully, this production will do well enough so that it will inspire the producers to film it and share it with the rest of the world! Imelda Stanton will be superb as "Dolly", and will leave a lasting impression!!

The show is great. And there have been tonnes of tour versions. Shocking that you haven't seen any of them!

I saw Phyllis Diller of all people with Richard Deacon at the St James theater in 1968. And she was good. Also saw Bernadette Peters in the recent revival. She was amazing

I've heard of an Italian version of Dolly that opened with Just Leave Everything to Me instead of I Put My Hand In

Would've been nice if Charlie Stemp came back as Barnaby Tucker; he did an incredible job when he stepped in as replacement in the Broadway 2017 revival.

My only reference for hello, dolly is that it’s the film Wall-e is watching in wall-e

I must say that I had the privilege to see the Devine Miss. M as Dolly! Boy was she on fire that day! It was her first week back after being away for several months. I honestly don’t think I’ve seen a show where the leading lady breaks character multiple times and make it a truly extraordinary show! Interesting to hear how Imelda will do it as Dolly. Surely she will smash it but I don’t know if anything can top my experience with Bette Midler or even Carol Channing!

I was just listening to the Bette Midler, David Hyde Pierce cast recording tonight.

Loved the Bette production. Do you think it will extend beyond September?

I was lucky enough to see the original London production at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, starring Mary Martin. I also saw her understudy, Eleanor Macready, play the role (Eleanor Macready played Irene Molloy) and later, unfortunately, Dora Bryan who is a wonderful comic actress, but so wrong for Dolly. The only amateur production worth mentioning was Twickenham Operatic Society with Paulette Lythall as Dolly.

There's a full amateur full video of Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters during the Broadway 2017 revival. They're great, even if it's only on video.

UK doesn’t have hello dolly! on Disney plus like in America and of all the craziness I’ve experience in moving here, that might be the worst! Like immense xenophobia is one thing. But no hello dolly?!

17:00 wait, are they replacing I Put My Hand In with Just Leave Everything to Me? Or singing both? It would be very disappointing if they cut I Put My Hand In

ohh, please, we need the gossip about Imelda! :D Which musical? :D

I was about to say, it’s giving Waiters’ Gallop and I love it.

I've seen Hello Dolly on Bway twice: in 1995 w. Carol Channing & 2018 w. Bette Midler. It's a dated show, & although the Jerry Herman score is obviously classic & lovely, there really is no reason to see it other than for the star turn of the actress playing Dolly. I'm only familiar w. Staunton from a couple of TV series, though I've read she's excellent in musical theater. That's a good thing, cause w/o a very strong lead, it would be difficult to sell tkts to such an old-fashioned show.

Last nite I almost booked a trip to London in September to see Warhorse. Wimbelton gave me pause…is it hard to get to for the directionally challenged and the easily confused from near the london eye?

When the West End version was originally scheduled in 2020 would it been in competition with the Bette MIDLER Hello Dolly on Broadway?

If the show in the West End is anything like Bette Midler's revival a few years back, it will be a delightful spectacle!

Who's choreographing?

I saw this one when it toured in the US pre-COVID. I found it a little boring and I don't think I'd see it again though I do like "Before the Parade passes by".

Talking of batsh!t crazy, how amazing would it be to see Imelda as Felicia in Witches of Eastwick 🤣

Sorry, Mickey, but as a gay man, I mean wearing two different shades of red together?!? Must be a country thing lol 😉YIKES

Can't wait to see a manic Dolly. If Staunton plays her the same as Mama Rose or Sally it will be the hat trick of overacting performances.

Hard pass for me. I’ve seen the film a billion times - so when I saw it on stage years ago, I was bored. I feel it’s too dated. Music is fab. Imelda will be great.

I got to be a little bit honest here. Remember the movie from when I was a child and was humming the tune endlessly. Recently I started to watch the movie again, haven't seen the musical. But it struck me that the lead is a very toxic portrayal of a woman manipulating to get her own will even to the length of backstabbing to get the man that she thinks she deserves... so i couldn't see it through.. now, i need to watch all to see if this changes... Is it only me that sees a really toxic "oldy-worldy" plot here?

Im not excited, all these things are so old timey and not in a good way. Give me sweeney with josh groban.

No more Imelsa Staunton...Enough..

Looks miscast to me. I am Imagine Stanton will be fine. Wtf has happened to London? A cashless society. Does not bode well for £ Requiring a fucking ccard for a program??? Are u nutz? Loved Motive and Cue. Some fine acting here. Skipping all boring musicaks, will see G and D at some place called The Bridge sounds dreadful but ludicrous. Wear an extra coat? Too expensive!

This show is definitely not my jam.