Syracuse Stage Kicks Off Season with Dramatic Presentation of World War I Musical, 'The Hello Girls'
Syracuse Stage is set to kick off its 2025-26 season with a thrilling and inspiring production of 'The Hello Girls.' This musical, with music and lyrics by Peter Mills, book by Peter Mills and Cara Reichel, tells the true story of the first women soldiers to join the U.S. Army during WWI, serving as bilingual telephone operators in France.
The show premiered Off-Broadway in 2018 to coincide with the centennial anniversary of the groundbreaking journey taken by the real-life women. The upcoming Syracuse Stage production promises to be the most ambitious version yet, with new musical and visuals designed to bring deeper resonance to today's audiences.
The musical will run from Sept. 9-28 in the Archbold Theatre at Syracuse Stage. The director of the newly staged production is co-writer Cara Reichel. The cast includes Chessa Metz, Storm Lever, Alex Humphreys, Jamila Sabares-Klemm, Sophia Anna O'Brien, Sam Simahk, Christopher Carl, Aidan Cole, Andrew Mayer, Emily Mesa, Nadia Stiell, Dan Teixeira, Teddy Trice, and Kat Wolff.
In addition to the regular performances, there are several special events planned. A special performance for veterans, military members, and their families will be held on Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. with a pre-show reception at 6:30 p.m. Pay-What-You-Will performances for 'The Hello Girls' are Sept. 10-14 inclusive.
Prologue conversations, three pre-show discussions that take place one-hour before curtain, will take place on Sept. 14, 20, and 25. The Post-show Talkback will take place on Sunday, Sept. 14, after the 7:30 performance.
Syracuse Stage has also scheduled open-captioned performances for Sept. 17 and 28 at 2 p.m. and Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m., as well as an audio-described performance on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. and an American Sign Language interpreted performance on Sept. 20 at 2 p.m.
Support for the 25/26 season includes season sponsors the Slutzker Family Foundation, the Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation, and Advance Media New York. The community partners for 'The Hello Girls' are Clear Path for Veterans, Honor Flight Syracuse, and the National Veterans Resource Center at the Daniel and Gayle D'Aniello Building.
Producer Michael Cassel states that 'The Hello Girls' will inspire and captivate audiences in a truly unforgettable way. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone, or in person at the Syracuse Stage Box Office. Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of history!
Lastly, Syracuse Stage's Trivia Night, hosted by 'Jeopardy!' champion Dillon Hupp, will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. with complimentary tacos served and tickets required for the 7:30 p.m. performance. Preregistration at Syracusestage.org is recommended.
Milagros Ponce de León is the scenic designer, Jen Caprio is the costume designer, Dawn Chiang is the lighting designer, Jessica Paz is the sound designer, Caite Hevner is the projection designer, Becky Fleming is the production stage manager, and Kyra Button is the assistant stage manager.
Critic Laura Collins-Hughes of The New York Times called the show 'thrilling... smart, human.' Get your tickets now and experience the story of the brave and resilient 'Hello Girls' for yourself!
