If ever there was a show to remind us to squeeze the juice out of life while we’re still around to enjoy it, HELLO, DOLLY! is it, and Broadway Sacramento’s production at the UC Davis Health Pavilion delivers it with sparkle, sass, and some seriously snappy footwork.
Let’s start with the incomparable Karen Ziemba as Dolly Levi. This Dolly doesn’t just match wits with the likes of Horace Vandergelder (Stuart Marland), she commands the stage with a wink, a grin, and the kind of comedic timing that makes you feel like you’re in on the joke even if you don’t know the punchline yet. Ziemba’s Dolly is a masterclass in charm meets mischief. Every line lands like a well-timed champagne pop — bubbly, surprising, and absolutely delightful.
The costumes? Phenomenal! From bustles to hats, every character is dressed to impress. The technicolor dream that’s featured in “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” had me grinning like I stepped into an old-fashioned candy store. It’s the kind of visual feast that makes you want to tip your hat, straighten your gloves, and strut right into your next big adventure.
Shout out to the ensemble, whose dance numbers were so on point, I’m convinced they powered the whole production with straight joy and adrenaline. Every twirl, tap, lift, and leap was executed with precision and flawless jazz hands, making each number feel like a celebration in motion. And let’s talk about costume changes. These performers were practically in a full wardrobe workout, shifting from scene to scene in a parade of color, texture, and sparkle. “The Waiters’ Gallop” alone deserves its own Tony for the stamina, synchronicity, and style it delivered. The ensemble didn’t just support the story, they elevated it, one eight-count at a time.
Photo by Charr Crail
But if I had to pick favorites (and let’s be honest, I always do), my heart belongs to Cornelius Hackl (Nic Rouleau) and Barnaby Tucker (Michael Hartung). Their wide-eyed “let’s go on an adventure” energy felt like watching two puppies discover New York City with a little accidental rebellion and romance thrown in for good measure. Their journey from timid clerks to brave-hearted charmers was earnest and laugh-out-loud funny. I’d follow those two through every hat shop, dance hall, and dinner disaster all over again.
And then there was “that” moment, “Before the Parade Passes By.” Whew! It’s easy to forget in a show bursting with comedy and color that HELLO, DOLLY! is also a story about second chances and showing up for your own life. That number hit me squarely in the feels. It was a call to action, a gentle shove, a reminder that we don’t get to watch the parade go by. Instead, we are the parade, and it’s not too late to march in it.
This HELLO, DOLLY! is more than a revival. It’s a celebration of joy, of courage, of finding love (in all its forms), and of living, truly living, before the parade passes by.
Don’t miss your chance to see it at the UC Davis Health Pavillion, showing now through June 26. Dolly’s waiting for you, and she’s got matchmaking to do. Click here for tickets and showtimes.
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