Sweet Charity

Charity Valentine is the eternal optimist. 

While working at a dance club, she is often taken advantage of and continually experiences bad relationships. Finally, she seems to have met a decent fellow in Oscar. Trying to hide her true profession, she lies to him and tells her that she works in a bank. Soon, Oscar asks Charity to marry him. Unfortunately, Oscar discovers Charity's real profession and backs out of the marriage. Nevertheless, Charity continues to remain hopeful that good things will happen in her life.


The original production of Sweet Charity opened in The Palace Theatre in 1966. The first revival of Sweet Charity opened at the Minskoff Theatre in 1986. The latest revival opened in 2005 at Al Hirschfield Theatre. The show had a great team working on it. The creative team included the works of: Bob Fosse, Jerome Minskoff, James Nearlander, Arther Rubin, Joseph Harris, Neil Simon, Dorothy Fields, and Cy Coleman. 

The songs were racy and jazzy as you may imagine after reading the synopsis. "Big Spender,""Too Many Tomorrows,""Sweet Charity," "Where Am I Going?" are just a few of the many songs of this two-act wonder.

Big Spender

The show received many nominations and awards:

• Best Actress in a Musical - Gwen Verdon
• Best Featured Actor in a Musical - John McMartin
• Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Helen Gallagher 
• Best Scenic Design
• Best Direction of a Musical
• 1986 Tony Award Nominations
• Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Michael Rupert
• Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Bebe Neuwirth 
• Best Costume Design
• Best Reproduction (Play or Musical)
• Best Actress in a Musical - Debbie Allen
• 1986 Drama Desk Award Nominations
• Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Michael Rupert
• Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Debbie Allen
• Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Bebe Neuwirth
• Outstanding Director of a Musical
• Outstanding Orchestration
• 2005 Tony Award Nominations
• Best Revival of a Musical
• Best Actress in a Musical - Christina Applegate 
• Best Choreography
• 2005 Drama Desk Award Nominations
• Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Denis O'Hare
• Outstanding Revival of a Musical
• Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Christina Applegate
• Outstanding Set Design of a Musical

For more information, visit:

http://www.broadwaymusicalhome.com

http://www.musicalheaven.com/s/sweet-charity/

Until next week, theatre geeks!

One Upon A Mattress

Once Upon A Mattress was first created in as a one-act musical by Mary Rodgers and Marshall Barer at a summer camp. With the help of a few others, they expanded the show.

Mary Rodgers & associates at the piano

Carol Burnett made her mark on the show as Princess Winnifred. She brought much publicity to the show. Ken Berry played Prince Dauntless, Jack Gilford as King Sextimus, and Jane White as Queen Aggravain.

Carol Burnett on the Mattress set

"Due to an unhappy curse, King Sextimus is unable to speak. Meanwhile, his terror of a wife, Queen Aggravian, has taken over control of the kingdom. Most importantly, in an attempt to keep Prince Dauntless single, she has decreed that only the princess that can pass her test may marry her son. Further, no one else in the kingdom may marry until Prince Dauntless does. Lady Larken and Sir Harry are extremely disturbed by this fact since Lady Larken is now pregnant with Sir Harry's baby. Luckily, Sir Harry is able to find an amazing princess, Winnifred the Woebegone. She instantly catches the attention of Prince Dauntless, and in the end, is able to pass the Queen's supposedly impassable sensitivity test. When the Queen still tries to prevent the Prince Dauntless from marrying, he tells her to 'shut up' which ends up breaking the curse on the king. Now able to speak, King Sextimus regains his rightful position as leader of the kingdom, and all is well." (http://www.stageagent.com/shows)

The show began its run in May of 1959 at Phoenix Theatre in New York. The show only ran for about a year and ended its run in July of 1960.

Mattress continues to put a smile on our faces even today. "Shy," "Many Moons Ago," "Girl Named Fred," "Sensitivity," and "Happily Ever After" are songs many of us still hear at auditions and showcases. 

For more information on the show, characters, actors, songs or creators, visit:

http://www.tcm.com/Once-Upon-a-Mattress/

http://www.broadwaymusicalhome.com

http://www.bluegobo.com/production

"I've always been SHY!"