How I Created Hello Dolly

People enjoy "Hello, Dolly!" for its joyful, optimistic energy, catchy musical numbers, and charming characters. The musical is a feel-good, life-affirming experience, and its popularity is also partly due to the iconic performances by beloved female stars.  This unique tour offers Todd Hunt’s portrayal of composer/lyricist Jerry Herman in a peek behind the scenes of the Broadway blockbuster in a unique setting.  

The show premiered on Broadway in 1964, starring Carol Channing, and became the longest-running musical in Broadway history at the time with 2,844 performances. The show won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, a record that stood for 37 years. The original cast album also achieved significant success, reaching number one on the Billboard charts. 

You choose your meal setting –

-Destino Ristorante in Gurnee represents Delmonico’s in the show.  Your lunch is served family-style, we suggest Pollo Al Limone or Pollo Alla Romana in keeping with the theme of Delmonico’s chicken dinners.  The meals come with an appetizer, salad, freshly baked Italian bread and standard beverage service and of course, dessert.  Todd becomes Jerry Herman right after your meal in their private dining space.  Afterwards, the room incline provides a location for some Dolly-like poses in provided hats or have everyone wear their own hats or fascinators. 

-The Lehmann Mansion matches close to the era.  Dine inside this 1912 mansion, extensively and beautifully restored to the grandeur of its elegant past.  Enjoy an herb roasted chicken quarter, twice baked potatoes and green bean almondine along with salad and bread. And for dessert, an old supper club favorite, orange sherbet.  Todd will then make the presentation in a separate room of the mansion.  Afterwards, the elegant staircase provides the perfect spot for some Dolly-like poses in your hats. 

Add-ons –

Dolly/hat cookies from Lovin Oven Cakery. 

Classic dance demo at Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Long Grove.

Imbibe in a Carol Channing drink at North Shore Distillery.

Delightful hats are one of the stars of Hello Dolly!  Make your own hat/fascinator.

  Dates to consider:

Hello Dolly debuts – January 16 (1964) 

Millinery day Or National Hat Day – January 13

Carol Channing’s birthday – January 31

Hello Dolly! film debut – December 16 (1969)

And if you all now are in the mood to see Hello Dolly!  Watch the movie on the way home on the motorcoach or even better, rent out Gorton Community Center’s John and Nancy Hughes Theater (yes, THAT John Hughes and watch it in style – fascinators and all). 

Anytime you plan this tour, your ladies and gentlemen are guaranteed some much-needed fun, laughter and beautiful hats. 

For more information, contact your VLC Group Tours Manager Jayne Nordstrom, or call directly at 847-662-3993. Continue here to return to the Group Tours Itinerary page.