“Hello, Dolly!” the award-winning musical bursting with humor, romance, high-energy dancing and some of the greatest songs in musical theater history, will be presented by the Flathead High School Theatre Department Feb. 27, 28 and 29 at 6:27 p.m. with a special matinee performance on Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. in the David M. Hashley Theatre at Flathead High School.

Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. Tickets are available at the FHS Main Office, Photo Video Plus and, if still available, at the door.

Playing cupid is Dolly Levi’s specialty and when she turns up in Yonkers to make the match of her life, laughter, love and comical romantic entanglements ensue. When the brassy, widowed matchmaker and “woman who arranges things,” attempts to arrange a marriage for the prominent, wealthy and sometimes cantankerous bachelor, Horace Vandergelder, she manages to find him the perfect mate — herself! But first she must win the heart of her unsuspecting “husband to be” before he gets hitched to somebody else. Dolly’s scheming and meddling soon involves Horace’s employees as well as a New York hat maker, as she tries to cover up her own secret romantic hopes. The whole affair ends up on a whirlwind race around New York City with half of Yonkers in tow.

“‘Hello, Dolly!’ is a full blown musical comedy that follows several characters through their search for adventure and love in New York City,” said director April Williams. “The whole cast of characters wind their way through an exciting night in New York City; complete with dancing, a parade, and getting arrested! The lesson learned is that, with Dolly Levi as your matchmaker, you always get more than you ever bargained for.”

Premiering in 1964, this Tony Award-winning production was one of the longest running musicals of its time and features a continuous stream of crowd-pleasing numbers and touching moments. The show’s memorable songs include “Put on Your Sunday Clothes,” “Before the Parade Passes By,” “Hello, Dolly!” and “It Only Takes a Moment.”

“Selecting this show was a long, long process that started this last summer,” Williams said. “Kacie Bray and I knew we wanted to choose a classic musical, filled with dancing and fun characters ... we made our way through several other choices until we landed on ‘Hello, Dolly!’ It just fit everything we wanted in a fun musical comedy. And it is the 50th anniversary of the Broadway tour, which made the show just a little extra special. This production has the most amount of dancing and creative choreography that I have ever been a part of; Kacie West has pulled out all the stops teaching dancing, jumping, lifts, and even the polka to 20-plus high school kids! It is a rare and special event to see such coordinated efforts coming from so many young people on the stage together.

Producing a musical at Flathead High School is a massive undertaking involving nearly 60 students, eight FHS Theatre staff members and many volunteers with special talents.

“Directing a musical is exhausting in a good way!” Williams said. “There are so many pieces that have to come together in a show like this. There are lights, set pieces, costumes, prop pieces, and of course the all-important music! We get to collaborate with the orchestra, band and Nina Anderson, our music director. Bringing so many pieces together takes a lot of time and, of course, a lot of coordinated effort, but the end the result is so magical, it is always worth it.

“I have loved watching the students connect with each other during the process of rehearsals. Going from auditions all the way to our dress rehearsals I get to watch a slow trust build between cast members and myself. They have leaned on each other’s talents and friendships to make the show come alive in fun and unexpected ways and I hope that the audience feels the light-heartedness and romantic twists and turns of the show.”

The cast of “Hello, Dolly!” includes Lucas Coulter, Carson Robison, James Francis, Sydney Loudermilk, Kadence Johnson, Thomas Schultz, Connor Bullins, Shelbie Guckenberg, Hannah Greene, Daniel Edelen, Jade Dickerson, Aria Scovel and Emme Schow as Dolly Gallagher Levi.

The chorus includes Hannah Greene (lead), Skye Thompson, Cassie Cattron, Lydia Wood, Rebekah Hopp, Jade Dickerson, Athena Wallace, Rylee Houser, Thomas Schultz (Lead), Daniel Edelen, Caden Mason, Sean Struble, Brett Bonefeole, Caleb Cattron, Samuel Hopp and Connor Adcox.

Behind the scenes, Hadasa Wagoner, Sami Keator-Holt, Seda Ramsay, Hayley LaPorta, Kyrie Chollman, Athena Shaffer, Jazlyn LaPierre, Shaylee Emerson, McKenna Doran, Asia Wilson, Matt Nairn, Natasha Gesker, Kay Gibbs, Madison Byrd, Bethany Nairn, Mason Molter, Karmen Brown, Rylee Burkhart, Jonah Love, Hannah Embry and Madisyn Hall make up the stage, lighting and sound crew.

Enhancing the story with music, the pit orchestra includes Hannah Geiger, Lark Olson, Fynn Cox, Colter Girardot, Kyle Miller, Julianna Byrd, Elizabeth Sumner, Cami Kugler, Neila Danley, Nate Devul, Matthew Danielson, Nikki Thatcher, Mark Enierga, Evan Schow, Parker Stocklin, Maria Bay, Alyssa Leimkuehler and Alex Skerlock.

Supporting the students and story are the FHS Theatre staff including director April Williams, musical director Nina Anderson, choreographer/musical director Kacie Bray, technical director Jakeb Wilson, assistant technical director Luke Johnson, choreography assistant/sound genius, Micah Horneman, cue lab Advisor Jen Stebbins, and the director of Flathead High School Theatre, Wendy Putzler.