Dolly Levi is a matchmaker who has mourned her late husband for years, but has now decided to marry one of the men who has hired her.

The story that unfolds from there is a humorous show audiences will enjoy, said Director Laurie Godfrey.

Students from elementary to high school have been cast in the Brown County High School musical set in the 1890s featuring 68 students.

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Homeschool student Alisa Smith plays Levi, the female lead.

“She’s a know-it-all, but she, like, actually knows it all — everything from lawyer to matchmaker,” Smith said.

Audiences may remember Smith as Cinderella in last year’s spring musical.

“It was really exciting, and I didn’t expect to get it, so I feel really honored and humbled,” she added about being cast as the lead in a musical again.

This will be Smith’s last high school musical; she plans to graduate early next winter.

Senior Gage Brunton has the lead male role, as Horace Vandergelder.

“He’s sexist, he’s arrogant and he’s all business,” Brunton said. “He’s one of those stereotypical upperclassmen you can think of from the 1800s.”

Brunton said this show is the appropriate finale to his high school career. He heads to New York City next fall to attend the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts to study and act in film and on stage.

“I am feeling really great about it,” Brunton said at rehearsal. “It’s been a real privilege working with all of these other actors and the tech. I wouldn’t ask for any other people.”

Godfrey is working alongside choir director Kristi Billings and band director Nathan Sudduth to produce this show. A new choreographer, Wrenn Clark, is coordinating the students’ dances.

Brunton and Smith hope crowds come to see the show, which premieres at 7 p.m. Friday, April 8 at the high school’s auditorium.

“I think art is really important to this community, and coming out and experiencing different kinds of art is a great way to contribute to this county,” Smith said.

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What: “Hello, Dolly!” musical

Who: Brown County High School’s theater and music departments, plus actors as young as elementary school-aged

When: 7 p.m. April 8, 9, 15 and 16; 2 p.m. April 10 and 17

Where: Brown County High School auditorium

Admission: $6 for students, $7 for adults

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Dolly Levi: Alisa Smith

Understudy: Lizzy Jenson

Horace Vandergelder: Gage Brunton

Understudy: Benjamin Dwyer

Mrs. Malloy: Allison Drew

Understudy: Rachel Bessire

Cornelius Hackl: Rusty Riley

Understudy: Skyler Cooper

Minnie Fay: Leah Tucker

Understudy: Laura Sheckell

Barnaby Tucker: Eliot Westcott

Understudy: Jacob Landry

Ermengarde: Vera Wagler

Ambrose Kemper: Jake Hunter

Understudy: Jarrod Landry

Ernestina Simple: Grace Jackson

Understudy: Bethany Barngrover

Rudolph: Benjamin Dwyer

Understudy: Noah Hostetler

Judge: Alex Miller

Understudy: Noah Hostetler

Mrs. Rose: Makaleigh Layman

Chorus men: Jesse Bessire, Noah Cochran, Skyler Cooper, Joey Drew, Benjamin Dwyer, Hunter Ellis, Tyler Fox, Quentin Heltman, Donald Landry, Jacob Landry, Jarrod Landry, Alex Miller, Chris Miller, Elijah Nolan, Mark VanDevander, Wesley Weigel, Noah Hostetler, Cole Zeigler

Chorus women: Delannie Adkins, Lauren Akles, Tori Akles, Bethany Barngrover, Rachel Bessire, Emma Braden, Wylah Brahaum, Meghan Cassiday, Courtny Corder, Jade Crouse, Lilee DeLoach, Adri Fonseca, Marissa Gonzalez, Hannah Hummel, Calla Imming, Grace Jackson, Lizzy Jenson, Maddie Kelley, Angel Kirby, Maddy Klave, Makaleigh Layman, Virginia Lecklider, Hailey Lindsey, Gracelyn Patton, Sammy Perkins, Kaitlyn Perry, Emily Rankin, Caela Reeder, Caly Rice, Taylor Roberts, Bailee Robison, Adelyn Roush, Ava Roush, Kendra Roux, Laura Sheckell, Mary Skirvin, Elise Slaybaugh, Meg Smith, LeAnna Spurlock, Sarah Stoll, Haley Tucker, Vera Wagler

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