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The revival of the Tony award-winning musical “Hello, Dolly!” arrives at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre on Feb. 19 for a month-long run starring the inimitable Betty Buckley as indomitable matchmaker Dolly Levi. So here’s everything a theatergoer needs to know beforehand, from where to grab a bite — how about an iconic San Francisco restaurant from the “Hello, Dolly” era? — to how to score reserved parking near the theater.
Pre-show dining (and post-show drinks!)
The finger-snapping, feel-good tale of Dolly Levi is set in turn-of-the-last-century New York, of course. But we’re seeing it here in San Francisco, where some of the city’s oldest restaurants will get you in the mood in style. Here’s a classic trio of turn-of-the-century restaurants, including the 19th-century Tadich Grill, where the fish is sublime and the cioppino is legendary.
Prefer something walking distance to the theater? Here are five fun restaurant options near the city’s big theaters, including the Golden Gate Theatre — psst, Popsons and The Market are right across the street — as well as the Curran, ACT’s Geary, The Strand and the Orpheum.
Parking panic
BART is just a few blocks from the theater, but if you’re driving — and fretting over where you’re going to park and how much it will cost — fret not. Here’s how to score reserved and discount parking near all the major theaters.
What’s this show about? And who’s this Dolly we’re saying hello to?
This long-running and oft-revived Broadway show is an American musical theater classic. Inspired by Thornton Wilder’s book, “The Matchmaker,” “Hello, Dolly!” tells the tale of the ebullient Dolly Levi, a matchmaker and self-professed professional-class meddler in Yonkers, New York, who finally does a little matchmaking for herself.
It debuted in 1964 on Broadway, where it quickly racked up 10 Tony awards, and its 2017 Broadway revival won four more, including a Tony for star Bette Midler. Betty Buckley, who earned a Tony for her role as Grizabella in the original “Cats,” will play Dolly here. Here’s what she told us about the role and the challenges, she says, of playing “a wonderful being … a kind of highly intuitive, gifted, funny little sage who just knows some stuff.”
How’s the show? Any good?
The revival won raves on Broadway and in the San Francisco production, “This ‘Dolly’ is looking swell,” our theater critic says. The “production is fabulous, with a sharp comedic cast and dynamic choreography.”
