Bette Midler ‘Hello, Dolly!’: Actress Confirms She’s Playing Lead Role On Broadway

It’s official — actress Bette Midler will star in the Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! in the title role!

The 70-year-old actress confirmed the news on her official Facebook page and Twitter Tuesday.

Yes, I am taking on the role of the beloved Dolly Levi in “Hello, Dolly!”. We open next year on Broadway! So excited!

— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) January 19, 2016

Quite a few fans and followers may have expected Bette Midler to be involved with the Broadway revival, especially after she posted an obvious clue on her Facebook page Monday.

“Well HELLO! This Dolly has an announcement coming tomorrow! Stay tuned!”

If the word “HELLO” in all capital letters didn’t catch their attention, most of Bette’s social media followers should have at least gotten a little curious with the “Dolly” reference.

Midler apparently did not want to keep her fans guessing very long. She confirmed the news and her overall excitement several hours after first posting her “clue.”

The Oscar-nominated actress also shared a promotional poster for the Hello, Dolly! Broadway revival, which essentially shines a spotlight on her name in the top billing slot.

Bette Midler is definitely not a rookie when it comes to acting on stage instead of just on a movie set. The Tony Award-winning actress played Tzeitel in the Broadway play The Fiddler on the Roof in the mid-1960s.

According to Broadway.com, Bette initially joined the cast as one of the villagers named Rivka. She also served as the understudy for Tzietel, a role that was originated by Joanna Merlin. Midler finally got her chance to shine in the role when Merlin reportedly left the production and Bette was selected to replace her.

When reflecting on her memories of The Fiddler on the Roof in December of 2015, Bette Midler spoke highly about Joanna Merlin as well as Maria Karnilova, another stage actress from which Bette learned a lot during her time with the production.

“Maria Karnilova, who played Golde, was the most brilliant actress I have ever seen. I watched her every night in the wings and could never figure out how she did it. But the person who showed me the most kindness was Joanna Merlin, who was the original Tzeitel, who suggested me to replace her when she left… It was a perfect storm of talent, and universal themes: the pull of tradition and family, the struggle to retain your human dignity in the face of terrible odds. And of course, everyone knows a Yente, even if they’re not Jewish.”

The Seattle Times reported that Bette Midler later starred in Tommy, the Who’s rock opera, in 1971.

Even though her theatrical credits did not extend much farther than that, Bette Midler made waves in the world of entertainment as an award-winning singer and actress. NBC reports that Bette’s impressive performances over the years on the set as well as in the studio have led to three Emmy awards, four Grammys, and four Golden Globes.

When it comes to finding someone to replace Barbra Streisand as Dolly Levi, most people would likely agree that casting Bette Midler was the next best thing.

Midler is set to make history since this revival marks the first time that Hello, Dolly! has appeared on Broadway in over 50 years, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Composer Jerry Herman reportedly explained exactly why Bette Midler was the perfect choice to play Dolly Levi. He stated that he has been asked many times over the years about reviving Hello, Dolly! but he always asked himself, “Who would be my dream Dolly?”

“I knew that we needed more than just a wonderful singer or a wonderful actor, so I held on to the hope that she would also be a distinctly original persona. Who is out there that has the necessary stature, warmth, the incredible talent and ability…the singular, outsized personality that I was looking for in a 21st century Dolly? Only one person: Bette Midler.”

Bette stated that she knows she is “going to have the time of [her] life” and is “so glad to be under the wings of Scott Rudin as producer and Jerry Zaks as director.”

Rehearsals for the Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! are set to begin next year with performances starting on March 13, 2017. The official opening night of Bette Midler’s return to Broadway is reportedly scheduled for April 20.

[Image Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images]