Article by Craig Thornton For WWNY September 16, 2025
Okay, let’s just get this out-it’s spectacular! In the interest of time and impact, I simply want to say, go see it. Now! You will thank me for it later!
Mic Drop!
Many stories have been told about American women serving our country in wartime, and I’m sure there are many more stories still to discover. The Hello Girls is the story of the women who were recruited to operate the switchboard for communications with Allies on the front, once the United States entered World War I in 1917. It wasn’t an easy task, and out of 7,600 women who volunteered only about 100 were selected. Men were just not as good as women at being switchboard operators. It took a female operator about 10 seconds to connect a call while it took men about 60 seconds. Because men were needed in the field and since they weren’t very good at it, it was only logical for women to do the job, even if there was bias and prejudice against women being in the Armed Forces. Oh, and they had to speak fluent French also.
Tackling this inspirational and historical story as a musical is bold and audacious and it lands perfectly.
Article by Joanna Penalva for Syracuse University News on August 8, 2025
Syracuse Stage announced an exciting new cast and creative team for “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. It will run Sept. 9 to 28 in the Archbold Theatre at Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St., Syracuse.
“The Hello Girls” tells the inspiring 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.
