If the costumes weren’t so eye-catching, Erin Tetour might not have auditioned for “Hello Dolly.”
As it is, the Antioch resident has the lead in PM&L Theatre’s upcoming production of “Hello Dolly,” playing at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays from Sept. 6-22 at the Dolly Spiering Memorial Auditorium in Antioch.
“Hello Dolly!” is a musical written by Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart and based on the play “The Matchmaker” by Thornton Wilder. It is directed for the PM&L by Darius Russelle.
This is Tetour’s first time being involved in a production of “Hello Dolly,” she said. She wasn’t even interested in acting in the play until she saw the costumes. When she heard the theater company was doing the play, she initially inquired about helping the costume designer.
“I had talked to the director to say I would love to help the production staff,” she said. “I would really like to make the hats – knowing that the hats were iconic as far as fashion history was concerned. The show takes place in the late Victorian period, and hats for women at the time were gorgeous and elaborate.
“I’ve been involved with a number of shows at PM&L, and I know they always look for help in the costuming department,” Tetour said. “So I reached out to say I would love to help make the hats and they said, ‘Absolutely, go for it.’”
She was brought in as the show’s milliner, working closely with costume designer Joe Russell.
“As I was meeting with Joe, I was seeing his fabric samples because he’s making all the gowns the women are wearing and I told him these fabrics are absolutely stunning,” she said. “I said I might have to audition just to have a chance to maybe wear one. We had a laugh about it, and then I went back and re-watched the show and said, ‘You know, I really like the music.’
“After that, I started to prepare for the audition and went in with the hope of doing anything in the show,” Tetour said. “Honestly, it was the costumes that got me involved with the production initially.”
Tetour watched the movie version of “Hello Dolly” with Barbra Streisand, as well as the plays with Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters.
“Dolly as a character is a very bold woman who is widowed and plays matchmaker, setting other people up. She kind of enjoys as little bit of the chaos she creates,” she said. “She’s very entertained by her own shenanigans. And while she’s trying to arrange for her next marriage, she’s arranging others as well. And doing so in a manner that’s entertaining and comical for her to witness happy endings take place.”
“Hello Dolly” won 10 Tony Awards after its Broadway debut in 1964, including Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for Carol Channing. When it was made into a film in 1969, it won three Academy Awards. Songs include “Hello Dolly!” “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” and “It Only Takes a Moment.”
Tetour has been a lifelong singer and performer, she said.
“In middle school, I got the theater bug,” she said. “Aside from a decade-break I took to focus on the family, I tried to do a show every year.”
She acts at the Rhode Theatre in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as well as at PM&L. Recently, she was in “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and “The Importance of Being Earnest.” She was nominated for a Lou Award – which honors community theater in the north and northwest suburbs – for her role of Gwendolyn Fairfax.
“I didn’t win, but it was really cool to be in a room full of people who all love to do what we do,” she said. “There was a lot of talent in that room. I’m really hoping that ‘Hello Dolly’ gets similar recognition. There are some really fantastic gowns being made, some really fantastic choices with characters. The musical direction has been fantastic. I’m excited to see what the Lou Award committee thinks of the show.”
Regardless of what the committee thinks, she knows only one opinion really matters – that of the audience.
“I know that ‘Hello Dolly’ is one of those warhorse musicals,” she said. “It’s a very well-known musical. There’s a large percentage of the theater-going public that’s aware of the store. Perhaps (they’ve) seen the film with Barbra Streisand. There was a recent resurgence on Broadway with a revival.
“It’s one of the things that has music or scenes that people recognize, that has costumes that people recognize,” Tetour continued. “So, I think it’s not only a bit of nostalgia for those familiar with the show, but it also helps to facilitate an invitation for people to come check it out.”
The cast will do a meet-and-greet after each showing, she said.
“Hello Dolly” is a feel-good, classic play that people can’t help but enjoy, Tetour said.
“It’s a comedy, it’s light-hearted with some sentimental, poignant moments,” she said. “It’s very family-friendly. You can bring the kids; you can bring the grandparents. Anybody and everybody will find something they enjoy in this show.”
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
“Hello Dolly!”
When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays from Sept. 6-22
Where: Dolly Spiering Memorial Auditorium, 877 N. Main St., Antioch
Tickets: $17-$25
Information: 847-395-3055, pmltheatre.com