The Lewis & Shirley White Theatre at The J will open its 21st season with the Broadway classic “Hello, Dolly!” The performances also celebrate the theater’s 20th anniversary.
Performance dates and times include Saturdays, Nov. 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, Nov. 2, 9, 16 and 23 at 2 p.m.; and Thursdays, Nov. 6, 13 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at TheWhiteTheatre.org.
The show follows Dolly Gallagher Levi, a strong-willed matchmaker, as she travels to Yonkers, New York, to find a wife for the wealthy but miserly Horace Vandergelder while secretly planning to marry him herself. The role of Dolly will be performed by Kansas Citian Jennifer Renfrow, whose past credits at The White Theatre include Mary Poppins in “Mary Poppins,” Sally Bowles in “Cabaret” and Baker’s Wife in “Into The Woods.” The role has been played over the years by celebrities including Carol Channing, Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler.
“I hope audiences walk away with a renewed appreciation for Golden Age musical theatre,” said Liz Golson, who plays Irene Molloy. “Even if older shows aren’t usually their favorite, I’d love for at least one person to feel the magic of ‘Hello, Dolly!’ the way I do.”
This production also marks the 20th anniversary of The White Theatre at The J, which opened in fall 2005 with “A Chorus Line.” The milestone is especially meaningful to “Hello, Dolly!” director Chris McCoy, who was a cast member in the theatre’s first production.
Reflecting on the anniversary, McCoy said, “There’s a great line in the title song of ‘Hello, Dolly!’ that says, ‘It’s so good to be back home where I belong.’ That perfectly captures how it feels to return to The White Theatre to direct this show. Having been part of ‘A Chorus Line’ when the theatre opened 20 years ago, it’s a true honor to now direct the first production of this memorable anniversary season.”
The White Theatre at The J will continue its 2025-26 season with two performances of “The Jewish Nutcracker” to celebrate the upcoming holiday season on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.