Sweet Charity

PAST PRODUCTIONS
Hayes Theatre Co

7th Feb - 9th Mar, 2014

Sydney Opera House (Playhouse)

15th Jan - 8th Feb, 2015

Canberra Theatre Centre (Playhouse)

11th Feb - 22nd Feb, 2015

Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IMB Theatre)

11th Mar - 15th Mar, 2015

Sweet Charity

Book by Neil Simon, Music by Cy Coleman, Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Plaiano.
Produced for the Broadway Stage by Fryer, Carr and Harris.
Conceived, staged and choreographed by Bob Fosse.

Directed by Dean Bryant
Choreography by Andrew Hallsworth
Musical Direction by Andrew Worboys
Costume & Wig Design by Tim Chappel
Set Design by Owen Phillips
Lighting Design by Ross Graham

SWEET CHARITY RETURNS

2015 TOUR

THREE-TIME HELPMANN AND SYDNEY THEATRE AWARD WINNING PRODUCTION

Sydney Opera House Presents
in association withLuckiest Productions, Neil Gooding Productions and Tinderbox Productions

Verity Hunt-Ballard in
Sweet Charity

Sydney Opera House 
Canberra Theatre Centre | Arts Centre Melbourne | Illawarra Performing Arts Centre

Luckiest Productions, Neil Gooding Productions and Tinderbox Productions are proud to announce the return of the smash-hit production Sweet Charity, playing Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Wollongong from January to March 2015.

Luckiest Productions, Neil Gooding Productions and Tinderbox Productions are proud to announce the return of the smash-hit production Sweet Charity, playing Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Wollongong from January to March 2015.

For more information visit http://www.hayestheatre.com.au/news/

If you believe in something hard enough, then eventually it has to come true, right? Charity Hope Valentine is the eternal optimist - a worldview that puts her distinctly at odds with her co-workers in a seedy, run-down dance hall. Dancing with man after man to pay her rent, she dreams of finally being whisked out of there and rescued by love. But can Charity wish her way into making love come true?

Sweet Charity premiered at Hayes Theatre Co in February 2014, receiving rave reviews and leading to a sell-out season. Sweet Charity went on to be nominated for eight Helpmann Awards and won three including Best Female Actor in a Musical for Verity Hunt Ballard, Best Direction of a Musical for Dean Bryant and Best Choreography in a Musical for Andrew Hallsworth.

Sweet Charity is directed by Helpmann and Green Room Award winner Dean Bryant, and boasts an outstanding list of musical theatre stars led by Verity Hunt-Ballard, who won a Helpmann Award for Charity and her star-making role as Mary Poppins in the 2011 Disney and Cameron Mackintosh touring production. Cast members include Helpmann nominees Martin Crewes (Dr Zhivago), and Debora Krizak (A Chorus Line), with Musical Direction by Andrew Worboys, choreography by Andrew Hallsworth, and costume and wig design by Academy Award and Tony winner Tim Chappel. They are accompanied by Kuki Tipoki, Rowena Vilar, Xander Ellis, Francesca O’Donnell, Jakob Ambrose and Kate Cole.

“Hayes Theatre Co exploded onto the theatre scene with this moving, incredible production of Sweet Charity,” says Hayes Theatre Co Chair Neil Gooding.  “The Helpmann Awards were an unexpected surprise - and we are beyond thrilled to see our first production touring Australia in 2015.  We hope that this is the first of many main-stage transfers for the productions which originate at Hayes Theatre Co – the home for musical theatre and cabaret in Sydney.”

Debuting on Broadway in 1966, Sweet Charity was a collaboration between some of Broadway's most spectacular talents. Cy Coleman's music effortlessly captures the rhythms and sounds, and Dorothy Fields lyrics the vernacular and fascination of the underground scene, in iconic musical numbers such as Big Spender, If My Friends Could See Me Now, and There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This. Neil Simon's razor-sharp script lifts the veil on the exquisite agony of living on the under-side of life. The legendary Bob Fosse directed and choreographed the original production, and was largely responsible for the musical's distinctive and lasting identity.

"I'm motivated by the iconic score of Sweet Charity contrasted against the milieu it depicts: marginalised women wanting better lives. ;Where better to explore this world than a jewel box theatre on the fringes of Kings Cross?" said director, Dean Bryant

Created by the legendary Broadway performer Gwen Verdon, the role of Charity has been played by many and varied actress including Shirley MacLaine in the 1969 film.  Nancye Hayes – after whom the Hayes Theatre Co is named - played Charity in the original 1967 Australian production. Since then, Kelly Abbey and Sharon Millerchip have played Charity in subsequent Australian productions in 1998 and 2007. 

AWARDS

Nominated for Sydney Theatre Award 2015: Best Direction of an Independent Production - Dean Bryant
Nominated for Sydney Theatre Award 2015: Best Stage Design of an Independent Production - Owen Phillips
Nominated for Sydney Theatre Award 2015: Best Costume Design of an Independent Production - Tim Chappel
Nominated for Sydney Theatre Award 2015: Best Lighting Design of an Independent Production - Ross Graham

Winner of Sydney Theatre Award 2015: Best Production of a Musical
Winner of Sydney Theatre Award 2015: Judith Johnson Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical - Verity Hunt-Ballard

Nominated for Sydney Theatre Award 2015: Judith Johnson Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Musical - Martin Crewes
Nominated for Sydney Theatre Award 2015: Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical - Debora Krizak
Nominated for Sydney Theatre Award 2015: Best Musical Direction - Andrew Worboys

Nominated for Helpmann Award 2014: Best Choreography in a Musical – Andrew Hallsworth
Nominated for Helpmann Award 2014: Best Direction of a Musical – Dean Bryant
Nominated for Helpmann Award 2014: Best Female Actor in a Musical – Verity Hunt-Ballard
Nominated for Helpmann Award 2014: Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Deborah Krizak
Nominated for Helpmann Award 2014: Best Male Actor in a Musical – Martin Crewes
Nominated for Helpmann Award 2014: Best Musical
Nominated for Helpmann Award 2014: Best Music Direction – Andrew Worboys
Nominated for Helpmann Award 2014: Best Sound Design – Jessica James-Moody

Winner of Helpmann Award 2014: Best Choreography in a Musical – Andrew Hallsworth
Winner of Helpmann Award 2014: Best Direction of a Musical – Dean Bryant
Winner of Helpmann Award 2014: Best Female Actor in a Musical – Verity Hunt-Ballard 

REVIEWS

"Do yourself a favour and book a seat"Daily Telegraph

"Downsized, dirtied up and over-flowing with music-theatre talent... exceptional"The Australian

"It's a thrill to see and hear performers of this calibre close up... Crewes is a delight. Krizak is superb.  A memorable night."  – Sydney Morning Herald

"It's all glorious. Raw and new and unavoidable; bombastic and sexy and addictive..."Aussie Theatre

"Sweet Charity is a near-perfect production, and the company shows infinite promise for the future. Trust me, if you’re not on this bandwagon yet, you should jump on it now before you miss it"Aussie Theatre

"Hayes Theatre Co exploded onto the theatre scene with this moving, incredible production of Sweet Charity," says Hayes Theatre Co Chair Neil Gooding. "The Helpmann Awards were an unexpected surprise - and we are beyond thrilled to see our first production touring Australia in 2015. We hope that this is the first of many main-stage transfers for the productions which originate at Hayes Theatre Co – the home for musical theatre and cabaret in Sydney."

"Downsized, dirtied up and over-flowing with music-theatre talent... there is little to match the thrill of theatre seen right up close... the work done by this small, highly expert team is exceptional" - Deborah Jones, The Australian

"A fresh, thrilling production... Verity Hunt-Ballard gives a radiant, endearing performance; sensationally sung and danced, with knockout comic timing... Don't miss it." - Jo Litson, Sunday Telegraph

"It's a thrill to see and hear performers of this calibre close up...Crewes is a delight. Krizak is superb. A memorable night." - Jason Blake, Sydney Morning Herald

"Brilliant, ballsy, and unmissable - an astonishing version of the American classic... Dean Bryant and Andrew Worboys have crafted a version that makes the experience complete and thrilling... Run as fast as you can." - Diana SImmonds, Stage Noise

"An incredibly high-energy take on the classic musical... Verity Hunt-Ballard plays Charity to perfection... Sets the bar very high." - Penny Spirou, Australian Stage

"Musical theatre doesn't come any better than this... A production in which I simply can't find a fault." - Neil Litchfield, Stage Whispers

"Brilliant, ballsy, and unmissable... an astonishing version of the American classic... Dean Bryant and Andrew Worboys have crafted a version that makes the experience complete and thrilling... Run as fast as you can."Stage Noise

"Musical theatre doesn't come any better than this.... A production in which I simply can't find a fault"Stage Whispers

"An incredibly high-energy take on the classic musical..." Australian Stage

"This is one of the most exciting musical theatre productions I’ve seen in a long time"Jo Litson

"It's a thrill to see and hear performers of this calibre close up...Crewes is a delight. Krizak is superb.  A memorable night."- Jason Blake, Sydney Morning Herald

"Brilliant, ballsy, and unmissable - an astonishing version of the American classic... Dean Bryant and Andrew Worboys have crafted a version that makes the experience complete and thrilling... Run as fast as you can."- Diana SImmonds, Stage Noise

"An incredibly high-energy take on the classic musical... Verity Hunt-Ballard plays Charity to perfection... Sets the bar very high."- Penny Spirou, Australian Stage

"Musical theatre doesn't come any better than this... A production in which I simply can't find a fault."- Neil Litchfield, Stage Whispers

Original Cast

2014 CAST

Verity Hunt-Ballard as Charity Hope Valentine
Martin Crewes as Charlie / Vittorio / Oscar
Debora Krizak as Nikki / Urusla
Lisa Sontag as Helene
Kuki Tipoki as Big Daddy

Jakob Ambrose
Kirby Burgess
Xander Ellis
Stephanie Grigg
Seann Matthew Moore
Francesca O'Donnell
Rowena Vilar

2015 TOURING CAST

Verity Hunt-Ballard as Charity Hope Valentine
Martin Crewes as Charlie / Vittorio / Oscar
Debora Krizak as Nikki / Urusla
Lisa Sontag as Helene
Kuki Tipoki as Big Daddy

Jakob Ambrose
James Bryers
Kirby Burgess
Stephanie Grigg
Seann Matthew Moore
Francesca O'Donnell
Rowena Vilar