Overview
Synopsis
Sweet Charity follows the romantic trials and tribulations of Charity Hope Valentine, “a girl who wanted to be loved.” Charity is a taxi dancer, a dance partner-for-hire at a seedy dance hall in New York City. Though the job may be decidedly undesirable, Charity’s hopeful romanticism and unfailing optimism lift her out of her circumstances and help her reach for a life beyond. In the past, she’s been strung along and hung out to dry by a series of bad relationships and lousier men. When she meets Oscar, a neurotic, shy actuary seemingly from another world, will she finally find true love at last? One of the most famous shows by legendary director/choreographer Bob Fosse and with a laugh-a-minute script by the incomparable Neil Simon, every audience is destined to fall in love with Charity’s limitless spirit, as she lives life “hopefully ever after.”
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Context
Sweet Charity is based on Federico Fellini’s iconic 1957 film, Nights of Cabiria. In it, Fellini’s wife, Giuletta Masina, plays Cabiria, a prostitute who vainly searches for love in Rome. Nights of Cabiria won the 1957 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film and Masina was awarded Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival.
Less than a decade later, Fellini’s script became the basis for Sweet Charity. Neil Simon penned the book. During Sweet Charity’s run in 1966, Simon, one of the most
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ACT ONE
“THE ADVENTURES OF CHARITY”
“THE STORY OF A GIRL”
“WHO WANTED TO BE . . .”
“LOVED.”
Thus begins Sweet Charity. Underneath these words beamed in fluorescent neon light is Charity Hope Valentine, an indomitable force of optimism who sees the world through rose-colored glasses. She sports a tattoo of a heart with a man’s name across it, and carries a purse. Charity is walking somewhere, moving aimlessly on the stage. This gradually transforms into a dance, as Charity
to read the plot for Sweet Charity and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
Showing 8 of 17 characters
Character Portrayals
See StageAgent members who have performed roles in Sweet Charity.
Showing 8 of 25 portrayals
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Songs
ACT ONE
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Overture - Orchestra
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Charity’s Theme - Orchestra, *Charity
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You Should See Yourself - Charity
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*Big Spender - Charity, Nickie, Helene, Girls
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*Charity’s Soliloquy - Charity, **Ensemble
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*Rich Man’s Frug - **Ensemble
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*If My Friends Could See Me Now - Charity
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Too Many Tomorrows - Vittorio
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*Ciao Baby - Charity
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*There’s Gotta Be Something Better - Nickie, Helene, Charity
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I’m the Bravest Individual - Oscar, Charity
ACT TWO
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Entr’acte - Orchestra
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*Rhythm of Life - Daddy Brubeck, Two Assistants, Ensemble
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Baby Dream Your Dream - Nickie, Helene
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Sweet Charity - Oscar, Ensemble
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Where Am I Going - Charity
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*I’m a Brass Band - Charity, Men
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*I Love to Cry at Weddings - Herman, Nickie, Rosie, Helene, Ensemble
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Key Terms
An “I Want Song” is a number, usually placed early in a musical, where a main character expresses their deepest desire or ambition. This song sets the character’s journey in motion and gives the audience a clear emotional stake in the story. It has become one of the most recognizable and enduring conventions of musical theatre structure.
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