Auditions for Peoria Players' HELLO, DOLLY
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Hello, Dolly
Directed By John Donlan
Music Director-Deric Kimler
Choreographer-Jenny Morris
Accompanist-Jerrad Kaiser
Advising Director-Chip Joyce
Show Dates
November 13-15 & 18-22, 2026
Synopsis
Hello, Dolly! is a classic musical comedy following Dolly Levi, an energetic matchmaker who travels to Yonkers, New York. Her goal is to find a wife for a cantankerous half-a-millionaire. Along the way, she meddles in everyone’s romantic affairs while secretly
plotting to win the wealthy merchant’s hand for herself.
The Main Storyline
In 1890s New York, the irrepressible widow and matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi sets out for Yonkers to find a suitable wife for Horace Vandergelder, a wealthy but grumpy hay-and-feed merchant. However, Dolly has a secret agenda of her own: she intends to marry Horace for his money and re-enter high society.
Auditions
Saturday August 22, 2026, noon-5pm
Sunday August 23, noon-5pm
Monday August 24, callbacks, TBD
Auditions will be held at Kim’s Academy
9225 N. Industrial Rd
Peoria, Il 61614
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Sign up for only one slot. If you are unable to make your time slot, please cancel your reservation so we may accommodate another performer.
• To audition for Hello Dolly at Peoria Players CLICK HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E084FA8A62BABFE3-64788866-hello#/
and review available days and times and click the sign up button. You will receive audition material within 24 hours of signing up.
• If these times do not work for you please email me at [email protected]
Vocal Auditions
1. Please prepare no more than 32 bars of a song of your choice. Do not prepare a song from the show.
2. Bring sheet music or a recording on your phone (with no lyrics!).
3. An accompanist or a bluetooth speaker will be provided.
4. Please bring you music in a book or in a binder to make the accompanist’s job a bit easier.
Dance Audition
1. Please dress to learn and perform a dance number.
2. Everyone will be asked to do this dance as most characters will have some movement.
Character Descriptions for Hello Dolly
Note: Character age does not necessarily depict the actor's age!
Dolly Levi: Matchmaker, widow, meddler, opportunist, life-loving, commanding, strong stage presence. Stage age: 35-50. Vocal range: alto-soprano. Dance ability: some.
Horace Vandergelder: Well-known half-a-millionaire, widower, owns the Feed Store, gruff, set in his ways, authoritative. Stage age: 40-60. Vocal range: baritone. Dance ability: some.
Cornelius Hackl: Head clerk at the Feed Store, energetic, enthusiastic, and adventurous. Stage age: 30-35. Vocal range: baritone. Dance ability: strong.
Barnaby Tucker: Assistant to Cornelius at the Feed Store, naïve, energized, follower. Stage age: 17-20. Vocal range: baritone. Dance ability: strong.
Irene Molloy: Owns the Hat Shop, widow, beautiful, smart, fun-loving. Stage age: 30-35. Vocal range: soprano. Dance ability: strong.
Minnie Fay: Irene’s assistant, naïve, straight-laced, fresh, follower. Stage age: 17-20. Vocal range: mezzo-soprano. Dance ability: strong.
Ambrose Kemper: Struggling artist, good-natured, accommodating, wants to marry Ermengarde. Stage age: 19-23. Vocal range: tenor. Dance ability: strong.
Ermengarde: Horace’s niece, whining, high-strung, wants to marry Ambrose. Stage age: 17-20. Vocal range: any. Dance ability: strong.
Ernestina: Accommodating, good-time girl. (Will be cast from chorus) Stage age: 30-45. Vocal range: any. Dance ability: none.
Rudy: Maitre’d of the Harmonia Gardens, proper, commanding. Stage age: 40-60. Vocal range: bass. Dance ability: some.
Mrs. Rose: Street vendor (will be cast from the chorus). Stage age: 35-50. Dance ability: none.
Miscellaneous character parts: will be cast from the chorus.
7-11 Waiters: Stage age: 18-58. Vocal range: even split of tenors/basses. Dance ability: strong.
7-11 Female Chorus Members: Stage age: 18-48. Vocal range: even split of sopranos and altos. Dance ability: strong.
Directed By John Donlan
Music Director-Deric Kimler
Choreographer-Jenny Morris
Accompanist-Jerrad Kaiser
Advising Director-Chip Joyce
Show Dates
November 13-15 & 18-22, 2026
Synopsis
Hello, Dolly! is a classic musical comedy following Dolly Levi, an energetic matchmaker who travels to Yonkers, New York. Her goal is to find a wife for a cantankerous half-a-millionaire. Along the way, she meddles in everyone’s romantic affairs while secretly
plotting to win the wealthy merchant’s hand for herself.
The Main Storyline
In 1890s New York, the irrepressible widow and matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi sets out for Yonkers to find a suitable wife for Horace Vandergelder, a wealthy but grumpy hay-and-feed merchant. However, Dolly has a secret agenda of her own: she intends to marry Horace for his money and re-enter high society.
Auditions
Saturday August 22, 2026, noon-5pm
Sunday August 23, noon-5pm
Monday August 24, callbacks, TBD
Auditions will be held at Kim’s Academy
9225 N. Industrial Rd
Peoria, Il 61614
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Sign up for only one slot. If you are unable to make your time slot, please cancel your reservation so we may accommodate another performer.
• To audition for Hello Dolly at Peoria Players CLICK HERE: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E084FA8A62BABFE3-64788866-hello#/
and review available days and times and click the sign up button. You will receive audition material within 24 hours of signing up.
• If these times do not work for you please email me at [email protected]
Vocal Auditions
1. Please prepare no more than 32 bars of a song of your choice. Do not prepare a song from the show.
2. Bring sheet music or a recording on your phone (with no lyrics!).
3. An accompanist or a bluetooth speaker will be provided.
4. Please bring you music in a book or in a binder to make the accompanist’s job a bit easier.
Dance Audition
1. Please dress to learn and perform a dance number.
2. Everyone will be asked to do this dance as most characters will have some movement.
Character Descriptions for Hello Dolly
Note: Character age does not necessarily depict the actor's age!
Dolly Levi: Matchmaker, widow, meddler, opportunist, life-loving, commanding, strong stage presence. Stage age: 35-50. Vocal range: alto-soprano. Dance ability: some.
Horace Vandergelder: Well-known half-a-millionaire, widower, owns the Feed Store, gruff, set in his ways, authoritative. Stage age: 40-60. Vocal range: baritone. Dance ability: some.
Cornelius Hackl: Head clerk at the Feed Store, energetic, enthusiastic, and adventurous. Stage age: 30-35. Vocal range: baritone. Dance ability: strong.
Barnaby Tucker: Assistant to Cornelius at the Feed Store, naïve, energized, follower. Stage age: 17-20. Vocal range: baritone. Dance ability: strong.
Irene Molloy: Owns the Hat Shop, widow, beautiful, smart, fun-loving. Stage age: 30-35. Vocal range: soprano. Dance ability: strong.
Minnie Fay: Irene’s assistant, naïve, straight-laced, fresh, follower. Stage age: 17-20. Vocal range: mezzo-soprano. Dance ability: strong.
Ambrose Kemper: Struggling artist, good-natured, accommodating, wants to marry Ermengarde. Stage age: 19-23. Vocal range: tenor. Dance ability: strong.
Ermengarde: Horace’s niece, whining, high-strung, wants to marry Ambrose. Stage age: 17-20. Vocal range: any. Dance ability: strong.
Ernestina: Accommodating, good-time girl. (Will be cast from chorus) Stage age: 30-45. Vocal range: any. Dance ability: none.
Rudy: Maitre’d of the Harmonia Gardens, proper, commanding. Stage age: 40-60. Vocal range: bass. Dance ability: some.
Mrs. Rose: Street vendor (will be cast from the chorus). Stage age: 35-50. Dance ability: none.
Miscellaneous character parts: will be cast from the chorus.
7-11 Waiters: Stage age: 18-58. Vocal range: even split of tenors/basses. Dance ability: strong.
7-11 Female Chorus Members: Stage age: 18-48. Vocal range: even split of sopranos and altos. Dance ability: strong.
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Where is it happening?
4300 N University St, Peoria, IL, United States, Illinois 61614
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherPeoria Players
