Local amateur theatre group, Spennymoor Stage and Song, are making their final preparations and holding their last rehearsals before they take to the stage at Spennymoor Town Hall to perform the iconic American musical comedy Hello Dolly! between the 17 and 20 April.
Hello Dolly! is a 1964 musical that follows the story of middle-aged widow, Mrs Dolly Gallagher Levi, a strong-willed matchmaker, as she travels to Yonkers, New York, to find a match for the miserly “well-known unmarried half-a-millionaire”, Horace Vandergelder.
It is an ebullient and irresistible story of the joy of living, glittering with happy songs and shining with loving scenes.
Classic musical numbers include Put On Your Sunday Clothes, Ribbons Down My Back, Before the Parade Passes By, Elegance, It Only Takes A Moment and So Long, Dearie.
Spennymoor local Ann-Marie Clayton is starring in the title role of Dolly where she will once again be showcasing her fantastic vocal ability, having tread the boards regularly with Spennymoor Stage and Song over the past decade, performing in a variety of shows and pantomimes in that time.
Ann-Marie, who is also one of the show’s choreographers, is looking forward to being back on stage, supported by a cast, chorus, and crew of around 50 others.
“I am absolutely over the moon to be portraying the character of Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly!,” said Ann-Marie. “It’s shaping up to be another fantastic show and is suitable for all, young and old alike.”
“Everyone has worked hard in rehearsals, which have been so much fun and we can’t wait to get on the stage and show Spennymoor why we’re an award-winning society.
“So much effort and dedication goes into getting our productions on stage. Everyone is so supportive of each other and are very much like an extended family.”
Spennymoor Stage and Song are proud to give members of the local community the opportunity to perform on stage and have recently announced that they will be performing Aladdin as their January 2025 pantomime.
Anybody interested in taking part or getting involved should make contact via the company’s Facebook page.
But for now the focus is on Hello Dolly! and the group would greatly appreciate the support of the local public to help keep amateur theatre alive in the town, with ever increasing costs putting financial pressures on the society that has been entertaining Spennymoor for more than a century since 1912.
Hello Dolly! is being performed at Spennymoor Town Hall on April, 17, 18, 19, and 20, at 7pm with a 2pm matinee on Saturday April 20.
For tickets, priced at just £10, visit ticketsource.co.uk/spennymoorstageandsong, scan the QR code above or call 07881 761416.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
