Beloved classic to open Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre season June 27

The curtain will rise on a summer of musical theater as "Hello, Dolly!" — Broadway’s beloved, 14-time Tony Award-winning classic — returns to Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre to open the 2025 season.

Full of humor, romance, high-energy choreography and timeless tunes, "Hello, Dolly!" is a joyful celebration of life and love.

Based on Thornton Wilder’s hit play "The Matchmaker," the musical follows the spirited and endlessly resourceful Dolly Gallagher Levi, a turn-of-the-century matchmaker who can’t help but find herself at the heart of every story she touches. Krista Kubicek will return to the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre stage in the title role of Dolly. A fan favorite and Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre veteran, Kubicek previously played Irene Malloy in two past Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre productions of "Hello, Dolly!" alongside the legendary Ellen Travolta. Her celebrated performances in "Les Misérables," "Beauty and the Beast," "Mary Poppins," and "Pride and Prejudice" have made her a staple of the Coeur d’Alene stage.

“I’m overjoyed and overwhelmed to bring the vibrant, joy-cultivating Dolly Levi to life,” Kubicek said in a Wednesday news release. “This role is truly a gift.”

Opposite Kubicek, Ralph Prentice Daniel will make his Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre debut as the curmudgeonly Horace Vandergelder. Daniel brings national tour experience from "Elf the Musical" and "Hairspray" and recently played the Duke of Weselton in "Frozen the Musical" at the Gateway Playhouse.

Featuring a cast of 30, including 19 performers making their Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre debuts, this production highlights local favorites Jenny Shotwell (Irene Molloy), Abe McKinney (Ambrose Kemper), Lorna Hamilton (Mrs. Rose) and Anden Leo (Rudolph). New to the Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre stage are Ben Williams (Cornelius Hackl), Adrian Graff (Barnaby Tucker), Nicole Rose Ostile (Minnie Fay), Enslee Olivia Cook (Ermengarde) and Chelsea DuVall (Ernestina Money).

The ensemble includes returning favorites Michael Hamill, Ruby Astaire Krajic, Tom Richards, Reilly Schoening, Megan Ruth Smith and Eli Wissing alongside new talents Griffin Adams, Christian Bolduc, Catherine Dietchak, Maggie Dzina, Sebastian L. Fenton, Bella Hanna, Coral Horton, Andre Lajevardi, Chloe Sundet, Adele Trapp, Asa Wadden, Josh White and Abraham T. Zakariasen.

For director Roger Welch, who served as the artistic director of Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre for 20 years, this production is particularly special. Welch first worked on "Hello, Dolly!" at Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre in 1987 as a choreographer and performer. He later produced and directed two more runs of the show, including the 2000 production starring Ellen Travolta and the 2012 production starring Travolta and Jack Bannon.

The creative team also features Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre alumni Michael Greenspan-Wasileski as choreographer and Steven Dahlke returning as musical director and conductor.

“This cast is incredible. At the first rehearsal read-through, they sang through and knew their parts,” Dahlke said. “It was gorgeous! At that moment, I knew this would be an amazing production.”

Rated G and suitable for all audiences, "Hello, Dolly!" is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Tams-Witmark LLC. 

Performances will run June 27 through July 6 in the Schuler Performing Arts Center in Boswell Hall at North Idaho College, 880 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene.

Tickets range from $50 to $192, with $25 rush tickets available 30 minutes before curtain.

Info: cstidaho.com