Britney Spears in Sweet Charity Rumors Continue to Swirl - Show to Move to Ford Center?

Michael Riedel in today's New York Post adds fuel to the Britney Spears fire, with a report noting that the star is in talks to take over for Christina Applegate, who's set to the leave the show this January. The paper further notes that if Spears does indeed sign on, it's expected that the production would move from the Al Hirshfeld Theatre to the much larger Ford Center on West 42nd Street to take advantage of the sizable crowrds that the Spears name would be expected to draw.

Access Hollywood (and BroadwayWorld.com) first reported on November 21, that pop star Britney Spears is in negotiations to replace Christina Applegate in Sweet Charity. The 23 year old is said to be in "deep talks" which might also include her husband, Kevin Federline. The entertainment program also reports that "producers are reportedly very much interested in Britney and are willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen."

Sweet Charity, starring Emmy Award winner Christina Applegate as Charity and Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare as Oscar, performs at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 W. 45th St). The show is directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie (Chicago) and choreographed by Tony Award winner Wayne Cilento (The Who's Tommy, Wicked).

With book by Neil Simon, music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Flaiano, Sweet Charity is a funny, poignant and tender look at the misadventures of Charity Hope Valentine (Applegate), a dance-hall hostess who always gives her heart - and her earnings - to the wrong man.

Sweet Charity also currently stars Mylinda Hull as Nickie, Kearran Giovanni as Helene and Paul Schoeffler as Vittorio.