Sweet Charity
A Broadway salute to ‘60s New York featuring the hit musical numbers HEY, BIG SPENDER - IF MY FRIENDS COULD SEE ME NOW
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and the funky RHYTHM OF LIFE.
“So let me get right to the point, I don’t pop my cork for every guy I see…”
– Charity Hope Valentine
Bringing ‘60s swing back to Auckland City this Christmas is the The New Zealand Post season of SWEET CHARITY at SKYCITY
Theatre November 16 - December 16.
In the smash-hit musical of the year, New Zealand’s best-loved entertainer, Jackie Clarke, returns to spice up the stage
as Charity Hope Valentine. Clarke joins the list of dazzling stage performers who have brought this character to life,
including: Shirley MacLaine, Gwen Verdon, Christina Applegate, and most recently, Molly Ringwald.
Meet Charity Hope Valentine - an eternal optimist and the unluckiest romantic in New York City. She’s a ‘dance hall
hostess’ who always gives her heart, and her earnings, to the wrong man. After flings with the stud, the film-star and
the sleaze-ball, things suddenly start to look rosy when she’s stuck in an elevator with Oscar – a nerdy-but-nice
neurotic.
Based on the Fellini film Nights of Cabiria, The New Zealand Post season of SWEET CHARITY is a sassy and streetwise take
on the things we do for love.
“Sweet Charity, is one of the best musicals of all time and it promises to be the highlight of the year. It was written
in the early sixties and encapsulates all the energy and exhilarating freedom of those times,” says Colin McColl,
Auckland Theatre Company Artistic Director.
The dream team of Director Colin McColl, Musical Director John Gibson and Choreographer Shona McCullagh, take the
creative helm for this wildly energetic revival.
Jackie Clarke is joined by Vincent Harder - he is back in New Zealand fresh from a two year stint in the leading role of
Simba in Disney’s The Lion King, Australia’s biggest musical. Rounding out this stunning 17-strong ensemble cast are
Auckland favourites: Sophia Hawthorne, Peter Daube, Cameron Rhodes, Georgia Duder and Matu Ngaropo. Providing the beat
for this unforgettable experience is the live onstage band, brought together exclusively for this production and with a
rhythm section lead by Chris O’Connor.
From film work which includes King Kong and Lord of the Rings, internationally acclaimed choreographer, Shona McCullagh,
makes a return to the theatre for The New Zealand Post season of SWEET CHARITY - bringing her own exceptional sense of
flare and vitality to all of Sweet Charity’s iconic dance numbers.
Sweet Charity’s original Broadway production was nominated for 12 Tony awards and Bob Fosse took home the trophy for
Best Choreography.
Book through Ticketek 09 307 5000 or online at www.atc.co.nz or www.ticketek.co.nz
The New Zealand Post season of Sweet Charity
With: Jackie Clarke, Stephen Butterworth, Peter Daube, Georgia Duder, Debbie Fulford, John Gardiner, Vincent Harder,
Sophia Hawthorne, Olaf John, Liz Kirk, Matu Ngaropo, Cameron Rhodes, Paora Taurima, Kathryn Taylor.
Director: Colin McColl
Musical Director and Arrangements: John Gibson
Choreography: Shona McCullagh
Set Design: John Parker
Costume Design: Elizabeth Whiting
Lighting Design: David Eversfield
Assistant Choreography: Megan Adams
Book By Neil Simon
Music by Cy Coleman Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini,
Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Flaiano
Produced for the Broadway stage by Fryer, Carr and Harris
Conceived, Staged and Choreographed by Bob Fosse
SKYCITY Theatre
November 16 – December 16
Tuesday 6.30pm Wednesday – Saturday 8.00pm
Matinee Saturday 2nd December at 2.00pm
Sundays 4.00pm
Tickets: $30 - $59 (booking fees apply)
ENDS