Of Course “Dolly!” Is Number One
Yesterday, it was reported that the upcoming revival of “Hello, Dolly!,” starring Miss Midler, broke the box-office record for first-day Broadway ticket sales: $9 million. (Pedant’s note: the figures aren’t adjusted for inflation.) The sales are no surprise. Midler appeals to all of Broadway’s key audiences: tourists (they know her from Las Vegas), baby boomers (they can afford full-price tickets), women (Bette is one), Jews (ditto), and gays (they think she’s one). The revival also ratifies the “comeback” of director Jerry Zaks, who, earlier in the season, has the musical version of “A Bronx Tale.”
