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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.”

Show Information

Book
Neil Simon
Music
Cy Coleman
Conceived By
Bob Fosse
Based on the Play/Book/Film
Nights of Cabiria
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1966
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Contemporary, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
1960s, New York City
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Heavy
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Child, Early Teen, Late Teen, Mature Adult, Elderly Characters, Large Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Charity Hope Valentine

Lead

Female

Alto

Oscar Lindquist

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Helene

Supporting

Female

Alto

Vittorio Vidal

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Herman

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Nickie

Supporting

Female

Alto

Daddy Brubeck

Featured

Male

Baritone

Ursula March

Featured

Female

Spoken

Rosie

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Carmen

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Suzanne

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Frenchy

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Alice

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Betsy

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Elaine

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Two Assistants

Featured

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

ACT ONE

ACT TWO

  • Entr’acte - Orchestra

  • *Rhythm of Life - Daddy Brubeck, Two Assistants, Ensemble

  • Baby Dream Your Dream - Nickie, Helene

  • Sweet Charity - Oscar, Ensemble

  • Where Am I Going - Charity

  • *I’m a Brass Band - Charity, Men

  • *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.

Monologues

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    A type of song, usually early in the musical, in which the protagonist expresses their desires. The "I Want" song establishes the character's objectives.

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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