2018 MAIN STAGE – SWEET CHARITY

CASTING BREAKDOWN

Sweet Charity Music by Cy Coleman, Lyrics by Dorothy Fields, Book by Neil Simon

Sweet Charity tells the story of Charity Hope Valentine, a down-on-her-luck dance hall hostess who longs to find love. She works at the seedy Fandango ballroom with her sassy friends and hopes to someday find Mr. Right. Could he be the international movie star, Vittorio Vidal, with whom Charity spends one romantic evening? Or the claustrophobic accountant, Oscar, with whom she gets stuck in an elevator? Or, does the real answer to her happiness lay somewhere inside her? With a score by Cy Coleman, book by Neil Simon, and original choreography by Bob Fosse, Charity's adventurous journey towards love is marked by some of the best-loved songs (If My Friends Could See Me Now, There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This, I'm a Brass Band) and most iconic dance numbers (Big Spender, Rich Man's Frug, Rhythm of Life) in Broadway history.

Charity Hope Valentine: Down-on-her-luck, but always hopeful, dance-hall hostess who dreams of finding true love.

Helene: Sultry and sassy dancer at the Fandango Ballroom and one of Charity's best friends. Mezzo with a big belty sound and a good dancer.

Nickie: Brassy New Yorker, dancer at the Fandango Ballroom, and Charity's best friend. Mezzo with a strong belt and a good dancer.

Vittorio Vidal: Italian movie star and drop dead gorgeous. Has a way with the ladies and a hot-headed wife, named Ursula. Baritone with an operatic sound.

Oscar Lindquist: A square and claustrophobic accountant with a sweet nature and a gentle touch. Baritone.

Herman: Grizzled and annoyed at everything owner of the Fandango Ballroom, but with a heart of gold. Must be a strong tenor.

Ursula March: Hot headed and jealous wife of Italian movie star, Vittorio Vidal. Has quite a flair for the dramatic. Will double as several roles in Act 2. Must be a strong and versatile comedic actress and a good mover.

Daddy Brubeck: A groovy and hip cat who starts the Rhythm of Life revival church. Think Sammy Davis Jr., if Sammy was a flower child and loved acid. Baritone with serious soul, and a good mover. Strong comedic timing.

Carmen: Brassy dancer at the Fandango Ballroom. Very sarcastic. Good comedic actress. Must be a good dancer.

Rosie: The new girl at the Fandango Ballroom. Fresh off the bus, but whip smart. Must be a good dancer.

Suzanne, Frenchy, Betsy, Alice, Elaine: The featured dance hall hostesses at the Fandango Ballroom. All must be strong character actors who can move. A tired bunch, working at a dead-end job in Times Square. Lots and lots and lots of attitude.

Ensemble Roles: Good comedic character actors who can play multiple featured roles with ease. Must also be excellent singers and movers who can dance/move. Will play multiple featured characters as well as dance in Big Spender, Rich Man's Frug, Rhythm of Life, and I'm a Brass Band. Ensemble roles include, among others:

Men: Manfred Charlie Officer Monte Marvin the Fandango Regular Daddy Brubeck's Assistants

Women: Featured Hostess at the Fandango Booth Girl at the 92nd Street YMCA Daddy Brubeck's Assistants