Kristine Nielsen, an actress known for her close association with playwright Christopher Durang and a Tony nominee for Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, will play Dolly Levi in the Goodman Theatre's revival of Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker.
Wilder's 1955 comedy, the basis for the musical Hello, Dolly!, will also star Allen Gilmore as Horace Vandergelder, who hires Dolly for her matchmaking services but ends up her own match. Also featured in director Henry Wishcamper's cast will be Theo Allyn (Ermengarde), Behzad Dabu (Barnaby Tucker), Larry DiStasi (Cabman/Rudolph), Marilyn Dodds Frank (Flora Van Huysen), Sydney Germaine (Minnie Fay), Marc Grapey (Malachi Stack), Anita Hollander (Cook/Gertrude), Ronobir Lahiri (Ambrose Kemper), Elizabeth Ledo (Mrs. Malloy), Postell Pringle (Cornelius Hackl) and Ron Rains (Joe Scanlon).
The creative team includes Neil Patel (sets), Jenny Mannis (costumes), David Lander (lights) and Richard Woodbury (sound).
Nielsen is a graduate of Northwestern University but has never worked professionally in Chicago before now. The Matchmaker runs March 5–April 10.