Sutton Foster-Led SWEET CHARITY Extends Off-Broadway

Due to demand, The New Group has announced a two-week extension for Sweet Charity, the production launching the company's 2016-2017 Season. Originally set to play a limited Off-Broadway engagement through December 11, this production now plays through Friday, December 23.

Choreographed by Joshua Bergasse and directed by Leigh Silverman, this production features Yesenia Ayala, Darius Barnes, JAmes Brown III, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Shuler Hensley, Sasha Hutchings, Donald Jones, Jr., Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Emily Padgett, Joel Perez, and as Charity Hope Valentine, two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster. A limited engagement begins November 2 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre, 480 West 42nd Street), in advance of an Official Opening Night on Sunday, November 20.

This production of the classic musical Sweet Charity (Book by Neil Simon; Music by Cy Coleman; Lyrics by Dorothy Fields), stars two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster ("Younger," Violet, Anything Goes) as Charity Hope Valentine, the sassy, diehard romantic dancehall hostess whose naivety and overeager embrace of every man she meets keeps getting her in hot water. Performed in an intimate setting with original choreography by Joshua Bergasse (On the Town), this production of Sweet Charity will be given a fresh, modern perspective by director Leigh Silverman (Violet, Well).

The company of Sweet Charity includes Yesenia Ayala (Ensemble), Darius Barnes (Ensemble), James Brown III (Ensemble), Lori Ann Ferreri (Swing), Sutton Foster (Charity Hope Valentine), Asmeret Ghebremichael (Nickie), Shuler Hensley (Oscar), Sasha Hutchings (Rosie / Ensemble), Donald Jones, Jr. (Ensemble), Nikka Graff Lanzarone (Ursula / Ensemble), Emily Padgett (Helene), Joel Perez (Herman / Vittorio / Daddy Brubeck) and Ryan Worsing (Swing). Additional casting to be announced.

This production features Scenic Design by Derek McLane (at The New Group: Buried Child, Mercury Fur, and many others; 33 Variations - Tony Award), Costume Design by Clint Ramos (Eclipsed - Tony Award; Violet), Lighting Design by Jeff Croiter (Peter and the Starcatcher - Tony Award; Mercury Fur at The New Group), Sound Design by Leon Rothenberg (The Nance - Tony Award; Violet), Orchestrations by Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Finding Neverland, Company) and Music Direction by Georgia Stitt (Broadway: Avenue Q, Sweet Smell of Success, The Music Man, Titanic, Annie). Production Supervisor is Production Core. Production Stage Manager is Valerie A. Peterson. Casting is by Judy Henderson, CSA.

Sweet Charity is presented by The New Group in association with Kevin McCollum.

Sweet Charity premiered January 29, 1966 at the Palace Theatre; it was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning one for Bob Fosse's choreography. The film adaptation, directed by Fosse, premiered in 1969; it was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Music, Score of a Musical Picture (Original or Adaptation). A Broadway revival opened at the Minskoff Theatre on April 27, 1986; it won four Tony Awards, including Best Revival. The 2005 Broadway revival opened at the Al Hirschfield Theatre on May 4 of that year; it was nominated for three Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical. A London revival opened at the Menier Chocolate Factory on November 21, 2009 before opening at the West End's Haymarket Theatre on May 4, 2010; it received three Olivier nominations, including Best Musical Revival. The most recent major revival took place in 2014 in Sydney, Australia, as the first production of the Hayes Theatre Co.; this critically-acclaimed production transferred to Playhouse in the Sydney Opera House, where it opened January 15, 2015.

Sweet Charity is based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, Ennio Plaiano. Originally produced for the Broadway stage by Fryer, Carr and Harris. Conceived, Staged and Choreographed by Bob Fosse.

As announced, following Sweet Charity in The New Group's 2016-2017 season is the U.S. premiere of Wallace Shawn's Evening at the Talk House, directed by Scott Elliott (January 2017); the world premiere of All the Fine Boys, a new play from writer and director Erica Schmidt (February 2017); and the world premiere of The Whirligig, by Hamish Linklater, directed by Scott Elliott, featuring Zosia Mamet (HBO's "Girls") and Golden Globe winner and Emmy Award nominee Maura Tierney ("The Affair") (May 2017).

Productions in The New Group's 2016-2017 Season take place at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street).