THEATRE-goers will be able to say hello to the cast of Blackburn Musical Theatre Company’s latest production next week.

Hello, Dolly! is the musical comedy perhaps best known for the Barbra Streisand film of the same name – which sees matchmaker Dolly Levi turn her attentions to her own love life.

BMTC’s production of the stage classic opens at Blackburn Empire Theatre on Monday, with performances nightly at 7.30pm until Saturday, May 11, as well as a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

Sue Chadwick stars as Dolly Levi, with Kris Wlodarczyk as the curmudgeonly merchant Horace Vandergelder whom Dolly has set her sights on.

Co-director Tony Fry said: “Hello, Dolly! is a fantastically funny, light-hearted musical, with some truly wonderful song and dance numbers, for both the principal players and the ensemble.

“As always, our talented cast and production team have created something which promises to be a brilliant night of entertainment at our local theatre Blackburn Empire.

“The big number of the show is of course Hello, Dolly!, which was a big seller for the late great Louis Armstrong. Alongside that there is Put On Your Sunday Clothes, Ribbons Down My Back and Before The Parade Passes By.

“So, we have a great cast, a great orchestra and a feel-good show with lots of humour – all the ingredients are there for a dish fit to grace the table of the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant.”

Joining Sue and Kris in the principal cast are Laura Mitchell as hat shop-owner Irene Molloy, Natalie Walton as her assistant Minnie Fay, and Ryan Coe and Flecther Illingworth as Vandergelder’s employees Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker.

In the course of the day when Horace heads to New York to consider the ladies on Dolly’s matchmaking books – and march in a parade – the conniving Dolly manages to put him off all the other prospects, eventually leading him to a proposal he hadn’t even considered that morning.

All the while, Horace’s hard-done-by employees Cornelius and Barnaby are also in New York – trying but failing to avoid seeing their boss, while also falling in love, with a little help from Dolly’s meddling hands.

* Hello, Dolly!, Blackburn Musical Theatre Company, Blackburn Empire Theatre, Monday to Saturday, May 6 to 11, 7.30pm, plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Call 01254 685500 or visit www.blackburnempire.com for tickets.