ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar
Sweet Charity
Directed and Choreographed by Alex Sanchez
Review:
Marriott Theatre has done it again, with a major crowd pleaser full of killer choreography, catchy iconic tunes, and talent to spare. The theatre in the round staging and sparse set design by Scott Davis work particularly well to show off Alex Sanchez's excellent choreography. Video design by Anthony Churchill and costume design by Mieka van der Ploeg, give this retro romp a fabulously fun 60's feel. I was out to review on October 3rd and the audience was enamored.
My favorite choreography by far, was the slinky, dance of the in crowd, when Charity hooked up with Vittorio Vidal (Adam Jacobs) for an evening.
So many songs from Sweet Charity are still in rotation, like “Big Spender,” “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This,” and “I’m a Brass Band.” Big Spender was particularly delightful, with a jaded, world weary twist.
Kenny Ingram is a hoot as Daddy Brubeck, the underpass preacher with the colorful hippy congregation.
Initially, the storyline seemed to be following the trite, "Pretty Woman", cinderella plot, but there's an unexpected and delightfully empowering turn. Anne Horak is a particular standout as the unfortunately named heroine, Charity Hope Valentine. She has a compelling combination of naïveté and irrepressible optimism mixed with sexy showgirl finesse. Alex Goodrich also shines as neurotic nut job, Oscar Lindquist. For a lighthearted night out for musical fans, Sweet Charity is a toe tapping good time. Recommended.
Terry James, Executive Producer
Andy Hite, Lead Artistic Director
Aaron Thielen, Artistic Director
PRESENTS THE TONY AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY SMASH HIT
**run time approximately 2 hours, 30 minutes with one 15 minute intermission**
Hey Big Spender!
Spend a little time with SWEET CHARITY. The dance-filled, groovy musical comedy inspired by Federico Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria, SWEET CHARITY explores the turbulent love life of Charity Hope Valentine, a hopelessly romantic but comically unfortunate dance hall hostess in New York City. With a tuneful, cool, mid-1960s score by Cy Coleman (Little Me, City of Angels, Barnum), sparkling lyrics by Dorothy Fields (Annie Get Your Gun, Seesaw, Redhead), and a hilarious book by Neil Simon, SWEET CHARITY captures all the energy, humor, and heartbreak of Life in the Big City for an unfortunate but irrepressible optimist. Features the songs “Big Spender,” “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This,” and “I’m a Brass Band.”
The performance schedule for SWEET CHARITY is Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., with select Thursday 1:00 p.m. shows. Ticket prices range from $50 to $60, including tax and handling fees. Call for student, senior, and military discounts. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, there are a limited number of dinner and theatre packages available, which can only be purchased through the Marriott Theatre Box Office. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings there are a limited number of dinner-theatre packages available for purchase through the Marriott Theatre Box Office. To make a restaurant reservation, please call 847.634.0100. Free parking is available at all performances.
To reserve tickets, please call The Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or go to www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com for more information.
"In approaching SWEET CHARITY, I focused a great deal on Charity's courage and optimism," says Alex Sanchez. "My goal is to highlight the epiphanies Charity discovers throughout her life journey, and how her positive outlook and willingness to become a better person can overcome all obstacles she is faced with." A comedy in every sense of the word, SWEET CHARITY follows the trials and tribulations of Charity Hope Valentine, a love-starved, hopelessly romantic dance hall hostess with a heart of gold. Unlucky in love and life, Charity is determined to change her life for the better after being unceremoniously dumped by her latest boyfriend.
Singing, dancing, laughing and crying her way through one misadventure after the next, the comically unfortunate Charity joins a host of other vibrant characters including cynical girlfriends, an Italian film heartthrob, and the phony evangelist Daddy Brubeck, as she embarks on a wild ride and quest for love. Will her luck change when she meets a hilariously claustrophobic tax accountant, Oscar Lindquist? The electrifying musical comedy brings back all the breathtaking choreography and original classic hits including "Big Spender," "If My Friends Could See Me Now," "Too Many Tomorrows," "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This," "I'm a Brass Band," and "Baby, Dream Your Dream."
SWEET CHARITY stars Anne Horak as "Charity Hope Valentine" (Broadway: Chicago, White Christmas), Alex Goodrich as "Oscar Lindquist" (The Marriott Theatre: World Premiere of HERO, She Loves Me, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, ELF, and On the Town); Adam Jacobs as "Vittorio Vidal" (Broadway: Aladdin, The Lion King, Les Misérables), NaTonia Monét as "Helene," Dani Spieler as "Nickie," Kenny Ingram as "Daddy Brubeck," Terry Hamilton as "Herman," and Alexandra Palkovic as "Ursula," with Joe Bigelow, Elyse Collier, Lexis Danca, Alex Dorf, Alejandro Fonseca, Eben K. Logan, Hanah Rose Nardone, Liam Quealy, Adam Rogers, Laura Savage, Alex Smith, Kyra Sorce, and Jessica Wolfrum.
The production will feature set design by Scott Davis, costume design by Mieka van der Ploeg, lighting design by Jesse Klug, video design by Anthony Churchill, sound design by Bob Gilmartin, properties design by Sally Zach, and musical supervision and orchestra conducted by Patti Garwood.
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