Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"...Kettenring has some fine talent to work with; the show has all kinds of familiar local faces in the cast including the veteran performers George Keating and Richard Strimer stripping away the years in fine fettle by dancing up a storm in the ensemble. And the love quartet in the story - Rebecca Hurd is Irene Molloy, Alex Goodrich is Cornelius Hackl, Spencer Davis Milford is Barnaby Tucker and Amanda Walker is an especially present Minnie Fay - all are a genuine pleasure to hear sing and be around. Goodrich takes a delicate tack with one of Herman's most lovable songs, "It Only Takes a Moment" and it ends up being a remarkably sweet and charming experience."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...Director/choreographer Denis Jones stages some great comic bits (both subtle and broad), which his cast expertly delivers, especially David C. Girolmo (Kettenring's real-life husband), an actor with impeccable timing who lands every joke. He plays turn-of-the-20th-century feed and hardware store owner Horace Vandergelder, a curmudgeonly Yonkers, New York, half-millionaire who enlists Kettenring's Dolly -- a widowed matchmaker who excels at managing other people's lives -- to find him a wife."
Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended
"...What makes Marriott Theatre’s version, directed by Denis Jones, stand out is how handily it pushes all those earlier versions out of the way. Part of the credit for this, clearly, goes to Heidi Kettenring whose Dolly brings her own brand of showbiz swagger to the role—her comedy kills, her singing slays, and her serious moments touch the heart—and makes it her own. But she is backed by an ensemble packed with solid triple threats."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...One of the problems a director faces when working on an in-the-round-stage is lack of scenery and set. In order to make up for this, they need to create a dazzling production with special moments that take one's breath away. Jones does this with solid dance routines and a wonderful courtroom/dining scene that is a highlight that you will remember for years to come, Kettenring took full advantage of her talent during this scene where she devours a meal with the entire cast watching in anticipation of the show continuing. BRAVO!"
WTTW - Highly Recommended
"...The current Marriott Theatre production — brilliantly directed and choreographed by New York-based Denis Jones, and starring Heidi Kettenring, Chicago’s luminous leading lady, along with an altogether stellar supporting cast and orchestra — serves as a vivid reminder of the golden age of Broadway musicals. And its essential message — that love and human connection are the true keys to happiness, and ultimately far more valuable than money — remains evergreen."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Chicagoland has a wonderful, carefree musical comedy that’s practically perfect in every way. Audiences coming to the theatre may be laden with problems and and predicaments. But in this show they can find a tuneful respite to their troubles. It’s a musical comedy that’s guaranteed to bring a smile to every theatergoer’s face, while setting their feet a-tapping. Denis Jones’ opulent, production overflows with talent, humor, color, spectacle and a leading lady who was born to play Dolly, Jerry Herman’s happiest musical."
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Highly Recommended
"...The old-fashioned musical is based on Thornton Wilder's 1955 play The Matchmaker, featuring music and lyrics by Jerry Herman with a book by Michael Stewart. Its history of signature Broadway productions and leading ladies include 1964 (Carol Channing), 1975 (Pearl Bailey), 1995 (Channing reprise) and 2017 (Bette Midler replaced by Bernadette Peters). In all, Dolly has won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and its 1969 film version (Barbara Streisand) was nominated for seven Academy Awards. A full history and synopsis may be found here. The most recent national tour, began in 2018 and cut short by COVID-19, starred Betty Buckley. Marriott cast member Ian Liberto, a Libertyville native, understudied Gavin Creel as Cornelius Hackl on Broadway and performed in the tour."
Chicago Theater and Arts - Highly Recommended
"...Of course, you will be leaving the Marriott Theatre production of Hello Dolly singing its famed theme song but what you are likely to be talking about is the shows fabulous choreography and fine acting."
Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended
"...Jones' Dolly shines from opening to close, and Kettenring, one of Chicago's most talented performers and a regular at Marriott who is married to the show's male lead, David C. Girolmo, is the main reason. I've enjoyed her performances over the years, but this role really allows her to play to all of her strengths, including her sharp comedic skills. (One scene in which everyone onstage and off sits for what seems like several minutes and watches her slowly and meticulously polish off a turkey dinner is such a virtuoso performance that it is worthy of a Jeff nod all by itself.) She simply takes over every scene she is in (which of course is most of them), as you'd expect this self-assured character to do. And (of course) her rapport with Girolmo, who plays the object of Dolly's plan, the gruff Horace Vandergelder, is perfect."
PicksInSix - Highly Recommended
"...But at every turn, all eyes are on the mesmerizing performance of Kettenring—vulnerable and demure in one moment; captivatingly and brilliantly comical in the next—whose interplay with Girolmo is heartwarming and real. From the elegant rendering of “Before The Parade Passes By,” and a side-splitting dinner sequence, to the capstone title number, Marriott’s “Hello, Dolly!” will leave you with a wonderfully joyous feeling to savor for a long time to come."
Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended
"...The inimitable Dolly Gallagher Levi is portrayed by Heidi Kettering. She is a favorite of Marriott fans with twenty-five appearances (The King & I, Cats, Footloose, Funny Girl). Her portrayal does the legendary actress parade before her proud. Kettering is a consummate professional with a voice and presence bar none. She is also the recipient of a Jeff Award and eight nominations. She has had two Broadway World Awards and an After Dark Award. Her solo dining scene caused the audience to titter with anticipation and then break out in loud guffaws at her hearty gluttonous appetite for food and drink. It was a brilliant well-timed comic scene enrapturing the audience."
BroadwayWorld - Highly Recommended
"...Hello, Dolly! is one of theater's grand musicals. The songs Jerry Herman wrote still resonate with the audience. There is also something to be said about a husband-wife team starring opposite each other. I found myself watching their faces intently. At the end when their characters embrace and kiss, it was a lovely and touching moment of true feeling. I highly recommend Dolly for all of the above reasons and more. Thank you Marriott for bringing Dolly back where she belongs."
