An enduring musical theatre hit, “Hello Dolly!”returns to the Fort Peck stage for the first time in 21 years.

When Dolly Gallagher Levi is hired to arrange a marriage for the miserly half-millionaire Horace Vandergelder, she locates for him the perfect mate – herself! But first she must win the heart of her unsuspecting “husband to be” before he gets hitched to somebody else.

The original Broadway production won 10 1964 Tony Awards, including Best Musical (a record that was only surpassed four decades later, when “The Producers” won 12). Adapted from Thorton Wilder’s “The Matchmaker,” “Hello Dolly!” was produced on Broadway by David Merrick, with musical score by Jerry Herman who also composed the scores of the musicals Mame and La Cage Aux Folles. The book for Dolly was written by Michael Stewart, who also wrote the books for the musical “Bye Bye Birdie,” and “42nd Street.” Brimming with joyful tunes, from “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” (recently made popular by the Pixar film “WALL-E”) and “It Only Takes a Moment” to the irresistible title song, “Hello, Dolly!” is a delectable treat for musical theatre lovers of all ages.

Playing the title role of Dolly is Fort Peck Company Member Jessica Spencer. Spencer joins a long list of illustrious performers who have played the legendary role, including Carol Channing, Ethel Merman, Pearl Bailey, Mary Martin, Martha Raye, Ginger Rogers, Phyllis Diller and Barbra Streisand.

The rest of the cast includes Brian Bell (Judge), Linda Eldridge (Mrs. Rose), Justine Bergevin (Ensemble), Nickolas Dirkes (Ensemble), Jordan Engstrom (Stanley), Alexa Etchart (Minnie Fay), Marie Fahlgren (Ermengarde), Ryan Fonville (Barnaby Tucker), Tim Green (Rudolph), Darren Green (Ensemble), Sydney Hayward (Ensemble), Abbi Helland (Ensemble), Ava Heser (Ensemble), Ashley Hunter (Ensemble), Becky Johnson (Ernestina), Alexander Nathan (Ambrose Kemper), Brittany Kriger (Irene Molloy), Chris Kristant (Ensemble), Scott McGee (Horace), Rachel Pewitt (Ensemble), Randy Scholz (Cornelius Hackl), Marcus Svingen (Ensemble), Karston Waarvik (Ensemble) and Staci Weitner (Ensemble).

The Fort Peck Summer Theatre’s production “Hello, Dolly!”opened Friday and runs through July 26, every Friday and Saturday evening at 8 p.m. and every Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m.

Sponsors this weekend are Image Photography, Barkus Home Center and Deaconess Radiology. For ticket information or reservations, please call the box office at 406-526-9943, Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.