Syracuse Stage begins the 2025-26 season with “The Hello Girls,” with music and lyrics by Peter Mills and book by Peter Mills and Cara Reichel. Featuring fresh orchestrations, new staging and reworked material, this new production of “The Hello Girls” is directed by co-writer Reichel with musical staging by Christine O’Grady, music direction by Alexandra Crosby and music supervision by Ben Moss and will run Sept. 9-28 in the Archbold Theatre at Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St., Syracuse.
Syracuse Stage production of “The Hello Girls”
“The inspiring story and fantastic musical score swept us off our feet when we first met ‘The Hello Girls,’” says Robert Hupp, artistic director. “This re-imagined production has a big future and we’re excited for Central New York audiences to see it first. Much like ‘How to Dance in Ohio’ in 2022, we’re honored to launch a new American musical right here at Syracuse Stage. This will be a show that folks will talk about for years to come, and we invite everyone to see it here during its limited three week run.”
“The Hello Girls” tells the extraordinary true story of the first women soldiers to join the U.S. Army, serving as bilingual telephone operators in France during WWI. Originally commissioned by Prospect Musicals in New York City, “The Hello Girls” premiered Off-Broadway in 2018 to coincide with the centennial anniversary of the groundbreaking journey taken by the real-life women, from the frontlines to their decades-long fight to be recognized as veterans back home.
Writing for The New York Times, critic Laura Collins-Hughes called the show “thrilling…. smart, human… there is a palpable sense of filling in an important blank: showing an adventurous female presence in the war story we thought we knew.”
Since then, writers Mills and Reichel have continued the play’s development through workshops and a concert version of the show at the Kennedy Center in 2024. Syracuse Stage’s upcoming presentation represents the most ambitious version yet, with new musical and visuals designed to bring deeper resonance to today’s audiences.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be working with our friends at Syracuse Stage to bring a brand-new production of ‘The Hello Girls’ to audiences in New York,” says producer Michael Cassel. “With its opulent score and the compelling story of these trailblazing women, I know ‘The Hello Girls’ will inspire and captivate audiences in a truly unforgettable way.”
Blending vintage ragtime, jazz and big band swing with modern Broadway’s rich harmonies, vibrant pop anthems and powerful lyrical storytelling, the Syracuse Stage production of “The Hello Girls” is co-produced with Michael Cassel Group, Broadway & Beyond Theatricals and Chief Operator.
The cast includes Chessa Metz (Broadway: “Suffs”), Storm Lever (Broadway: “Six”), Alex Humphreys (Broadway: “Dear Evan Hansen”), Jamila Sabares-Klemm (Broadway: “Merrily We Roll Along”), Sophia Anna O’Brien, Sam Simahk (Broadway: “Into the Woods”), Christopher Carl (Broadway: “Mamma Mia!”), Aidan Cole, Andrew Mayer (Broadway: “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812”), Emily Mesa, Nadia Stiell, Dan Teixeira, Teddy Trice (Broadway: “The Book of Mormon”) and Kat Wolff.
The production team includes Milagros Ponce de León (scenic designer), Jen Caprio (costume designer), Dawn Chiang (lighting designer), Jessica Paz (sound designer), Caite Hevner (projection designer), Becky Fleming (production stage manager) and Kyra Button (assistant stage manager).
All evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. while all matinee performances begin at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $35 with discounts available for students and groups. Tickets may be purchased online at SyracuseStage.org, by phone at 315.443.3275 or in person at the Syracuse Stage Box Office. 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 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 its open-captioned performances scheduled 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.
A special performance of “The Hello Girls” for veterans, military members and their families will be held on Sept. 9 at 7:30 p.m. The evening also includes a pre-show reception at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are free of charge but must be reserved in advance by calling the Box Office at 315.443.3275.
Syracuse Stage “Trivia Night,” a friendly competition hosted by “Jeopardy!” champion Dillon Hupp, will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. Complimentary tacos will be served. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance are required to participate. Preregistration at Syracusestage.org is recommended.
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.
