Photo Flash: First Look at Edward Gero and Nancy Opel in Ford's Theatre's HELLO, DOLLY!

In this beloved musical classic, the cantankerous half-a-millionaire Horace Vandergelder hires matchmaker Dolly Levi to find him a wife. Dolly soon hatches a plan to woo and win Vandergelder's hand herself, while simultaneously arranging romantic prospects for his niece, his clerks and two of Manhattan's most eligible shop girls.

"'Hello, Dolly!' is a delectable treat for the whole family, filled with some of musical theatre's all-time greatest showstoppers," said director Eric Schaeffer. "Our production reinterprets the classic show with new orchestrations, character-driven staging for a 16-member cast and inventive dance numbers. It is a thrill to direct, at Ford's Theatre, such an iconic show that had its pre-Broadway beginnings in Washington, D.C."

"I am excited to welcome director Eric Schaeffer back to the Ford's Theatre stage," said Ford's Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault. "Eric and I talked about creating a fresh 'Hello, Dolly!' for Washington audiences, and I am thrilled to showcase his talent for musical reinvention in our historic theatre space. Our production will be the first in Washington since Carol Channing reprised her famous role at the Kennedy Center Opera House in 1995."

"Hello, Dolly!" is made possible by Lead Sponsor Altria Group; and Sponsors Raytheon Company; Oshkosh Corporation; Visa Inc.; and Ford Motor Company. Media Partner ABC7/NewsChannel8/TBD.com provides promotional support throughout the run. Ford's Theatre's 2012-2013 season sponsors are The Home Depot and Chevron.

Edward Gero and Nancy Opel