When was Carol Channing's last Dolly?

[WaffleOnWheels]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 4:54pm

I've always had a fascination with Carol Channing and her long history with Hello, Dolly! but one thing I can not find online is when her last full show as Dolly Levi was. I was wondering if anyone here had any more specific information past sometime in the late 90's. Thanks!

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 5:12pm

I saw Carol Channing in “Hello, Dolly!” in 1995 in Pasadena. I don’t think she performed the show anymore after this 30 city tour.

I never appreciated Channing before seeing her live in this tour of the show. However, I immediately GOT IT after seeing her performance. She was absolutely amazing...and her eating dumplings scene at the Harmonia Gardens was...well, perfection.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 5:55pm

January, 28th 1996 was her last performance on Broadway. 

So does anyone know if the production went out on tour after the Broadway run?

[Valentina3]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 5:58pm

I'd be shocked if she doesn't routinely perform the whole show in her shower.

[JBC3]

Posted: 7/1/18 at 6:00pm

Valentina3 said: "I'd be shocked if she doesn't routinely perform the whole show in her shower."

BroadwayHD, 99 cents/minute

[Buscee]

Posted: 7/2/18 at 10:32am

Her last performance was in February 1997 in Texas.That was the last stop of her tour.

[HelloDanny]

Posted: 10/6/18 at 3:32pm

Feb 21, 1997 - Feb 23, 1997Bass Concert Hall at University of Texas at Austin Performing Arts CenterAustin, TX

Feb 18, 1997 - Feb 20, 1997Lubbock Municipal AuditoriumLubbock, TX

Feb 14, 1997 - Feb 16, 1997Birmingham-Jefferson Concert HallBirmingham, AL

Feb 4, 1997 - Feb 9, 1997Sacramento Community Center TheaterSacramento, CA

Jan 28, 1997 - Feb 2, 1997Orpheum - PhoenixPhoenix, AZ

Jan 21, 1997 - Jan 26, 1997Cerritos Center For The Performing ArtsCerritos, CA

Jan 14, 1997 - Jan 19, 1997McCallum Theatre For The Performing ArtsPalm Desert, CA

Dec 21, 1996 - Dec 22, 1996Maxwell C. King Center For The Performing ArtsMelbourne, FL

Dec 17, 1996 - Dec 20, 1996Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts HallFort Myers, FL

Dec 13, 1995 - Dec 15, 1996Van Wezel Performing Arts HallSarasota, FL

Dec 10, 1996 - Dec 12, 1996Ruth Eckerd HallClearwater, FL

Dec 3, 1996 - Dec 8, 1996Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at Progress Energy Center for the Performing ArtsRaleigh, NC

Nov 26, 1996 - Dec 1, 1996Morris Performing Arts CenterSouth Bend, IN

Nov 19, 1996 - Nov 24, 1996Foxwoods Casino: The Fox TheatreMashantucket, CT

Nov 12, 1996 - Nov 17, 1996Toyota Oakdale TheatreWallingford, CT

Nov 5, 1996 - Nov 10, 1996ProctorsSchenectady, NY

Nov 1, 1996 - Nov 3, 1996James W. Miller AuditoriumKalamazoo, MI

Oct 29, 1996 - Oct 31, 1996Indiana University AuditoriumBloomington, IN

Oct 25, 1996 - Oct 27, 1996Des Moines Civic CenterDes Moines, IA

Oct 22, 1996 - Oct 24, 1996Assembly HallChampaign, IL

Oct 15, 1996 - Oct 20, 1996Orpheum Theater - OmahaOmaha, NE

Oct 11, 1996 - Oct 13, 1996Civic Center Music HallOklahoma City, OK

Oct 8, 1996 - Oct 10, 1996Opera House In LexingtonLexington, KY

Oct 1, 1996 - Oct 6, 1996Wharton Center for the Performing ArtsEast Lansing, MI

Sep 27, 1996 - Sep 29, 1996Chapman Music Hall At Tulsa Performing Arts CenterTulsa, OK

Sep 24, 1996 - Sep 26, 1996Hammons HallSpringfield, MO

Sep 17, 1996 - Sep 22, 1996Murat CentreIndianapolis, IN

Sep 14, 1996 - Sep 15, 1996Macomb Center For The Performing ArtsClinton Township, MI

Sep 12, 1995 - Oct 8, 1995Opera House (DC)Washington, DC

Aug 1, 1995 - Aug 6, 1995Keller AuditoriumPortland, OR

Jul 25, 1995 - Jul 30, 1995Pasadena Civic AuditoriumPasadena, CA

Jul 11, 1995 - Jul 23, 1995Paramount TheatreSeattle, WA

Jun 27, 1995 - Jul 9, 1995INB Performing Arts CenterSpokane, WA

Jun 20, 1995 - Jun 25, 1995Uihlein Hall At Marcus CenterMilwaukee, WI

Jun 13, 1995 - Jun 18, 1995Capitol TheatreSalt Lake City, UT

Jun 6, 1995 - Jun 11, 1995Segerstrom Center for the ArtsCosta Mesa, CA

May 30, 1995 - Jun 4, 1995San Diego Civic TheatreSan Diego, CA

May 3, 1995 - May 28, 1995Orpheum Theatre - San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA

Apr 25, 1995 - Apr 30, 1995Tennessee Performing Arts CenterNashville, TN

Apr 12, 1995 - Apr 23, 1995Jacksonville Civic AuditoriumJacksonville, FL

Apr 4, 1995 - Apr 9, 1995Fox Theatre - St. LouisSt. Louis, MO

Mar 28, 1995 - Apr 2, 1995Belk TheaterCharlotte, NC

Mar 21, 1995 - Mar 26, 1995Music Hall At Fair ParkDallas, TX

Mar 14, 1995 - Mar 19, 1995DeVos HallGrand Rapids, MI

Mar 7, 1995 - Mar 12, 1995Providence Performing Arts CenterProvidence, RI

Feb 28, 1995 - Mar 5, 1995Merriam TheaterPhiladelphia, PA

Feb 21, 1995 - Feb 26, 1995Connor PalaceCleveland, OH

Feb 14, 1995 - Feb 19, 1995BushnellHartford, CT

Feb 7, 1995 - Feb 12, 1995Lyric Opera HouseBaltimore, MD

Jan 31, 1995 - Feb 5, 1995Ohio TheatreColumbus, OH

Jan 24, 1995 - Jan 29, 1995Kentucky Center For The Performing ArtsLouisville, KY

Jan 17, 1995 - Jan 22, 1995Jones Hall For The Performing ArtsHouston, TX

Jan 10, 1995 - Jan 15, 1995Majestic Theatre - San AntonioSan Antonio, TX

Jan 3, 1995 - Jan 8, 1995Montgomery County's Memorial HallDayton, OH

Dec 27, 1994 - Jan 1, 1995Bob Carr Performing Arts CentreOrlando, FL

Dec 20, 1994 - Dec 25, 1994Jackie Gleason Theater Of Performing ArtsMiami, FL

Dec 13, 1994 - Dec 18, 1994Raymond F. Kravis Center For The Performing ArtsWest Palm Beach, FL

Dec 6, 1994 - Dec 11, 1994David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing ArtsTampa, FL

Nov 22, 1994 - Dec 4, 1994Broward Center For The Performing ArtsFort Lauderdale, FL

Nov 8, 1994 - Nov 20, 1994Emerson Colonial TheatreBoston, MA

Nov 1, 1994 - Nov 6, 1994Auditorium Theatre - RochesterRochester, NY

Oct 18, 1994 - Oct 30, 1994Shea's Performing Arts CenterBuffalo, NY

Oct 11, 1994 - Oct 16, 1994Orpheum Theatre - MinneapolisMinneapolis, MN

Oct 4, 1994 - Oct 9, 1994Fox Theatre - DetroitDetroit, MI

Sep 27, 1994 - Oct 2, 1994Taft TheatreCincinnati, OH

Sep 20, 1994 - Sep 25, 1994Municipal Auditorium Music HallKansas City, MO

Sep 13, 1994 - Sep 18, 1994Benedum CenterPittsburgh, PA

Sep 7, 1994 - Sep 11, 1994Orpheum Theatre - MemphisMemphis, TN

Aug 30, 1994 - Sep 4, 1994Wolf TrapVienna, VA

Aug 23, 1994 - Aug 28, 1994Four Seasons Centre for the Performing ArtsToronto, ON

Aug 16, 1994 - Aug 21, 1994Fox TheatreAtlanta, GA

Aug 2, 1994 - Aug 14, 1994CIBC TheatreChicago, IL

Jul 26, 1994 - Jul 31, 1994Queen Elizabeth TheatreVancouver, BC

Jul 12, 1994 - Jul 24, 1994Buell TheatreDenver, CO

[Jarethan]

Posted: 10/6/18 at 4:57pm

I am absolutely amazed that she was performing split week engagements at that point in her career, and at the age of appx  75.  Talk about a trooper.  I always thought that the last Broadway engagement (I think both of her return engagements were at the Lunt-Fontanne) was the end.  I wonder if it seemed anti-climatic to be ending her historic run in a split week in Lubbock and Austin, Texas.  Not exactly the glamorous end that Bette had after playing just less than 350 performances at the Shubert.  I guess that's show biz.

[Dallas Theatre Fan]

Posted: 10/6/18 at 6:03pm

In February 1997 I was a college freshman at Texas Tech University in Lubbock Tx.   My girlfriend at the time asked if I wanted to see "Hello, Dolly!" and I said no, I wanted to watch are subpar basketball team instead.  I dumbly missed Carol Channings final week in Dolly to watch a basketball game that I'm pretty sure Tech lost.  

If you excuse me I'm going to scream into a pillow about how much of a stupid mistake I made.  

[Speed]

Posted: 10/6/18 at 6:45pm

I always heard Carol loved the road and always told younger performers that they should go on the road so that the rest of the country would know you when they visited New York.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/6/18 at 9:12pm

I saw this tour 5 times when it played at Mohegan Sun in Ledyard, CT and that's not on the above list. It was sometime in '97, but I can't be sure-- the programs were mimeographed on green paper and didn't have any dates on them. The production was too big for the stage and the orchestra was cut down to synthesizers.

[markypoo]

Posted: 10/7/18 at 11:07am

I saw her in August 1994 at the then-Shubert Theatre in Chicago. It was the final performance.
I was there as part of a theater party
for The Chicago Drama League. After the curtain call, we waited for a brief time for her to come back out on stage in order for her to present some large, fake diamonds to some members of the group. In the meantime, the company manager stood on stage and answered any questions we had. Then she emerged, completely dressed in black, and after a minute or so of chit chat, her husband came on stage, said that they were going to miss their plane, took her by the arm, and led her off.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 10/7/18 at 11:22am

The production was too big for the stage and the orchestra was cut down to synthesizers.

I'm sure this was because of a musician's strike that took place around that time.  Many more strikes took place within a few years of each other so synthesizers were used in place of a live orchestra.  I remember seeing the 2nd tour of FOSSE with midi-file versions of the music replacing the full orchestra.  It just completely devalued anything magical taking place on stage.  

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/7/18 at 9:09pm

No. The production didn't fit the stage at Mohegan Sun. When the curtain opened on ACT ONE, the horse's head was fully exposed and the train was a cardboard cut-out. There was no pasarrelle and the orchestra pit could fit only about 10 musicians.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 10/7/18 at 9:47pm

The entire touring is on Youtube if you do a search. It's a hoot to watch