The New Zealand Post Season of Sweet Charity

Media Release
The New Zealand Post Season of Sweet Charity
Auckland Theatre Company
16.10.06

A Broadway salute to ‘60s New York featuring the hit musical numbers HEY, BIG SPENDER - IF MY FRIENDS COULD SEE ME NOW - and the funky RHYTHM OF LIFE

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 Vernon, 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)

Auckland Theatre Company is core funded by Creative New Zealand and Auckland City Council. The Company receives major grants from the Lion Foundation.

ENDS